Sabians
The Sabians were an in 12-13. Century defunct religious community, which was widespread in the region of Harran and Sumatar in the southeast of Turkey today and in the neighboring areas of present-day Syria and Lebanon. The cult apparently was based on the worship of the stars. The most important god was probably the Babylonian moon god Sin.
About the cult little really verifiable messages are delivered. Sin was worshiped as a holy stone in the main temple in Harran. A relationship to the Babylonian- Chaldean star cults can be assumed. When the community of worship originated, is unclear. The Sin - cult in Harran was in any case already in the 6th century BC, when the Babylonian king Nabonidus known to him. In the 2nd century AD, the Moon-god was apparently called Marilaha ( king of gods ) and should rule over the planet gods that play a mediating role between Sin and man. At least now it seems to have come as part of a syncretism to accommodate elements of Greco-Roman polytheism. Until the 4th century, the Roman Emperor worshiped in Harran, the moon goddess Selene. The religion was located in the core area around Harran, even after the supposed destruction of the main temple in the year 382 AD claiming under Emperor Theodosius I and the declaration of Christianity as the only approved religion in the Roman Empire. It is possible that it now came to a connection with the Neo-Platonism, since the two pagan philosopher Simplicius and Damascius 533 settled some researchers believe in Harran, where a school could have justified. But even this is not backed up.
The name " Sabians " took the believers only when they were asked by the Caliph al-Ma'mun in the ninth century before the alternative, to profess either to Islam (or tolerated by the Koran religion of the book ) or treated as heathens and fights to become. As the Mandaeans they called from now on as " Sabians " or " Sabians " - which probably in the Koran followers Anabaptists or the followers of a Sabean - Yemeni star cult were intended - as these according to the Koran sura 2.62 and 6.69 Sure had to tolerate. From this period is handed down inter alia, that the Sabians three times daily prayers were doing, monogamous lived, knew no circumcision, performed ritual ablutions and wore long hair.
From Christian and Muslim authors, the claim was raised on several occasions that the Sabians worshiped the devil. Consequently, the faith community came under increasing pressure. The remains of the Sabians are 12-13. Century eventually absorbed into the community of Shamsi - Alawites.