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Q&A · Sects & Comparative Belief

What is the hadith of the 73 sects, and what is the "saved sect" (al-firqa al-najiyah)?

The Prophet ﷺ foretold that this ummah would divide into seventy-three sects, all of them in the Fire except one. When asked which one, he described the saved group as those who are upon what he and his Companions were upon — i.e. Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jamaʿah, who cling to the Book and the authentic Sunnah as understood by the Salaf. The hadith is a warning against innovation (bidʿah) and division, not a licence to condemn individuals to Hell, since being "in the Fire" here is a threat that Allah may forgive or punish as He wills. The "saved sect" is therefore defined by adherence to evidence and the way of the first generations, not by a party name.

Informational, not a personal fatwa. Consult a qualified scholar for rulings on your situation.

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