Source: Qur’an o Hadith ki Roshni Mein Ahkam o Masail, Volume 01, Page 624
All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
Below is a structured response to a series of interconnected questions regarding sectarianism, group formation, Bay‘ah, and Khilafah, all explained through Qur’an and authentic Hadith.
No, these verses do not prove that sectarianism is shirk.
If it is based on the rejection of the Qur’an and Sunnah, it can become a cause of divine punishment.
Hadith:
{تَلْزَمُ جَمَاعَةَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَإِمَامَهُمْ}
“Remain with the Muslim group and their Imam.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim]
The companion asked:
{إِنْ لَمْ یَكُنْ لَهُمْ جَمَاعَةٌ وَلَا إِمَامٌ؟}
“What if they have no group or Imam?”
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
{فَاعْتَزِلْ تِلْكَ الْفِرَقَ كُلَّهَا}
“Then separate yourself from all those sects.”
Thus, in times when the Ummah is divided and lacks a unified group or leader, one must avoid all sects.
Yes — if they divert from the Qur’an and Sunnah, they can lead to Hellfire.
Refer to answer ③ — the Ummah may exist, but without a united Jama‘ah or Imam.
If a unified Jama‘ah does not exist, then one must stay away from all sects.
Yes, if a Jama‘ah is established, appointing an Amir is necessary.
However, if no such system exists, one should still avoid sects, as per:
{فَاعْتَزِلْ تِلْكَ الْفِرَقَ كُلَّهَا}
If one refuses to give Bay‘ah to a rightly guided Imam present, such a person dies a death of ignorance.
However, in the absence of a legitimate Imam, this ruling does not apply, as the Hadith:
{فَاعْتَزِلْ تِلْكَ الْفِرَقَ كُلَّهَا}
was revealed for such a scenario.
No. Jāhiliyyah also refers to any state of abandoning parts of Islam, not just the pre-Islamic period.
Yes. The Prophet ﷺ said:
{لَا تَزَالُ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْ أُمَّتِي ظَاهِرِينَ عَلَى الْحَقِّ}
“A group from my Ummah will always remain dominant upon the truth.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī]
Yes. One narration states:
“يُقَاتِلُونَ عَلَى الْحَقِّ”
“They will fight upon the truth.”
In current times, there is no unified Imam or Jama‘ah.
Therefore, as per the Hadith:
{فَاعْتَزِلْ تِلْكَ الْفِرَقَ كُلَّهَا}
the one who adheres to the Qur’an and Sunnah — in belief, speech, and action — is upon the truth, even if considered part of a sect.
No. Any believer with even a mustard seed of faith will eventually be removed from Hell, as per the Hadith:
{يَقُولُ اللهُ تَعَالَى: مَنْ كَانَ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ حَبَّةٍ مِنْ خَرْدَلٍ مِنْ إِيمَانٍ فَأَخْرِجُوهُ}
“Allah will say: Take out anyone from Hell who has even a mustard seed’s worth of faith in his heart.”
[Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ]
However, fulfilling the pillars of Islam is essential for proving one’s faith.
When the Ummah is divided, the Jama‘ah does not exist, as shown in the Hadith:
{فَاعْتَزِلْ تِلْكَ الْفِرَقَ كُلَّهَا}
Thus, the question itself becomes invalid in such circumstances.
Some individuals within those sects may be disbelievers, not all of them.
Some innovators are disbelievers, and others are not.
If he has fallen into kufr or shirk, it is not permissible to pray behind him.
Taqlid — i.e., accepting anything that contradicts Qur’an and Sunnah — is unlawful.
When the Ummah returns to Qur’an and Sunnah, and those who follow it gain strength, Khilafah on the Prophetic methodology (علی منہاج النبوۃ) will, in shā’ Allāh, be established.
Allah says:
﴿وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا﴾
“Allah has promised those who believe...”
[An-Nūr: 55]
No, weak Hadith is not part of the religion.
Shaykh al-Albānī (رحمه الله) graded Hadiths with knowledge and sincerity,
but other scholars have differed with him in some matters.
هٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
This is what I have, and Allah knows best what is correct.
❖ Preface
All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
Below is a structured response to a series of interconnected questions regarding sectarianism, group formation, Bay‘ah, and Khilafah, all explained through Qur’an and authentic Hadith.
❖ Detailed Questions & Answers
① Is sectarianism (فرقہ بندی) considered shirk based on Surah al-Baqarah, verses 31–32?
No, these verses do not prove that sectarianism is shirk.
② Is sectarianism a form of punishment?
If it is based on the rejection of the Qur’an and Sunnah, it can become a cause of divine punishment.
③ What is meant by the Hadith: “Stick to the Jama‘ah of Muslims and their Imam”?
Hadith:
{تَلْزَمُ جَمَاعَةَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَإِمَامَهُمْ}
“Remain with the Muslim group and their Imam.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim]
The companion asked:
{إِنْ لَمْ یَكُنْ لَهُمْ جَمَاعَةٌ وَلَا إِمَامٌ؟}
“What if they have no group or Imam?”
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
{فَاعْتَزِلْ تِلْكَ الْفِرَقَ كُلَّهَا}
“Then separate yourself from all those sects.”
Thus, in times when the Ummah is divided and lacks a unified group or leader, one must avoid all sects.
④ Can political factions lead to Hellfire?
Yes — if they divert from the Qur’an and Sunnah, they can lead to Hellfire.
⑤ Can the Ummah be disconnected (انقطاع)?
Refer to answer ③ — the Ummah may exist, but without a united Jama‘ah or Imam.
⑥ Is it necessary to form a Jama‘ah (group)?
If a unified Jama‘ah does not exist, then one must stay away from all sects.
⑦ If a Jama‘ah is formed, is appointing an Amir mandatory?
Yes, if a Jama‘ah is established, appointing an Amir is necessary.
However, if no such system exists, one should still avoid sects, as per:
{فَاعْتَزِلْ تِلْكَ الْفِرَقَ كُلَّهَا}
⑧–⑨ Is Bay‘ah for a Khaleefah or Amir? And what about Bay‘ah during travel?
- Bay‘ah is for a Khaleefah, though in general terms, the Khaleefah may also be referred to as Amir.
- During travel, Bay‘ah to an Amir of the journey is valid for administrative purposes.
⑩ Does not performing Bay‘ah result in a death of ignorance (موت جاہلیت)?
If one refuses to give Bay‘ah to a rightly guided Imam present, such a person dies a death of ignorance.
However, in the absence of a legitimate Imam, this ruling does not apply, as the Hadith:
{فَاعْتَزِلْ تِلْكَ الْفِرَقَ كُلَّهَا}
was revealed for such a scenario.
⑪ Does "Jāhiliyyah" only refer to the pre-Islamic era?
No. Jāhiliyyah also refers to any state of abandoning parts of Islam, not just the pre-Islamic period.
⑫ Will the victorious group (طائفہ منصورہ) always remain?
Yes. The Prophet ﷺ said:
{لَا تَزَالُ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْ أُمَّتِي ظَاهِرِينَ عَلَى الْحَقِّ}
“A group from my Ummah will always remain dominant upon the truth.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī]
⑬ Will this victorious group always fight (in defense of truth)?
Yes. One narration states:
“يُقَاتِلُونَ عَلَى الْحَقِّ”
“They will fight upon the truth.”
⑭ Which group today is the Jama‘ah of truth?
In current times, there is no unified Imam or Jama‘ah.
Therefore, as per the Hadith:
{فَاعْتَزِلْ تِلْكَ الْفِرَقَ كُلَّهَا}
the one who adheres to the Qur’an and Sunnah — in belief, speech, and action — is upon the truth, even if considered part of a sect.
⑮ Is the Hadith of seventy-three sects in Abu Dawud authentic? And can we pray behind the other 72 sects?
- The Hadith is authentic.
- Praying behind those sects that have fallen into disbelief or shirk is not valid.
⑯ Will the other 72 sects remain in Hell forever?
No. Any believer with even a mustard seed of faith will eventually be removed from Hell, as per the Hadith:
{يَقُولُ اللهُ تَعَالَى: مَنْ كَانَ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ حَبَّةٍ مِنْ خَرْدَلٍ مِنْ إِيمَانٍ فَأَخْرِجُوهُ}
“Allah will say: Take out anyone from Hell who has even a mustard seed’s worth of faith in his heart.”
[Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ]
However, fulfilling the pillars of Islam is essential for proving one’s faith.
⑰ How can we identify the saved group among the 73?
When the Ummah is divided, the Jama‘ah does not exist, as shown in the Hadith:
{فَاعْتَزِلْ تِلْكَ الْفِرَقَ كُلَّهَا}
Thus, the question itself becomes invalid in such circumstances.
⑱ Are all of the 72 sects disbelievers?
Some individuals within those sects may be disbelievers, not all of them.
⑲ Is a person of innovation (بدعتی) a disbeliever?
Some innovators are disbelievers, and others are not.
⑳ Can we pray behind an innovator?
If he has fallen into kufr or shirk, it is not permissible to pray behind him.
㉑ Is Taqlid a Bid‘ah?
Taqlid — i.e., accepting anything that contradicts Qur’an and Sunnah — is unlawful.
㉒ How will the Khilafah be established?
When the Ummah returns to Qur’an and Sunnah, and those who follow it gain strength, Khilafah on the Prophetic methodology (علی منہاج النبوۃ) will, in shā’ Allāh, be established.
Allah says:
﴿وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا﴾
“Allah has promised those who believe...”
[An-Nūr: 55]
㉓ Is a weak Hadith part of religion?
No, weak Hadith is not part of the religion.
㉔ Are there weak Hadiths in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim?
- All Hadiths included by Imams Bukhārī and Muslim are authentic in their view.
- Some narrations they cite with comments or chains for critique, but they do not affirm them as part of the core collection.
㉕ Did Shaykh al-Albānī’s Hadith gradings always align with the truth?
Shaykh al-Albānī (رحمه الله) graded Hadiths with knowledge and sincerity,
but other scholars have differed with him in some matters.
هٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
This is what I have, and Allah knows best what is correct.
