Reference: Fataawa Islaamiyyah v1 p16
Question: What is the meaning of the following hadeeth:
Who is that sect? And will the seventy two sects live forever in the Fire, as the mushrik will or not? And does the term “ummah” of the Prophet ﷺ apply to thos who follow him as well as those who do not, or is it to the former only?
Response: What is meant by the term “ummah” in this hadeeth is the ummah of response (ummatul-ijaabah – those who responded to the call to Islaam after having been invited), which shall be divided into seventy three sects; seventy two of which are deviant, who practice innovated religious practices that do not constitute apostasy. Each shall be punished in accordance to the innovations and deviation [it practiced], except for those who Allaah pardons and forgives. Their final abode will be Jannah. The only sect that will be safe is Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah, who adhere to the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and hold fast to what he and his companions (radhi-yAllaahu ‘anhum) were holding to. It is they about whom the Prophet ﷺ said:
As for those whose innovation casts them out of Islaam, they belong to the ummah of invitation (ummatud-da’wah – those to whom the Prophet ﷺ was sent to invite to Islaam), not the ummatul-ijaabah. They shall remain in the Hell Fire forever, and this is the most valid opinion.
It is also said that the term “ummah” in this hadeeth means ummatud-da’wah, which is a general term indicating all those to whom the Prophet ﷺ was sent (i.e. Mankind) those who believe and those who do not believe. Whereas the term “the saved sect” is the ummatul-ijaabah, which strictly applies to those who believe in the Prophet ﷺ, truthfully and die in such a state [of belief]. This is the sect that will be saved from the Fire; either by prior punishment or without prior punishment, and their final abode will be Jannah, (in shaa.-Allaah).
As for the seventy two sects [in the second opinion] they are all, excluding the saved sect, disbelievers who will live forever in the Fire. Hence, it is clear that the ummatud-da’wah is more general in connotation than the ummatul-ijaabah. That is to say, whoever belongs to the ummatul-ijaabah belongs to the ummatud-da’wah, while not everyone of the ummatud-da’wah belongs to the ummatul-ijaabah.
And with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet ﷺ and his family and his companions.
