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Ummah Splitting Into 73 Groups

Question

Explain the hadeeth that the ummah would splinter to 73 groups as happened to the Ummah of past and present in full details.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said “Jews will split into seventy-one groups and Christians will split into seventy-two groups, and my nation will split into seventy-three groups. All the groups will enter Hellfire except one. They asked: “Which one is it, o Prophet of Allah? He  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) replied: “Those who will remain on the path on which I and my companions are today.

The meaning of this Hadeeth is very clear; the Ummah (i.e. the Muslim nation) will be separated into many groups. But the only one group which is on the right way is the victorious group. This group always follows the Sunnah and refuses the Bid'ah (innovation). This group will continue till the last day. The Prophet Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “A group of my Ummah will continue victoriously adhering to the truth; those who let them down or differ from them do not harm them and they will keep adhering to this path until the day of judgment.

For more benefit on the Ummah (Muslim nation) splitting into 73 sects, please refer to Fataawa 393448, 12682, 82163, 33503, and 322.

Allah knows best.

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