My Ummah will Split into Seventy Three Sects
Question:
Respected Shaykh, the Prophet Õáì Çááå Úáíå æÓáãþ said, "My Ummah will split into seventy three sects" so is this number restricted or not?
Answer:
This is not by way of restriction, for indeed the sects are very great (in number). And if you were to read and inspect the books written about the sects, you would find that they are great in number. However - and Allaah knows best - these seventy three (sects) are the foundation of the sects, then from them branch out many sects. And there is not a contemporary group nowadays having opposition to the people of Sunnah, except that they extend from these sects and branch from them.
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan
Translated by Abu Maryam Taariq bin 'Ali
http://www.sahab.com/go/showthread.php?s=120291fd12188a12c5cc6858d08d221f&threadid=394
