Question(52):
What is the extent of the split up within the Ummah after the death of its Prophet Muhammad ()?
Answer:
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) informed us, as was authentically related from him, that, “The Jews were split up into seventy one sects, and the Christians were split up into seventy two (three) sects, and that this Ummah will be split into seventy three sects, all of which are in the Fire except one.” [And when the companions asked the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم): “Which is that one. O Messenger of Allaah?” He (صلى الله عليه وسلم) replied: “That which I and my companions are upon today.” 72
This sect is the saved one. It is saved from Bida’ in this life, and in the Hereafter it will be saved from Hell, and it is the victorious group (at-Taa’ifah al-Mansoorah) until the Day when the Hour will be established. It continues to prevail, abiding by the Command of Allaah, The Most Mighty and The Most Magnificent.
As far as these seventy-three sects, of which one is on the truth and the rest are on falsehood, some people attempted to enumerate them. Accordingly, they classified the people of Bida’ into five categories, and subdivided each category into branches in order to come up to this limit or the number that was specified by the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم).
Other people were with the opinion that it is more proper to refrain from enumerating them, since these sects were not the only ones that went astray. In fact, some people reached a level of misguidance exceeding that of the sects before them, and that this took place even after these sects were enumerated to seventy-two. And they [people holding to this view] said that the enumeration of these sects and knowledge as to when it will be reached is not possible until the end of time when the Hour will be established.
So it is more deserving that we generalize that which the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) summed up and say: “This ummah will divide into seventy three sects, all of them in the Fire except one.” Then we say: “whoever contradicts that which the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and his companions were upon, then he is included in these sects. And it is possible that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) may had indicated fundamental matters concerning these sects, and of which now we are able to know only ten of them. It may be also that he had indicated certain fundamentals with branches included therein, as it is the view held by some people. And with Allaah is the Knowledge [concerning this matter and all matters].
72 Reported by Aboo Daawood (English Translation No. 4579), at- Tirmithee (Book of Eemaan, No. 2640, 2641; declared hasan by al- Albaanee), Ibn Maajah (Kitaabul Fitan, No. 3991; declared saheeh by al- Albaanee), and Ahmad in the Musnad (2:332). It is also in Saheeh al- Jaami’e No. 1083.