Farqad Sabakhi was an Armenian

Armenians

Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....

 Islamic preacher and an associate of Hasan al-Basri. He was thus one of the Tabi'een (i.e. of the generation that succeeded the Sahabah

Sahabah

In Islam, the ' were the companions, disciples, scribes and family of the Islamic prophet...

). Farqad as-Sabakhi was formerly a Christian

Christian

A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...

. It is noted that Farqad as-Sabakhi may have mentored Maruf Karkhi

Maruf Karkhi

Maruf Karkhi , known also by his full name Abu Mahfuz Maruf Ibn Firuz al-Karkhi, was a Sufi Saint who is a pivotal figure in Sufism. He came from a Christian background and the story of his conversion to Islam is one of the most famous in Islamic lore....

, who was a pivotal figure in Sufism

Sufism

Sufism or ' is defined by its adherents as the inner, mystical dimension of Islam. A practitioner of this tradition is generally known as a '...

. As-Sabakhi was known for his ascetic lifestyle and his knowledge of Judeo-Christian

Judeo-Christian

Judeo-Christian is a term used in the United States since the 1940s to refer to standards of ethics said to be held in common by Judaism and Christianity, for example the Ten Commandments...

scriptures.