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.  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ افْتَرَقَتِ الْيَهُودُ عَلَى إِحْدَى أَوْ ثِنْتَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً وَتَفَرَّقَتِ النَّصَارَى عَلَى إِحْدَى أَوْ ثِنْتَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً وَتَفْتَرِقُ أُمَّتِي عَلَى ثَلاَثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً  

Muʿawiyah 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 majority group. Ibn Yahya and ʿAmr added in their version : “ There will appear among my community people who will be dominated by desires like rabies which penetrates its patient”, ʿAmr’s version has: “penetrates its patient. There remains no vein and no joint but it penetrates it.”  

أَلاَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَامَ فِينَا فَقَالَ أَلاَ إِنَّ مَنْ قَبْلَكُمْ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ افْتَرَقُوا عَلَى ثِنْتَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ مِلَّةً وَإِنَّ هَذِهِ الْمِلَّةَ سَتَفْتَرِقُ عَلَى ثَلاَثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ ثِنْتَانِ وَسَبْعُونَ فِي النَّارِ وَوَاحِدَةٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَهِيَ الْجَمَاعَةُ زَادَ ابْنُ يَحْيَى وَعَمْرٌو فِي حَدِيثَيْهِمَا وَإِنَّهُ سَيَخْرُجُ مِنْ أُمَّتِي أَقْوَامٌ تَجَارَى بِهِمْ تِلْكَ الأَهْوَاءُ كَمَا يَتَجَارَى الْكَلْبُ لِصَاحِبِهِ وَقَالَ عَمْرٌو الْكَلْبُ بِصَاحِبِهِ لاَ يَبْقَى مِنْهُ عِرْقٌ وَلاَ مَفْصِلٌ إِلاَّ دَخَلَهُ  

that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "The Jews split into seventy-one sects or seventy-two sects, and similarly the Christians. My Ummah will split into seventy-three sects."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ تَفَرَّقَتِ الْيَهُودُ عَلَى إِحْدَى وَسَبْعِينَ أَوِ اثْنَتَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً وَالنَّصَارَى مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ وَتَفْتَرِقُ أُمَّتِي عَلَى ثَلاَثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً  

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."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَيَأْتِيَنَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي مَا أَتَى عَلَى بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ حَذْوَ النَّعْلِ بِالنَّعْلِ حَتَّى إِنْ كَانَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ أَتَى أُمَّهُ عَلاَنِيَةً لَكَانَ فِي أُمَّتِي مَنْ يَصْنَعُ ذَلِكَ وَإِنَّ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ تَفَرَّقَتْ عَلَى ثِنْتَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ مِلَّةً وَتَفْتَرِقُ أُمَّتِي عَلَى ثَلاَثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ مِلَّةً كُلُّهُمْ فِي النَّارِ إِلاَّ مِلَّةً وَاحِدَةً قَالُوا وَمَنْ هِيَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ مَا أَنَا عَلَيْهِ وَأَصْحَابِي  

“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 main body.”  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ افْتَرَقَتِ الْيَهُودُ عَلَى إِحْدَى وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً فَوَاحِدَةٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَسَبْعُونَ فِي النَّارِ وَافْتَرَقَتِ النَّصَارَى عَلَى ثِنْتَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً فَإِحْدَى وَسَبْعُونَ فِي النَّارِ وَوَاحِدَةٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لَتَفْتَرِقَنَّ أُمَّتِي عَلَى ثَلاَثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً فَوَاحِدَةٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَثِنْتَانِ وَسَبْعُونَ فِي النَّارِ قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَنْ هُمْ قَالَ الْجَمَاعَةُ  

‘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 main body.”  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ افْتَرَقَتْ عَلَى إِحْدَى وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً وَإِنَّ أُمَّتِي سَتَفْتَرِقُ عَلَى ثِنْتَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً كُلُّهَا فِي النَّارِ إِلاَّ وَاحِدَةً وَهِيَ الْجَمَاعَةُ  

“The Jews split into seventy-one sects and my nation will split into seventy-three sects.”  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ تَفَرَّقَتِ الْيَهُودُ عَلَى إِحْدَى وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً وَتَفْتَرِقُ أُمَّتِي عَلَى ثَلاَثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Verily, the Children of Israel were divided into seventy-one sects. Seventy sects were doomed and only one sect was saved. And indeed, my Ummah (nation) will be divided into seventy-two sects. Seventy-one sects will be doomed and only one sect will be saved." They said, "O Messenger of Allah, who are those saved sect?" He said, "The group (Al-Jama'ah), the group (Al-Jama'ah)."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ إِنَّ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ تَفَرَّقَتْ إِحْدَى وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً فَهَلَكَتْ سَبْعُونَ فِرْقَةً وَخَلَصَتْ فِرْقَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ وَإِنَّ أُمَّتِي سَتَفْتَرِقُ عَلَى اثْنَتَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً تَهْلِكُ إِحْدَى وَسَبْعُونَ فِرْقَةً وَتَخْلُصُ فِرْقَةٌ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ مَنْ تِلْكَ الْفِرْقَةُ؟ قَالَ الْجَمَاعَةُ الْجَمَاعَةُ  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Verily, the Children of Israel divided into seventy-two sects, and you will divide into the same number, all of them in the fire except one sect."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِنَّ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ افْتَرَقَتْ عَلَى ثِنْتَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً وَأَنْتُمْ تَفْتَرِقُونَ عَلَى مِثْلِهَا كُلُّهَا فِي النَّارِ إِلَّا فِرْقَةً  

“The Jews split into seventy-one sects and my nation will split into seventy-three sects.” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 3991)  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ تَفَرَّقَتِ الْيَهُودُ عَلَى إِحْدَى أَوِ اثْنَتَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً وَتَفَرَّقُ أُمَّتِي عَلَى ثَلَاثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً  

[Machine] We performed Hajj with Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan. When we arrived in Mecca, he stood up after he had prayed the Dhuhr prayer and said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'The people of the two Scriptures divided into seventy-two sects in their religion, and this Ummah will divide into seventy-three sects, meaning all the desires are in the fire except one, and that is the community. In this Ummah, there will arise people whom these desires will take them over like rabies takes over its victim; it will penetrate every vein and joint. By Allah, O Arabs, if you do not uphold what your Prophet ﷺ brought, then others are more likely not to uphold it either.'"  

حَجَجْنَا مَعَ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ فَلَمَّا قَدِمْنَا مَكَّةَ قَامَ حِينَ صَلَّى صَلَاةَ الظُّهْرِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْكِتَابَيْنِ افْتَرَقُوا فِي دِينِهِمْ عَلَى ثِنْتَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ مِلَّةً وَإِنَّ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةَ سَتَفْتَرِقُ عَلَى ثَلَاثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ مِلَّةً يَعْنِي الْأَهْوَاءَ كُلُّهَا فِي النَّارِ إِلَّا وَاحِدَةً وَهِيَ الْجَمَاعَةُ وَإِنَّهُ سَيَخْرُجُ فِي أُمَّتِي أَقْوَامٌ تَجَارَى بِهِمْ تِلْكَ الْأَهْوَاءُ كَمَا يَتَجَارَى الْكَلْبُ بِصَاحِبِهِ لَا يَبْقَى مِنْهُ عِرْقٌ وَلَا مَفْصِلٌ إِلَّا دَخَلَهُ وَاللهِ يَا مَعْشَرَ الْعَرَبِ لَئِنْ لَمْ تَقُومُوا بِمَا جَاءَ بِهِ نَبِيُّكُمْ ﷺ لَغَيْرُكُمْ مِنَ النَّاسِ أَحْرَى أَنْ لَا يَقُومَ بِهِ  

[Machine] "That the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood among us and said, 'Indeed, those who came before you from the people of the Scripture divided into seventy-two sects. And indeed, this nation will divide into seventy-three sects, seventy-two of them in the Hellfire and one in Paradise.' Abdullah said, 'Al-Haraz is a tribe from the people of Yemen.'"  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَامَ فِينَا فَقَالَ «أَلَا إِنَّ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ افْتَرَقُوا عَلَى ثِنْتَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ مِلَّةً وَإِنَّ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةَ سَتَفْتَرِقُ عَلَى ثَلَاثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ اثْنَتَانِ وَسَبْعُونَ فِي النَّارِ وَوَاحِدَةٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ» قَالَ عَبْد اللَّهِ «الْحَرَازُ قَبِيلَةٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْيَمَنِ»  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah peace be upon him said, "My Ummah will split into seventy-three sects, the greatest of which is the group that measures matters by their own opinions, forbidding what is permissible and allowing what is forbidden."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «سَتَفْتَرِقُ أُمَّتِي عَلَى بِضْعٍ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً أَعْظَمُهَا فِرْقَةُ قَوْمٍ يَقِيسُونَ الْأُمُورَ بِرَأْيِهِمْ فَيُحَرِّمُونَ الْحَلَالَ وَيُحَلِّلُونَ الْحَرَامَ»  

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. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 4596)   

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ «افْتَرَقَتِ الْيَهُودُ عَلَى إِحْدَى وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً أَوِ اثْنَتَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً وَالنَّصَارَى مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ وَتَفْتَرِقُ أُمَّتِي عَلَى ثَلَاثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً»  

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. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 4596)  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «افْتَرَقَتِ الْيَهُودُ عَلَى إِحْدَى أَوِ اثْنَتَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً وَافْتَرَقَتِ النَّصَارَى عَلَى إِحْدَى أَوِ اثْنَتَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً وَتَفْتَرِقُ أُمَّتِي عَلَى ثَلَاثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً»  

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." (Using translation from Tirmidhī 2641)   

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «لَيَأْتِيَنَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي مَا أَتَى عَلَى بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ مِثْلًا بِمِثْلٍ حَذْوَ النَّعْلِ بِالنَّعْلِ حَتَّى لَوْ كَانَ فِيهِمْ مَنْ نَكَحَ أُمَّهُ عَلَانِيَةً كَانَ فِي أُمَّتِي مِثْلَهُ إِنَّ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ افْتَرَقُوا عَلَى إِحْدَى وَسَبْعِينَ مِلَّةً وَتَفْتَرِقُ أُمَّتِي عَلَى ثَلَاثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ مِلَّةً كُلُّهَا فِي النَّارِ إِلَّا مِلَّةً وَاحِدَةً» فَقِيلَ لَهُ مَا الْوَاحِدَةُ؟ قَالَ «مَا أَنَا عَلَيْهِ الْيَوْمَ وَأَصْحَابِي»  

[Machine] Regarding the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ , he said, "My nation will divide into seventy-three sects, the largest of which is a group that causes trials and tribulations for my nation. They make their own opinions the basis for judging matters and they declare what is forbidden to be permissible, and what is permissible to be forbidden." The mention of this hadith was omitted by Al-Dhahabi in his summarization.  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ «تَفْتَرِقُ أُمَّتِي عَلَى بِضْعٍ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً أَعْظَمُهَا فِتْنَةٌ عَلَى أُمَّتِي قَوْمٌ يَقِيسُونَ الْأُمُورَ بِرَأْيِهِمْ فَيُحِلُّونَ الْحَرَامَ وَيُحَرِّمُونَ الْحَلَالَ»  

“The Jews split into seventy-one sects and my nation will split into seventy-three sects.” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 3991)   

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «تَفَرَّقَتِ الْيَهُودُ عَلَى إِحْدَى وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً وَالنَّصَارَى مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ وَتَفْتَرِقُ أُمَّتِي عَلَى ثَلَاثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً»  

[Machine] We performed Hajj with Mu'awiya ibn Abi Sufyan, and when we arrived in Mecca, he was informed of a storyteller who was narrating to the people of Mecca, a servant of the Banu Farrukh. Mu'awiya sent for him and asked, "Were you ordered to give these narrations?" He replied, "No." Mu'awiya then asked, "So what led you to narrate without permission?" The man replied, "We are imparting knowledge that Allah has taught us." Mu'awiya said, "Had I warned you beforehand, I would have severed a part of you."

Then, after the Dhuhr prayer in Mecca, Mu'awiya stood up and said: The Prophet ﷺ said, "The People of the Book divided themselves into seventy-two sects in their religion, and this Ummah will divide into seventy-three, all of which will be in the fire except one, which is the congregation. From my Ummah, there will emerge people driven by desires just as rabies drives its host, leaving no vein or joint without being infected. By Allah, O Arabs, if you do not uphold that which Muhammad ﷺ brought, surely nothing else will you uphold."  

حَجَجْنَا مَعَ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ فَلَمَّا قَدِمْنَا مَكَّةَ أُخْبِرَ بِقَاصٍّ يَقُصُّ عَلَى أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ مَوْلًى لِبَنِي فَرُّوخٍ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ مُعَاوِيَةُ فَقَالَ أُمِرْتَ بِهَذِهِ الْقِصَصِ؟ قَالَ لَا قَالَ فَمَا حَمَلَكَ عَلَى أَنْ تَقُصَّ بِغَيْرِ إِذْنٍ قَالَ نُنْشِئُ عِلْمًا عَلَمَنَاهُ اللَّهُ ﷻ فَقَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ لَوْ كُنْتُ تَقَدَّمْتُ إِلَيْكَ لَقَطَعْتُ مِنْكَ طَائِفَةً ثُمَّ قَامَ حِينَ صَلَّى الظُّهْرَ بِمَكَّةَ فَقَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ «إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَفَرَّقُوا فِي دِينِهِمْ عَلَى اثْنَتَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ مِلَّةً وَتَفْتَرِقُ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةُ عَلَى ثَلَاثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ كُلُّهَا فِي النَّارِ إِلَّا وَاحِدَةً وَهِيَ الْجَمَاعَةُ وَيَخْرُجُ مِنْ أُمَّتِي أَقْوَامٌ تَتَجَارَى بِهِمْ تِلْكَ الْأَهْوَاءُ كَمَا يَتَجَارَى الْكَلْبُ بِصَاحِبِهِ فَلَا يَبْقَى مِنْهُ عِرْقٌ وَلَا مَفْصِلٌ إِلَّا دَخَلَهُ وَاللَّهِ يَا مَعْشَرَ الْعَرَبِ لَئِنْ لَمْ تَقُومُوا بِمَا جَاءَ بِهِ مُحَمَّدٌ ﷺ لَغَيْرُ ذَلِكَ أَحْرَى أَنْ لَا تَقُومُوا بِهِ»  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Indeed, the Jews have divided into seventy-one or seventy-two sects, and the Christians have done the same. This nation will also divide into seventy-three sects."  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ «إِنَّ الْيَهُودَ افْتَرَقَتْ عَلَى إِحْدَى وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً أَوِ اثِنْتَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً وَالنَّصَارَى عَلَى مِثْلِ ذَلِكَ وَتَتَفَرَّقُ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةُ عَلَى ثَلَاثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً»  

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. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 4596)   

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «افْتَرَقَتِ الْيَهُودُ عَلَى إِحْدَى وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً وَافْتَرَقَتِ النَّصَارَى عَلَى اثْنَتَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً وَتَفْتَرِقُ أُمَّتِي عَلَى ثَلَاثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً»  

[Machine] On the authority of the Prophet, ﷺ , he said: "My nation will split into seventy-three sects, the largest of which will be the group that relies on their own opinions and declares the forbidden as permissible, and the permissible as forbidden."  

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ «تَفْتَرِقُ أُمَّتِي عَلَى بِضْعٍ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً أَعْظَمُهَا فِتْنَةً عَلَى أُمَّتِي قَوْمٌ يَقِيسُونَ الْأُمُورَ بِرَأْيِهِمْ فَيُحِلُّونَ الْحَرَامَ وَيُحَرِّمُونَ الْحَلَالَ»  

[Machine] I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, "The Children of Israel have divided into seventy-one sects, and my Ummah will divide into even more sects. All of them will be in the Hellfire except for the majority group."  

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ «افْتَرَقَتْ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ عَلَى إِحْدَى وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً تَزِيدُ عَلَيْهَا أُمَّتِي فِرْقَةً كُلُّهَا فِي النَّارِ إِلَّا السَّوَادَ الْأَعْظَمَ»  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "The Jews have split into seventy-one sects, and the Christians have split into seventy-two sects. By the One in whose hand is my soul, my Ummah (nation) will split into seventy-three sects, and only one sect will be in Paradise, while seventy-two will be in Hell." It was asked, "O Messenger of Allah, who are they?" He replied, "The Jama'ah (the united group)."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «افْتَرَقَتِ الْيَهُودُ عَلَى إِحْدَى وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً وَافْتَرَقَتِ النَّصَارَى عَلَى اثْنَتَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَتَفْتَرِقَنَّ أُمَّتِي عَلَى ثَلَاثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً وَاحِدَةٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَاثْنَتَانِ وَسَبْعُونَ فِي النَّارِ» قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ وَمَنْ هِيَ؟ قَالَ «الْجَمَاعَةُ»  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "What happened to the Children of Israel shall happen to my nation. They divided into seventy-two sects, and my nation shall divide into seventy-three sects, all of them in Hellfire except for one sect." It was asked, "Who are they, O Messenger of Allah?" He replied, "Those who are upon what I and my companions are upon."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ «لَيَأْتِيَنَّ عَلَى أُمَّتِي مَا أَتَى عَلَى بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ لَوْ كَانَ فِيهِمْ مَنْ يَأْتِي أُمَّهُ عَلَانِيَةً كَانَ فِيهِمْ مَنْ يَأْتِي أُمَّهُ عَلَانِيَةً حَذْوَ النَّعْلِ بِالنَّعْلِ وَإِنَّ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ افْتَرَقُوا عَلَى ثِنْتَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً وَإِنَّ أُمَّتِي سَتَفْتَرِقُ عَلَى ثَلَاثَةٍ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً كُلُّهَا فِي النَّارِ إِلَّا فِرْقَةً وَاحِدَةً» قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ مَنْ هُمْ؟ قَالَ «مَا أَنَا عَلَيْهِ وَأَصْحَابِي»  

[Machine] Muawiyah, if I had approached you before this period, I would have cut off a part of you, then I would have stood up and prayed Dhuhr in Makkah. Then he said: The Messenger of Allah, ﷺ , said: "The people of the Book divided into seventy-two sects, and this nation will divide into seventy-three sects, all of them are in the Fire except one, which is the group (Al-Jama'ah)." And he said: "There will come out from my nation people who deal with desires as the dog deals with its master. Not a vein or a joint will be left except that they enter it." By Allah, O Arabs, if you do not uphold what Muhammad, ﷺ , brought, then others among the people are more deserving of upholding it.  

قَالَ حَجَجْنَا مَعَ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ فَلَمَّا قَدِمْنَا مَكَّةَ أُخْبِرَ بِقَاصٍّ يَقُصُّ عَلَى أَهْلِ مَكَّةَ مَوْلًى لِبَنِي مَخْزُومَ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ مُعَاوِيَةُ فَقَالَ أُمِرْتَ بِهَذَا الْقَصَصِ؟ قَالَ لَا قَالَ فَمَا حَمَلَكَ عَلَى أَنْ تَقُصَّ بِغَيْرِ إِذْنٍ؟ قَالَ نَنْشُرُ عِلْمًا عَلَّمْنَاهُ اللهُ فَقَالَ مُعَاوِيَةُ لَوْ كُنْتُ تَقَدَّمْتُ إِلَيْكَ قَبْلَ مُدَّتِي هَذِهِ لَقَطَعْتُ مِنْكَ طَائِفًا ثُمَّ قَامَ حَتَّى صَلَّى الظُّهْرَ بِمَكَّةَ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ «إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ افْتَرَقُوا عَلَى ثِنْتَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ مِلَّةً وَإِنَّ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةَ سَتَفْتَرُقُ عَلَى ثَلَاثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ مِلَّةً يَعْنِي الْأَهْوَاءَ وَكُلُّهَا فِي النَّارِ إِلَّا وَاحِدَةً وَهِيَ الْجَمَاعَةُ» وَقَالَ «إِنَّهُ سَيَخْرُجُ مِنْ أُمَّتِي أَقْوَامٌ تَتَجَارَى بِهِمُ الْأَهْوَاءُ كَمَا يَتَجَارَى الْكَلْبُ بِصَاحِبِهِ فَلَا يَبْقَى مِنْهُ عِرْقٌ وَلَا مَفْصِلٌ إِلَّا دَخَلَهُ» وَاللهِ يَا مَعْشَرَ الْعَرَبِ لَئِنْ لَمْ تَقُومُوا بِمَا جَاءَ بِهِ مُحَمَّدٌ ﷺ لَغَيْرُكُمْ مِنَ النَّاسِ أَحْرَى أَنْ لَا يَقُومَ بِهِ  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The Jews divided into seventy-one or seventy-two sects, and the Christians divided into seventy-one or seventy-two sects, and my community will divide into seventy-three sects." Abu Sulayman al-Khattabi, may Allah have mercy on him, said, according to what I have heard from him, regarding his statement: "My community will divide into seventy-three sects."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ افْتَرَقَتِ الْيَهُودُ عَلَى إِحْدَى أَوْ ثِنْتَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً وَتَفَرَّقَتِ النَّصَارَى عَلَى إِحْدَى أَوْ ثِنْتَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً وَتَفْتَرِقُ أُمَّتِي عَلَى ثَلَاثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً قَالَ أَبُو سُلَيْمَانَ الْخَطَّابِيُّ رَحِمَهُ اللهُ فِيمَا بَلَغَنِي عَنْهُ قَوْلُهُ سَتَفْتَرِقُ أُمَّتِي عَلَى ثَلَاثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً  

“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 main body.” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 3992)   

"افْتَرَقَتْ اليهودُ على إِحْدى وَسَبعِينَ فِرْقَةً، فواحدةٌ في الجنةِ وسبعون في النَّارِ، وافترقت النَّصارَى على اثنتين وسبعين فرقةً، فَإِحْدَى وسبعون في النار، وواحدةٌ في الجنَّةِ، والذي نفسُ محمدٍ بيده لتَفْتَرِقَنَّ أُمَّتِي على ثلاثٍ وسبعين فرقةً فواحدةٌ في الجنة، وَثِنْتان وسبعون في النارِ. قيل: يا رسول الله! من همْ؟ قال: الجماعَةُ".  

[Machine] The Jews split into seventy-one or seventy-two sects, and the Christians likewise. My nation will be divided into seventy-three sects, all of whom will be in the Fire except for one. They asked, "Who are they, O Messenger of Allah?" He said, "Those who follow what I and my companions are upon."  

"افْترقتِ اليَهُودُ على إِحْدَى أوْ اثنتين وَسَبْعينَ فرقةً، والنَّصارى كَذَلِكَ، وَتفَتَرِق أُمَّتِي على ثلاث وَسبَعِينَ فرقةً، كُلُّهم في النَّارِ إِلا وَاحدة قالوا: مَنْ هِيَ يا رَسُولَ الله؟ قال: مَا أنا عليه وأصْحَابِي".  

[Machine] The Children of Israel split into seventy-one sects, and my nation will exceed them by one sect; there is no sect more harmful to my nation than people who judge religion by their own opinion, permitting what God has forbidden and forbidding what God has permitted.  

"افترقت بنو إسرائيل على إحدى وسبعين فرقًة، وتَزِيدُ أمَّتِي عليها فِرقةً، لَيسَ فِيها فِرْقَةُ أضَرُّ على أُمَّتِي مِن قوم يَقيسُونَ الدينَ بِرأيِهم، فيُحِلُّونَ ما حرَّمَ الله؛ وَيُحَرِّمُونَ مَا أحَلَّ اللهُ".  

[Machine] "Indeed, the Children of Israel divided into seventy-one sects, seventy of which perished, and one was saved. And indeed my nation will divide into seventy-two sects, seventy-one of which will perish, and one will be saved. It was said: O Messenger of Allah, which is that sect? He said: 'The community, the community.'"  

"إِنَّ بَنى إِسْرئيلَ تَفَرِّقَتْ إِحْدى وسبعينَ فِرْقَةً، فَهَلَكَتْ سبعونَ فِرْقَةً، وَخَلَصَتْ فِرْقَةٌ واحدَةٌ، وَإن أُمَّتِى سَتَفْتَرِقُ على اثْنتين وسبعين فِرقةً، تَهْلِكُ إِحْدَى وَسَبْعُون فِرقَةً، وتخلُصُ فِرْقَةً، قيلَ: يا رَسُولَ اللَّه مَنْ تِلكَ الفِرْقَة؟ قال: الجماعة، الجماعة ".  

[Machine] "The Children of Israel divided into seventy-one sects, and the nights and days will not pass until my community divides similarly. Each sect will be in the Fire except for one, which is the united group."  

"افْتَرقَتْ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ على إِحْدى وَسَبعِين مِلَّةً، وَلَنْ تَذْهَبَ اللّيَالِي ولا الأيامُ، حتَّى تَفْتَرِقَ أمَّتِي عَلَى مِثْلِهَا، وُكلُّ فِرْقَةٍ مِنْهَا في النَّارِ إلا واحدِةً، وهى الجماعَةُ".  

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. (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 4596)   

"افْتَرقت اليهودُ على إِحدى وسَبْعين فرقةً، وتَفَرَّقت النَّصارى على ثنتين وسَبْعين فرقةً، وتَفْتَرِق أُمَّتِي على ثلاثٍ وسبعين فرقةً" .  

[Machine] "Indeed, the children of Israel divided into seventy-one sects, and indeed, my nation will divide into seventy-two sects, all of which will be in the fire except for one, and that is the group."  

"إِنَّ بَنى إِسْرئيلَ افْتَرَقَتْ على إِحدى وسبعين فِرْقة، وإِنَّ أُمَّتى سَتَفْترِقُ على ثِنتيْنِ وسبعين فِرْقَةً، كلُّهَا في النارِ إِلَّا واحدةٌ، وهى الجماعةُ".  

[Machine] The passage translates to: "My nation will split into over seventy sects, the most harmful of which will be those who judge matters with their own opinions, permitting the forbidden and forbidding the permissible."  

"تَفْتَرِقُ أُمَّتِى عَلَى نَيْفٍ وسبعينَ فرقةً، أَضَرُّهَا عَلَى أُمَّتِى قَوْمٌ يَقِيسُونَ الأُمُورَ بِرَأْيهِمْ فَيُحِلُّونَ الْحَرَامَ، وَيُحَرِّمُونَ الْحَلَالَ".  

[Machine] This passage translates to: "This community will be divided into seventy-some sects; I know the most guided of them: the group of the community."  

"تَفْتَرِقُ هَذِهِ الأُمَّةُ عَلَى بِضْع وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً؛ إِنِّى أَعْلَمُ أَهْدَاهَا: فِرْقَةُ الْجَمَاعَةِ".  

[Machine] The Children of Israel split into seventy-one sects, and the Christians split into seventy-two sects, and my nation will exceed them by one sect; all of them will be in the fire except the great majority.  

"تَفَرَّقَتْ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ علَى إِحْدَى وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً، وَتَفَرَّقَتْ النَّصَارَى عَلَى اثْنَتَيْن وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً، وَأُمَّتِى تَزِيدُ عَلَيْهِمْ فِرْقَةً، كُلَّهَا فِى النَّارِ إِلَّا السَّوَادَ الأَعْظَمَ".  

[Machine] "My nation will be divided into seventy-some sects: The most grievous of them for my nation are people who judge matters with their opinion, thereby permitting what is forbidden and forbidding what is permissible."  

"تَفْتَرِقُ أُمَّتِى عَلَى بِضْعٍ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً: أَعْظَمُهَا فِتْنَةً عَلَى أُمَّتِى قَوْمٌ يَقِيسُونَ الأَمُورَ بِرَأْيهِمْ فَيُحِلُّونَ الْحَرَامَ وَيُحِرِّمُونَ الْحَلالَ".  

[Machine] The translation of the passage is: "My nation will split into seventy-three sects, all of which will be in the fire except one: that which I and my companions are upon today."  

"تَفْتَرِقُ أُمَّتِى عَلَى ثَلَاث وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً، كُلُّهُنَّ فِي النَّارِ، إِلَّا وَاحِدَة مَا أَنَا عَلَيْهِ الْيَوْمَ وَأَصْحَابِى".  

[Machine] "This nation will split into seventy-three sects; they adopt and differ from our command."  

"تَفْتَرِقُ هَذِهِ الأُمَّةُ عَلَى ثَلَاثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً، (ينتحلون وتفارق من أَمرنا".  

[Machine] "This nation will divide into seventy-three sects, the worst of which is (a sect that claims to love us and diverges from our way)."  

"تَفْتَرقُ هَذِه الأمَّةُ عَلَى ثَلاثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً، شَرُّهَا (فَرْقَةٌ تَنْتَحِلُ حُبَّنَا وَتُفَارقُ أمْرَنَا) ".  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "This nation will divide into seventy-three sects."  

"قَالَ رَسُولُ الله ﷺ : تَفْتَرِقُ هَذِهِ الأُمَّةُ عَلَى ثَلَاثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً".  

[Machine] We were sitting with Ali when the bishop of Najran came to him, and he made room for him. A man said to Ali, "Do you make room for this Christian, O Commander of the Faithful?" Ali replied, "When they came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, he used to make room for them." A man asked the bishop, "Into how many sects did Christianity divide, O bishop?" The bishop replied, "It divided into many sects, which I cannot count!" Ali said, "I know how many it divided into. Christianity, indeed, divided into this many, even though he was a Christian. Christianity divided into seventy-one sects, and Judaism into seventy-two sects. By the One in whose hand is my soul, the Hanifiyya [Islamic monotheism] will divide into seventy-three sects, with seventy-two in the Fire, and one in Paradise."  

كنا جلوسًا عند عليٍّ فَأتَاهُ أسقفُ نَجْرانَ فأوسعَ له، فقال له رجل: تُوسِعُ لهذا النصرانىَ يا أميرَ المؤمنين؟ فقال على: إِنهم كَانُوا إذَا أتَوْا رسولَ الله ﷺ أوْسَعَ لهم، فَسَألَ رَجُل: عَلَى كَم افترقَت النَّصرانيةُ يَا أَسْقُفُ؟ فقال: افترقتْ على فرقٍ كثيرة لا أُحْصيها! قال على: أنا أَعْلَمُ على كم افترقت؟ افترقت النصرانيةُ مِنْ هذا وإن كان نصرانيّا، افترقت النصرانيةُ على إحدى وسبعينَ فرقة، وافترقت اليهود على ثنتين وسبعين فرقةً، والذى نفسِى بِيَدِه لَتَفْتَرِقَنَّ الحنيفيةُ على ثلاث وسبعين فرقةً، فيكون ثنتان وسبعون في النارِ، وفرقةٌ في الجنة".  

[Machine] The passage can be translated into English as follows:

"Be aware that those who were before you among the People of the Book divided into seventy-two sects, and this nation will divide into seventy-three: seventy-two are in the Fire, and one is in Paradise, which is the united group. Indeed, there will emerge from my nation people who will be swayed by desires as rabies sways its victim; no vein or joint will remain unaffected by it."  

"أَلَا إِنَّ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ مِنْ أَهْلِ الكتَابِ افْتَرَقُوا عَلى ثِنتينِ وسَبْعينَ مِلَّةً، وَإنَّ هذِه الأمَّةَ سَتَفْتَرِقُ عَلَى ثَلَاثٍ وسَبْعينَ، ثِنْتَانِ وَسَبْعُونَ في النَّارِ، وَوَاحِدَةٌ فَى الجنَّة، وهِى الْجَمَاعَةُ، وَإِنَّهُ سَيَخْرُجُ مِنْ أُمَّتِى أَقْوَامٌ تَجَارَى بِهمْ تِلْكَ الأَهْوَاءُ كَمَا يتَجارَى الْكَلَبُ بِصَاحِبهِ، لَا يَبْقَى مِنْهُ عِرْق، وَلَا مَفْصِلٌ إِلَّا دَخَلَهُ ".  

[Machine] Ali said to me: "O Abu 'Umar! Do you know into how many sects the Jews were divided?" I said: "No." He said: "Into seventy-one sects, all of which are in the abyss except one, which is the saved one. Do you know into how many sects the Christians were divided?" I said: "No." He said: "Into seventy-two sects, all of which are in the abyss except one, which is the saved one. Do you know into how many this nation will be divided?" I said: "No." He said: "It will be divided into seventy-three sects, all of which are in the abyss except one, which is the saved one." He said: "And it will be divided into twelve sects, all of which are in the abyss except one, which is the saved one, and you are from that one and that one."  

يَا أبَا عُمَرَ! تَدْرِى عَلَى كَمِ افْترَقَتِ الْيَهُودُ؟ قُلتُ: لاَ، قَالَ: عَلَى وَاحِدةٍ وَسبْعِين فرْقَةً، كُلُّهَا فِى الْهَاوِيَةِ إلَّا وَاحِدَةً هِى النَّاجِيةُ، تَدْرِى عَلَى كَم افْتَرقَتِ النَّصَارَى؟ قُلتُ: لاَ، قَالَ: عَلَى ثنْتَينِ وَسَبْعِين فِرْقَة، كلُّهَا فِى الْهَاوِيَةِ إِلَّا وَاحِدةً هِىَ النَّاجيةُ، تَدْرِى عَلَى كَمْ تَفَرَّقُ هَذِه الأُمَّةُ؟ قُلتُ: لاَ، قَالَ: تَفَرَّق عَلَى ثَلاَثٍ وَسبْعِينِ فِرْقَة كُلُّهَا فِى الْهَاوِيَةِ إلَّا وَاحِدَة هِى النَّاجِيَةُ، قَالَ: وتَفَرَّقُ فِى اثْنَتَىْ عَشْرَةَ فِرْقَةً كلُّهَا في الْهَاوِيَةِ إِلَّا وَاحِدَةً هِى النَّاجِيَةُ، وإنَّكَ مِنْ تِلكَ الْوَاحِدةِ وَتِلك الْوَاحِدةِ.  

There will come upon my community what came upon the Children of Israel, step by step, so much so that if there was among them someone who openly committed wrongdoing with his mother, there will be among my community someone who does that. The Children of Israel divided into seventy-two sects, and my community will divide into seventy-three sects, all of them in the fire except one sect." They asked, "Who are they, O Messenger of Allah?" He replied, "What I and my companions are upon."  

"لَيَأتِيَنَّ عَلَى أُمَّتي مَا أَتَى عَلَى بَنى إِسْرَائيلَ حَذوَ النَّعْلِ بالنَّعْل، حَتَّى إِن كَانَ منْهم مَنْ أَتَى أُمَّهُ عَلانيَةً لَكَانَ في أُمَّتي مَنْ يَصْنَع ذَلِكَ، وَإِنَّ بَنى إِسْرَائيلَ تَفَرَّقت عَلَى ثنتَينِ وسبْعينَ مِلَّةً، وَتَفتَرِق أُمَّتِي عَلَى ثَلاث وَسَبْعِينَ مِلَّة، كُلَّهُمْ في النَّارِ إلا مِلَّة وَاحِدَة، قَالُوا: مَنْ هِيَ يَا رَسُول الله؟ قَال: مَا أَنَا عَليه وَأَصْحَابِى".  

There will come upon my nation what came upon the Children of Israel, similar to similar, footstep by footstep, such that if there was among them someone who openly married his mother, there would be someone in my nation who does the same. Indeed, the Children of Israel divided into seventy-two sects, and my nation will divide into seventy-three sects, all of which will be in the Fire except one." It was asked, "Which is that one?" He said, "That which I and my companions are upon today.  

"سَيَأْتِي عَلَى أُمَّتى مَا أتَى عَلَى بَنِى إِسْرَائِيلَ مثْلًا بِمِثل، حَذْوَ النَّعْلِ بِالنَّعْلِ، حَتَّى لَوْ كَانَ فِيهِمْ مَنْ نَكَحَ أُمَّهُ عَلاَنِيَةً، كَانَ فِي أُمَّتِى مِثْلُهُ، إنَّ بَنِى إِسْرَائِيلَ تَفَرَّقُوا عَلَى ثِنْتَينِ وَسَبْعِينَ مِلَّةً، وسَتَفْترق أُمَّتِى علَى ثَلَاثٍ وسَبْعِينَ مِلَّةً، كُلُّهَا فِى النَّار غَيْرَ وَاحِدةٍ قيلَ: وَمَا تِلْكَ الْوَاحِدَةُ؟ قَالَ: مَا أَنَا عَلَيْه الْيوْمَ وَأَصْحَابي".  

[Machine] Ali said: "The Jews divided into seventy-one sects, and the Christians into seventy-two sects, and you will divide into seventy-three sects. And among the most misguided and wicked of them are those who follow Shi'ism, or the Shia."  

تَفَرَّقَتِ الْيَهُودُ عَلَى إِحْدَى وَسَبْعينَ فِرْقَةً، وَالنَّصَارَى عَلَى ثِنْتَيْنِ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةً، وَأَنْتُمْ عَلَى ثَلاَثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ، وَإنَّ مِنْ أَضَلِّهَا وَأَخْبَثِهَا مَنْ يَتَشَيَّعُ، أَوِ الشِّيعَةَ ".  

[Machine] Indeed, the people of the two scriptures divided into seventy-two sects in their religion, and indeed this nation will divide into seventy-three sects, all of which will be in the fire except one, and it is the congregation. And there will emerge from my nation people whom those desires will carry away as rabies carries its victim, leaving no vein or joint except that it enters it.  

"إِنَّ أَهل الْكتِابينِ افترقُوا في دِينِهم علَى ثِنتينِ وسبعِين ملَّةً، وإِنَّ هذه الأُمَّة ستفترِقُ علَى ثلاثٍ وسبعِين مِلَّةً، وكُلُّها في النَّارِ إِلَّا واحِدةً، وهِى الْجماعةُ، وإِنَّها ستخرجٌ مِنْ أُمَّتِى أَقْوام تتجارى بِهِم تلك الأهواءُ كما يتَجارى الكَلَبُ بصاحبه، فَلا يبقَى مِنْهُ عِرق، وَلا مَفْصَل إِلَّا دخَلَهُ".