1. The Beloved Prophet (Salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) advised us to remain firm with the largest group of Muslims and remain steadfast upon their way in beliefs and in actions.

2. The Beloved Prophet (Salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Allah will never allow my Ummah to unite upon misguidance and incorrect beliefs. Allah’s mercy, blessings and protection are with the largest group of Muslims. And he who deviates from this largest group of Muslims will be thrown into Hell.” (Tirmizi)

3. The Beloved Prophet (Salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “He who deviates from the largest group of Muslims, even as much as a hand span, has himself cut off his connection with Islam”. (Abu Dawud)  

ABSTAINING FROM MISGUIDED GROUPS

1. The Beloved Prophet (Salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) clearly warned his Ummah to completely abstain from joining in the gatherings of or listening to the words of any of the other misguided groups that will appear amongst the Muslims, whose beliefs will contradict the beliefs of the largest group of Muslims.

2. The beliefs of the largest group of Muslims will be in accordance with the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) the beliefs of the Sahaba and the Salf-e-Saliheen.

3. The Beloved Prophet (Salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: ” In the period prior to the Day of Judgement, false and deceitful groups will emerge. They will say things to you, which neither you nor your forefathers will have ever heard before. Stay away from these deceitful people and do not let them come near you! Do not be misguided by them and do not let them cause strife amongst you!” (Sahih Muslim)

DIVISIONS IN THE UMMAH

1. The concept of the Muslim nation separating into 73 sects, is taken from authentic Ahadith such as the following related by Hadrat Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu):“The Messenger of Allah (Salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: ‘The Jews separated into 71 sects, and the Christians into 72, and my nation will divide into 73 sects.’” (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah)

2. The Beloved Prophet (Salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Seventy-two (of the 73 sects of the Muslim nation) will be in the fire, and only one will be in Paradise; it is the Jama’ah (i.e. Ahl-as Sunnah Wa Jamaah).” (Abi Dawud, Ad-Darimi, Ahmad)

3. There is another narration which states:”The Companions asked: ‘Which sect will triumph (i.e. achieve salvation)?’ The Prophet (Salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) replied: ‘The sect which adheres to that (set of beliefs and practices) which I and my Companions adhere to.’”

4. It should be clear from these Ahadith that the one sect, out of the 73, which is to gain salvation, is the Ahl-as Sunnah Wa Jamaah, the only segment of the Muslim community which adheres to that which the Beloved Prophet (Salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) and his Companions (radi Allahu anhum) adhered to. 

OPINION OF GREAT SCHOLARS AND SAINTS

1. Ghawth-al A’zam, Hadrat Shaykh Abd’al Qadir al-Jilani (radi allahu anhu) states: “There are 73 groups as foretold by Sayyiduna Rasoolallah (Salla Allahu alaihi wa Sallam) and (bear in mind that), the Ahl as-Sunnat wal Jama’at was the rightful group”. (Ghunyatut Taalibeen)

2. Imam al-Ghazzali (radi Allahu anhu) writes: “The Ahl as-Sunnat Wal Jama’at is the successful Firqah (group) and it is this Firqa which weighs or determines its thoughts and its according to the scales of the Noble Qur’an”. (Mujarribaate Imam Ghazal)

3. Hadrat Shah Wali’ullah Muhaddith Dehlawi (radi Allahu anhu) states: “As Rasulallah (Salla Allahu alaihi wa Sallam) has stated, follow this ‘Sawad al-A’zam’, and when the four Madhabs are within the Sawad al-A’zam then the following of any one of them, is followance of the Sawad al-A’zam. Therefore, refuting any one of them is refuting the Sawad al-A’zam”. (Aqdul Jayyad)

4. Imam Sufyan Souri (radi Allahu anhu) states,“By Sawad al- A’zam is meant those who are called the Ahl as-Sunnah W’al Jama’ah”. (Al Mizaanul Qubra) 

5. Shah Abdul Aziz Muhaddith Dehlawi (radi Allahu anhu) states in his book “Fatawa Azeezi” (Vol. 2, pg. 4) that:“The various parts of the Ahl as-Sunnat Wal Jama’at in Aqaa’id such as the Ash’ariya, the Maaturadi, in Fiqh such as the Hanifa, the Shafi’i,the Hambali, in Tasawwaf such as the Qaderi, the Chisti, Naqshabandi, the Suhurwardi, this servant considers all of them to be the truth”.

6. Imam Rabbani, Mujaddid Alif Thaani (radi allahu anhu) states in the second chapter, page 67 of his “Maktubaat Shareef” that: “The way of salvation is followance of the Ahl as-Sunnat Wal Jama’at. May Almighty Allah Ta’ala bestow blessings upon the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jama’at, in their speech, in their actions, laws, for this is the successful group.Besides this, all other groups have become victims of deception. Today, nobody realises how much these misled groups will be punished, however, on the Day of Qiyamah this secret will become apparent. Even though at that time this knowledge will be of no benefit to the misled.”