Hae tres sectae, Judaei, Christiani, et qui inter Persas Magorum institutis addicti sunt, populi libri dicuntur (Reland, Dissertat. tom. iii. p. 15.).
The caliph Al Mamun confirms this honorable distinction in favour of the three sects, with the vague and equivocal religion of the Sabaeans, under which the ancient polytheists of Charrae were allowed to shelter their idolatrous worship (Hottinger, Hist. Orient p. 167, 168.).