72 sects vs 1 sect | Who is the heaven-bound sect?

Introduction

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) prophesied that in the latter days, Muslims would split off into 73 sects. Out of all these, one sect will be heaven-bound while the rest (72) will be Hell-bound. This Heaven-bound sect will be a Jama’ah which has one leader (Imam). Today that sect is the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’ah.

Hadith #1

You would tread the same path as was trodden by those before you inch by inch and step by step so much so that if they had entered into the hole of the lizard, you would follow them in this also. We said: Allah’s Messenger, do you mean Jews and Christians (by your words)” those before you”? He said: Who else (than those two religious groups)?

[Sahih Muslim 2669a]

Hadith #2

Narrated Abu Hurayrah:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The Jews were split up into seventy-one or seventy-two sects; and the Christians were split up into seventy one or seventy-two sects; and my community will be split up into seventy-three sects.

[Sunan Abi Dawud 4596]

Hadith #3

Abu `Amir al-Hawdhani said:

Mu`awiyah b. Abi Sufiyan stood among us and said: Beware! The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) stood among us and said: Beware! The people of the Book before were split up into seventy two sects, and this community will be split into seventy three: seventy two of them will go to Hell and one of them will go to Paradise, and it is the united community.

[Sunan Abi Dawud 4597]

Hadith #4

Narrated Abu Hurairah:

that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “The Jews split into seventy-one sects, or seventy-two sects, and the Christians similarly, and my Ummah will split into seventy-three sects.”

[Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2640]

Hadith #5

It was narrated from ‘Awf bin Malik that the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) said:

“The Jews split into seventy-one sects, one of which will be in Paradise and seventy in Hell. The Christians split into seventy-two sects, seventy-one of which will be in Hell and one in Paradise. I swear by the One Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad, my nation will split into seventy-three sects, one of which will be in Paradise and seventy-two in Hell.” It was said: “O Messenger of Allah, who are they?” He said: “The united community.”

[Sunan Ibn Majah 3992]

Hadith #6

It was narrated from Anas bin Malik that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

‘The Children of Israel split into seventy-one sects, and my nation will split into seventy-two, all of which will be in Hell apart from one, which is the united community.”

[Sunan Ibn Majah 3993]

Hadith #7

Narrated ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr:

that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “What befell the children of Isra’il will befall my Ummah, step by step, such that if there was one who had intercourse with his mother in the open, then there would be someone from my Ummah who would do that. Indeed the children of Isra’il split into seventy-two sects, and my Ummah will split into seventy-three sects. All of them are in the Fire Except one sect.” He said: “And which is it O Messenger of Allah?” He said: “What I am upon and my Companions.”

[Jami` Tirmidhi 2641]
[Sahih by Shuaib Al Arna’ut]
[Hasan by Albani]

When Will 73 Sects Form?

As per ahadith, this great division will happen at the time of the Messiah & Dajjal:

“The one-eyed Dajjal, the misguided messiah, will emerge from the direction of the east in a time of division and conflict among the people.”

_{[Musnad Sahih]}

Stick To Jama’ah & Leave The Sects

The Prophet ﷺ stated that during the time of Ad-Dajjal, Muslims ought to pledge allegiance and faithfully stick to the one Jama’ah and leave all other hell-bound sects:

Narrated Hudhaifa bin Al-Yaman:

The people used to ask Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) about the good but I used to ask him about the evil lest I should be overtaken by them. So I said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! We were living in ignorance and in an (extremely) worst atmosphere, then Allah brought to us this good (i.e., Islam); will there be any evil after this good?” He said, “Yes.” I said, ‘Will there be any good after that evil?” He replied, “Yes, but it will be tainted (not pure.)” I asked, “What will be its taint?” He replied, “(There will be) some people who will guide others not according to my tradition? You will approve of some of their deeds and disapprove of some others.” I asked, “Will there be any evil after that good?” He replied, “Yes, (there will be) some people calling at the gates of the (Hell) Fire, and whoever will respond to their call, will be thrown by them into the (Hell) Fire.” I said, “O Allah s Apostle! Will you describe them to us?” He said, “They will be from our own people and will speak our language.” I said, “What do you order me to do if such a state should take place in my life?” He said, “Stick to the group of Muslims and their Imam (ruler).” I said, “If there is neither a group of Muslims nor an Imam (ruler)?” He said, “Then turn away from all those sects even if you were to bite (eat) the roots of a tree till death overtakes you while you are in that state.”

_{[Sahih al-Bukhari 7084]} 

Definition of Jama’ah According to Scholars

This can be read in detail here: https://whiteminaret.org/khilafat/after-messiah/#Definition_of_Jamaah_According_to_Scholars

ONLY JAMA’AH IS JAMA’AH AL-AHMADIYYA

By definition of the word, the only “Jama’ah” on earth is the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community i.e. the only group with an Imam/ Khalifa. 

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’ah that fits this definition of Jama’ah, as it is the only Jama’ah today united under one single Imam. Thus, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’ah is in essence the true Ahlus Sunnah Wa’l Jama’ah.

Hazrat Khalīfatul Masīh I, Maulānā Ḥakīm Maulwi Nūrudīn (RA ) states:

“In this age, there is no Ahlus-Sunnah wa’l-Jama’ah on the face of the earth except [for] the Aḥmadīyyah. The Jama’ah will only be the one with an Imām. If we were to line up our opponent Muslims in one row, would they be able to have one Imām? Absolutely Not! [However], yes, it is the unique characteristic of the Aḥmadīyyah Jama’ah that it has an Imām. Thus, at this time, except for Ahmadis no one [else] is from Ahlus-Sunnah wa’l-Jama’ah.“

_{[Al Hakam, Feb 21, 1910, pg. 3]}

Conclusion

• Ahadith of Prophet (SAW) make it clear that the Muslim Ummah will be divided into 73 sects.
• The division will happen during the time of Ad-Dajjal.
• The heaven-bound sect will be united under a single leader/Imam.
• The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’ah represents the heaven-bound sect of the latter days that Muhammad (SAW) prophesied.

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