Hadith On 73 Sects

[Umer]

By collecting and analyzing all the texts of the Hadith you have referred to, the picture which emerges is:

i) The prediction stated in these Ahadith pertain to the period just after the Prophet (sws), and relates to events within the land of Arabia. Such Ahadith are meant to put Muslims on guard, and are also a means to substantiate the Prophethood of Muhammad (sws) for people of his times.

ii) The number 73 is not been used here in its literal sense. It is used here figuratively to emphasize a point. Such a usage has examples in every language. For example we say: ‘If Ahmad has faltered three times you will falter four times’. This does not mean that we are counting the number of times some one is going to falter. It only means that we are warning our addressee that he will falter more than Ahmad and therefore he should be very careful.

iii) The word ‘firqah’ here does not imply a religious sect. It means the various political factions and groups which do not submit to the authority of the state and create anarchy in the society.

iv) These Ahadith also direct Muslims to remain attached to the ‘al-jamaah’ , when such a time of anarchy comes. The word ‘al-jamaah’ means ‘state authority’, and does not mean a religious faction or group.

v) It is known that many factions like the Khawarij and the Sabai created a lot of nuisance in the period after the Prophet (sws) by rebelling against the state authority. It is groups such as these which have been referred to in such Ahadith. The Prophet (sws) is urging his Companions (rta) and followers not to become part of such rebellious factions and to cling to the authority of the state.

(Dr. Shehzad Saleem)

[Umer]

Please refer to the following complete video (and specifically from 11:57 to 13:25)

https://youtu.be/ChLqqdVWJIg?t=717