Reference: Taken from the recording of the Shaykh Ibn Baaz’s lessons in Sharh al-Muntaqaa in Ta’if approximately 2 years or less before his death
Question: May Allaah grant you the best [of His favours]. In the hadeeth of the Prophet (sal-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), relating to the splitting of the Ummah, he says:
«…and my Ummah shall split into 72 sects…».
So, is the Jamaa’ah at-Tableegh, with what they have in terms of shirk and innovations; and also the Jamaa’ah al-Ikhwaan al-Muslimeen, with what they have in terms of partisanship and revolting/rebelling against the leaders and lack of obedience; from the 72 sects?
Response: They are from the 72 [sects]. Whoever opposes the ‘aqeedah of Ahlus-Sunnah enters the fold of the 72 [sects]. The meaning of the Prophet’s (sal-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) statement «My Ummah» is: the Ummah of Ijaabah, i.e. the Ummah of response; those who responded to the Prophet’s call and revealed their allegiance to him. And the meaning of 73 sects: the victorious sect which adhered to him and was upright in their religion and 72 of those sects – amongst them the disbelievers, the sinners and various innovators.
So, the questioners asked: Are these two groups (Jamaa’ah at-Tableegh and Jamaa’ah al-Ikhwaan al-Muslimeen) from amongst the 72 sects?
And the Shaykh responded: Yes, they are from the amongst the 72 sects, along with the Murji’ah and other than them; the Murji’ah and the Khawaarij – some of the people of knowledge regard the Khawaarij from amongst the disbelievers, out of the fold of Islaam although amongst the 72 sects.
