How different groups came into existence

[Warda]

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

Assalamu 'Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu

Respected Imam Sahib,

Many times, this question came into my mind that How these different religious groups ( Sunni, Wahabi, Deobandi, Shia) came into existence.

During the excellent time of Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam, there were only muslims and non-muslims.

Then, how this happened?
Every group says that they are right.
I am a sunni muslim and believe that what they say is wrong.
What u say in the light of Quran and Sunnah?

Pl. give me a comprehensive reply.

Wa'alaykum 'Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu

[Imam]

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

Wa'alaykum 'Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu


All Praise be to Allah who is the Lord of the Worlds, and may Endless Blessings be showered upon His Most Beloved, and Final Messenger of Islam, Hadrat Muhammad Mustafa Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam


Jazak'allah for your question. When Islam first began it was a single force, that remained intact with no ''sects/groups'' of people. However, the Beloved Messenger of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam knew that certain types of people would emerge in the future, that would cause problems to the common muslims. In a hadith, it is stated that the jews have 71 sects [firqah] and the muslims will have 72, only one will be from Paradise [jannah] and that the rest of them will be from the hellfire [jahanam].


Now every sect claims that they are correct and that they are not wrong. But if a person was to sit back and analyse what factors there are that would make a sect from the hellfire, with reference to Qur'an and Hadith, then it would be obvious that a sect which doesent would be the one which would be from paradise. For example written statements which show the greatness of the Prophets [May Allah bless them & give them Peace] and their families, those sects who believe that Allah the Almighty has physical characteristics rather than those who claim that he is pure and sects that respect and revere the Noble Companions of the Beloved Messenger Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam rather than those who don't favour any particular one above the rest, or rebel against any of them. These are just a few of the factors which effect the imaan [faith] of a person, and in relation to ahadith, or Qur'anic verses, decides that which are correct and which are not.


The main principle, however, should not be overlooked that anyone who does or says anything contrary to the saying or action of the Beloved Messenger of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam is, or is not a misbeliever.



Wallahu A'lamu Biththawaab



M Waseem Ashrafi