Know that the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “My Ummah will split into seventy three sects, all of them in the Fire except one and it is al-Jamaa’ah.” It was said, “Who are they, O Messenger of Allah?” He (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) replied, “That which I and my Companions are upon today.” [1]
The religion was a single Jamaa’ah up to the time of the Khilaafah of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (radiallaahu anhu) and also in the time of ‘Uthmaan (radiallaahu anhu). When he was killed, schism and innovations appeared. People split into parties and sects. Amongst the people were some who remained firm upon the truth. When the affairs worsened, they spoke the truth, acted upon it and called the people to it.
The affairs remained in order until the fourth generation in the Khilaafah of so and so. When times changed and people deteriorated greatly, innovations became widespread and there arose many callers inviting away from the way of truth and the Jamaa’ah. People were tried with things, which neither the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) nor any of his Companions spoke about. People called to sectarianism, whereas the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) had forbidden sectarianism. Each group declared the others to be unbelievers. Everyone called to his own opinion and declared those who differed with him to be unbelievers. The ignorant, the common folk and those with knowledge went astray. They caused the people to be greedy for the things of this world and to fear worldly punishment, so people followed them out of fear for their worldly affairs and out of desire for this world. So the Sunnah and the people of the Sunnah were suppressed. Innovation appeared and became widespread. The people committed disbelief in many ways that they were not aware of. They used analogical reasoning and considered the Power of the Lord, His signs, rulings, commands and prohibitions according to their intellect and opinions. Whatever accorded with their intellect they accepted and whatever did not agree with their intellect, they rejected. Islam became a stranger, the Sunnah a stranger and the people of the Sunnah strangers within their own homes [2].
