The Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) 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 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!” (Muslim Shareef)

Allah in Whose Name we begin, Most Gracious, The Most Merciful

Countless Benedictions upon the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam), Peace and blessings of Allah upon his Family & Companions, Peace and blessings upon all his true followers! 

With ever increasing fitna in the Muslim communities throughout the world, caused by the ever increasing and different Muslim groups, each claiming itself to be on the right path, we have made a sincere effort in this booklet to resolve two very important, yet, controversial issues. 

1. Did the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) make any reference to his Ummah dividing into groups?
2. If so, which group is on the right path? 

Some time ago a well-known learned Islamic publisher in South London made a categorical statement that there are no Hadiths in relation to groups within Islam. So confident was he that he practically challenged anyone to come forth with these Hadiths. We set about investigating this matter and this humble, effort on our part, is the result. We hope all concerned will be enlightened by our findings. 

HADITH 1:

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “The Jews split into 71 groups; one will enter Paradise and 70 will enter Hell. The Christians split into 72 groups; 71 will enter Hell and one will enter Paradise. By Him in Whose Power is the life of Muhammad, without doubt, my Ummah will be divided into 73 groups. Only one will enter Paradise and 72 will enter Hell.” When asked which group will be on the right path, the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) replied: “The main (al-Jama'ah) body of the Muslims.” (Ibne Majah Kitab al-Fitan) 

HADITH 2: 

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “There was disagreement amongst Jews and they split into 72 groups. In exactly the same way, there will be disagreement and divisions in my Ummah. It will split into 73 groups. Apart from one of those groups, all the remaining 72 will be thrown into Hell.” When asked which group will be on the right path, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) replied: “The group on the right path, which will enter Paradise, will be the group which follows my Sunnah and that of my Sahaba and this will be the largest group of Muslims.” (Tirmizi, Imam Ahmad, Abu Daud, Mishkat) 

HADITH 3: 

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Without doubt my Ummah will never be gathered in misguidance. Whenever you see disagreement, then hold fast to the Sawad-e-Azam (the great majority).” (Ibne Majah)

HADITH 4: 

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Follow the way of the largest group of Muslims! For, he who deviates from this group will be thrown into Hell!” (Ibne Majah) 

HADITH 5:

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: “The Shaitaan continually pursues humans as a wolf pursues sheep. The wolf only dares to attack those sheep, which have separated from the rest of the flock and are standing alone. And so, my followers and my devotees! Save yourselves from being caught in the traps of misguidance and firmly remain with the largest and most well known group of Muslims!” ( Imam Ahmed)

HADITH 6: 

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) 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) 

HADITH 7: 

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) 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 Daud, Imam Ahmed) 

Having quoted no less than SEVEN Hadiths from authentic sources, two things become clear:

1. The Muslims will divide into 73 Groups, and
2. The largest group will be the right group

We shall now prove the authenticity of the afore-mentioned Hadiths and without doubt make clear which group the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) had indicated as being the group of “Paradise”, “Majority Group” and the group of “Salvation”. 

For the benefit of any doubting individuals, let it be known, that, no great Imaam or scholar of the golden age of Islam ever rejected the above Hadiths as being weak in narration or otherwise impaired in anyway, on contrary, the great Imaams have whole heartedly accepted these Hadiths and further more commented on them. They have gone as far as to spell out, in no uncertain terms, the name of the one true group amongst the 73 groups of which 72 are the groups of Bid’ah (False innovative groups). 

We shall quote the sayings of the great and illustrious Awliya and Imaams of the Muslims as regards the above-mentioned Hadiths. 

Sheikh Abdul Qaadir Jilani (radi Allahu anhu) (470 A.H.) says in his famous book “Ghuniyya-tut-Talibeen”: “There are 73 groups as foretold by Sayyidunna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). The group which will be saved from the fire of Hell is the Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah.” 

Imaam Ghazali (radi Allahu anhu) (450 A.H. – 505 A.H.) in his book “Mujarribaate Imam Ghazali” states: “The Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah is the sucessful group and it is this group which weighs or determines its thoughts and its mind according to the scales of the Holy Quran.” 

Imaam Sufyan Souri (radi Allahu anhu) (95 A.H. – 161 A.H.) in his book “Al Mizaanul Qubra” states: “By Sawad-e-Azam is meant those who are called the Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah.” 

Imaam Rabbani Mujaddid Alf Thanni (radi Allahu anhu) (971A.H. – 1034 A.H.) states in his famous book “Maktubaat”: “The way of Salvation is followance of the Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah. May Almighty Allah bestow blessings upon the Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah, 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 Judgement this secret will become apparent. Even though at that time this knowledge will be of no benefit to the misled.” 

“It is compulsory for the wise people to amend their beliefs to be in accordance with the beliefs of the Ahle Sunnah Wa Jamaah because this is the only group which will be saved from the fire of Hell.” 

“Opposing the Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah will completely destroy you forever and make you liable for everlasting punishment. If there are shortcomings in your worship, then there is still hope of forgiveness. However, if your beliefs are incorrect then there is no hope of forgiveness at all.” 

Imaam Rabbani (radi Allahu anhu) states that Khwaja Ubaid-Ullah Al-Ahrar (radi Allahu anhu) (895 A.H.) stated: “If I were given all the Kashfs (revelations) and all the Karamas (miracles), yet were deprived of the faith of Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah, I would consider myself ruined. If I did not have any kashf or karamas but had lots of faults, and if (only) the faith of Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah were bestowed on me, I would not feel sorry.” 

Imaam Tahtawi Hanafi (radi Allahu anhu) states in marginalia of the book “Ad-Durr Al-Mukhtar”: “One who departs from the path of the Ulama (scholars) of Fiqh, from As-Sawad Al-Azam, will have directed himself to Hell. Oh Muslims! Therefore, hold fast to the path of Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah which is called ‘Al-Firqat An-Najiyya’ - the unique group reported by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) to be saved from Hell! Because Allah's help, protection and taking to bliss are only for those who are on this path. Allah's wrath and torture are for those who dissent from this path. Today, this Firqat Najiyya has gathered in the four Madhhabs, namely, Hanafi, Shafi, Maliki and Hanbali. One who does not belong to any of these four Madhhabs is a man of Bid’a.”

Imaam Muhammad Ma’thum (radi Allahu anhu) (1007 A.H. – 1079 A.H.) in his book “Mektubat” states: “O my noble and honourable sir! The essence of all preaching and the most valuable piece of advice is to meet the men of Allah and keep them company. And being a man of Allah, and adhering to Islam, in its turn, depends on holding fast to the right way guided by the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaah, who, among various groups, are the only group blessed with the good news that they are the group of Salvation. Unless you follow the way guided by these great people, there cannot be Salvation. These statements of ours are confirmed by owners of wisdom, by scientists and by the kashfs of Awliya. There is no mistaking.” 

Sheikh Abdul Haq (radi Allahu anhu) writes in his famous book “Ash’at-ul-Lam’at”: “The group of Muslims on the correct path, who will enter Paradise, are the Ahle-Sunnah-Wal-Jamaah.” 

“It is a well known fact that to fully understand Islamic beliefs, intelligence alone is not sufficient. The sources through which we have received Islamic knowledge from the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) are the great pious scholars of Islam. Ahadith and statements of Sahaba clearly prove that the beliefs of the Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah are exactly the same as the beliefs of the Sahaba and the Salaf-e-Saliheen. The new ideas and beliefs have all appeared after the time of our pious predecessor. None of the Sahaba, the Salaf-e-Saliheen or the pious scholars of Islam followed the new ideas or beliefs. They strictly abstained from the groups who followed these deviated ideas and beliefs. Their beliefs and actions opposed these new ideas and beliefs. All the great scholars of Hadith and the great scholars of Fiqh of the four Sunni Schools of thought and their followers, all held the belief of the Ahle Sunnah Jamaah. In addition, all the great pious Muslims and the Sufi Saints of the past and present, followed the way of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaah. Their great literary works stand witness to this fact.” 

“If you want a clear proof that what I have said above is correct, then gather together all the authentic books ever to be written on Hadith, Tafseer, ‘Ilm-e-Kalam, Fiqh, Seerah of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) and Islamic history. Compare these authentic books with the books of the other groups and then it will be obvious, that the largest group of Muslims is the Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah.” 

Imaam ‘Abd al-Ghani an-Nabulusi (radi Allahu anhu) (d1143 A.H.) wrote in his book “Al-Hadiqat An-Nadiyya”: “The right path is the path of Sahabah al-Kiraam. Those who follow this path are called the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaah. It should not be confused with many heretical groups that appeared after the time of the Companions. Al-Imam al-Baihaqi said, ‘When Muslims go astray, you should not give up that path even if you are left alone on that path!’ Najm ad-din al-Ghazzi wrote ‘Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah are those scholars who keep on the right path of Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) and his Companions. As-Sawad al-Azam, that is, the majority of Islamic scholars have followed this path. The Firqat an-Najiyya which was defined to be the group of salvation among the 73 groups is this true Jamaah’.” 

Hazrat Shah Wali’ullah Muhaddith Dehlwi (radi Allahu anhu) states in his book “Aqdul Jayyad”: “As the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has stated, ‘follow the Sawad-e-Azam’, and when the four Madhabs are within the Sawad-e-Azam, then following of any one of them, is followance of the Sawad-e-Azam. Therefore, refuting any one of them is refuting Sawad-e-Azam.” 

Shah Abdul Aziz Muhaddith Dehlwi (radi Allahu anhu) states in his book “Fatawa Azeezi”: “The various parts of the Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah in Aqaa’id (belief) such as the Ash’ariyah, the Maaturdi; in Fiqh(Law) such as the Hanafi, the Shaafi, the Hanbali, the Maaliki; in Tassawaf (Sufi Orders) such as the Qaaderi, the Chisti, the Naqshabandi, the Suhrwardi; this servant considers all of them to be the truth.” 

We could go on quoting many more luminaries of Islam, all in support of the Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah. However, for the purposes of this humble effort to distinguish truth from falsehood, we have more than enough evidence to go by. 

To conclude, it should be more than clear to any fair minded person that:

1. That the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) foretold the division of his Ummah into 73 groups
2. That the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaah is the only group on the right path

Therefore, we hope that we have amply proved to the likes of our “learned” publisher in South London, that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) indeed foretold the divisions within his Ummah and that the Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah is the only right group. 

The Sunni Muslims (i.e. the Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah) have always been in majority throughout Islamic history, this fact cannot be denied by anyone. Even today, after withstanding over 70 years of fitna and propaganda from the Wahabi regime of Saudi Arabia, the Sunni Majority stands firm for all to see. The Wahhabi movement together with their stooges the Deobandi/Tablighi movements have tried their best to destroy Sunni Islam. In the process they have only managed to fool the most gullible, ignorant and ready to sell their beliefs for money people (as is the case with founders of the Deobandi/Tablighi movements). When the Wahhabis could not change the beliefs of the Sunni Muslims, they massacred 100,000 Sunni Muslims among them Sunni scholars, the elderly, women and children. What the Wahhabis did to the Sunni Muslims over 70 years ago is exactly what the Serbs are doing to the Muslims in Bosnia. The Wahhabis even bombarded the holy shrine of our beloved Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) in 1921! At that time the Indian Muslims were at arms at what had happened. Only the Deobandi/Tablighi group supported the Wahhabi regime and still do. A whole history of these evil Wahhabi/Deobandi/Tablighi movements is available but we do not wish to astray too far from the topic at hand. 

Coming back to the two points mentioned above, these have been conclusively proved by the afore-mentioned Hadiths. Further more to show that these Hadiths are not fabrications, as suggested by some heretical groups and individuals, we quoted such great personalities like Sheikh Abdul Qaadir Jilani (radi Allahu anhu) and Imaam Rabbani (radi Allahu anhu), whom not even the most staunch “Square head” Wahhabi/Deobandi/ Tablighi/Salafi or Khilafi dare deny! 

These illustrious personalities have not only proved the above Hadiths to be true, but have in no uncertain terms spelled out that the group with the great Majority (Sawad-e-Azam), the group destined for Paradise, the group of Salvation is none other than the Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah! Yes, Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah, not Tablighi Jamaat, not Jamaat-e-Islami, not Wahhabi, not the Khilafah movement, not the Salafi movement, not the Nation of Islam movement, not the Ansaar movement and certainly not the Deobandi/Najdi movement. No! ALL these groups are Firqat-e-Bid’ah (False innovative groups) that did not exist in the time of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam), nor in the time of the four great Khulafa. These groups don’t have a leg to stand on according to the highest authorities of Islam as is evident from their above-mentioned statements. 

Some among these groups of Bid’ah have caught on to the above Hadiths and are actively trying to prove that they are Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah. An example is the Khilafah movement, which says that they accept the four Madhabs and therefore this entitles them to be part of the Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah. However, this very movement published literature against celebrating the Holy Prophet’s (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) birthday. The same view is held by the Deobandi/Tablighi movement, whereas all the great Imams of Ahle Sunnah have said celebrating the Holy Prophet’s (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) birthday is in accordance with the principles of Islam. Another example is that of “Fake Sufi groups” that pretend to follow the Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah but are in fact members of the Wahhabi/ Deobandi /Tablighi groups, trying to deceive Sunni Muslims. Watch out for these wolves in sheep’s clothing! 

At this juncture you may well ask as to the hallmarks of a true Sunni Group belonging to the Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah. Well we have already mentioned the heretical groups prevalent in our time, so avoid them. Next be assured that the Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah Mosques always have gatherings in which they send Salaams to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) by standing up with respect. All Sunni Mosque carry out this beautiful practice after Jum’a prayers. If you don’t find these practises in your mosque know that these are not mosques belonging to the group of Salvation, the Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah! 

We end with advise from Imaam Rabbani (radi Allahu anhu) who says in his book “Maktubaat”: “Primary duty of parents is to teach their little children.. Parents who do not teach their children the knowledge written in the books of the scholars of Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah will go to Hell together with their children. Escape from torture in the next world depends only upon learning and believing the knowledge, which these great people deduced correctly. It is declared in a Hadith that one group will be saved from Hell, and they are those Muslims who follow in the foot-steps of these scholars (i.e. Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah Scholars).” 

We leave it to you to judge for yourselves your future and that of your families here and hereafter. It is our belief that Sunni Muslims should stand in defence of their beliefs and not let the groups of Bid’a intimidate them. Since it is conclusively proved that the Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah are on the right path and Allah’s blessings and protection is upon them, we need not fear any group or their twisted arguments. However we need to unite and defend our pure beliefs. 

It is the duty of each and everyone of us be it a Scholar, Sufi or an ordinary Sunni like us, to try and build Sunni communities, centres and mosques, so that our children may be brought up in the true Sunni traditions. We have lost hundreds of thousands of our children to Wahhabi/Deobandi /Tablighi groups and recently to “upstart” groups like the Salafis and the Khilafa movement, all this out of our own ignorance and laziness. Well the time has arrived to wake-up! Establish proper Sunni communities and save our children from the clutches of the Bid’ah groups. If the truth be known, according to Sheikh Abdul Qaadir Jilani (radi Allahu anhu), we as Sunni Muslims should not even give Salaams to these Bid’atis, let alone pray behind them! 

Finally, let it be known, that, anyone Sunni or not, who rejects the above Hadiths and statements of the great Imaams is claiming himself to be above the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) and the great Imaams (radi Allahu anhu), Allah forbid! Because there are those who feel they can unite the 73 groups, never can that happen since the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has made the matter absolutely clear, it is only people with their own “mind projection” who fall into this trap. There is only one group on the right path and that is the Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah, follow it and be safe here and hereafter. Aameen.

We pray to Allah Almighty that He accepts this humble effort of ours to safeguard the pure beliefs of the Sunni Muslims from evil ideas and designs of the 72 heretical groups. We pray that our Sunni brethren will wake-up to the dangers of today and correct their ways. We pray that sincere seekers of truth will reflect on the overwhelming evidence presented in this booklet. We pray that Muslims throughout the world will leave these 72 heretical groups and unite with the Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaah. We pray that Allah accept our prayer for the sake of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) and all His true servants. Aameen.