Who are the Sabaeans, and what is their religion?

The Sabians are mentioned in three places in the Quran. The word "Sabian" is plural, meaning one who changes from one religion to another. Scholars differed in defining their creed: some said they were people who worshipped angels, while others held that they were somewhere between the Jews and the Majus (Zoroastrians). The Sabians are a large nation, among whom are believers and disbelievers. They are distinguished by not denying the prophets and believing that the world has a Creator and Administrator, but many of them adopt intermediaries to draw closer to Him. They are of two types: Sabian monotheists (hunafa') and Sabian polytheists.