The Mystery of 73 Sects by Jan-e-Alam Khaki

[shahid rasul]

ONE of the enduring topics of Muslim sectarian polemics has been the hadith attributed to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) according to which he had predicted that his ummah would be divided into 73 sects, but only one would be saved.

All Muslim sects happily claim that their sect is the ‘saved one’ (naji) and the ‘others’ are destined for hell. This hadith, if we were to follow the traditional line of argument, divides the Muslim ummah into two sections: the saved ones and the hell-bound ones.

Few people ask why the number 73, and where it comes from. Luckily, there is now a tendency to see this hadith in a more objective way, beyond sectarian interpretations. There is an attempt to see the sects more in a pluralistic and inclusive light than in exclusive ways. In recent times, attempts have been made to unravel the context of this hadith and examine its implications.

The most frequently cited hadith regarding the 73 divisions of the Muslim faith is reported as: the Jews are divided into 71 sects (firqa), the Christians into 72 sects, and my community will divide into 73 sects (Ibn Majah, Abu Daud, al-Tirmidhi and al-Nisa’i). The hadith also occurs in many other versions as well.

This hadith has two parts: one is the number of sects that are to emerge, and the other the salvation part. Often, it was understood that the 72 sects would be condemned while one would be saved. As opposed to this, we have another version of the hadith which tells us a different story.

Muqaddasi (a 10th-century geographer), according to Roy Mottahedeh (Diversity and Pluralism in Islam), tells us that “72 sects are in heaven and one in hell, according to what he considers is a more sound line of transmission (isnad)”. This shows that there is variation of the hadith reported on the 73 sects.

According to Mottahedeh, Fakhruddin Razi (d. 1209) reports that some have questioned the authenticity of this tradition, saying that if by 72 they mean the fundamentals of religious belief (usul), then they do not reach this number and if they mean the practices (furu), then the number passes this number by several multiples.

The other view of this hadith is that the figure 73 is not meant literally, but is a relative and figurative number, identified because of a context. Mottahedeh gives extensive historical examples wherein the figure was used as a symbolic number. The author says that “70 meant ‘a sizeable number’ and 70-odd meant ‘a sizeable number and then some’ is fairly clear. In many cases, the expressions are meant to be pictorial numbers and not exact ‘head counts’”.

He further adds that 70 assumed the role of a metaphor for numerousness and thus is “rhetorically significant”. The author cites a hadith that says, ‘He who helps a believer in distress, God will remove him from 73 afflictions’. Here again, probably what is meant is a generous indication towards God’s reward. Religious language is often couched in symbolic language and not meant to be literally understood.

Two famous personalities, al-Baghdadi (d. 1037) and al-Shahrastani (d. 1153) give different accounts of the sectarian numbers and their backgrounds. There is no standard explanation; each, according to his background and time, has highlighted the sectarian beliefs and backgrounds as they understood them in their times.

Talking about the quarrelling of sects, Hafiz (d. 1389-1390), a great Muslim poet, says, “Forgive the war of the 72 sects; since they did not see the truth they have struck out on the road to fancy”.

Hafiz regards the sectarian quarrels as afsana that preoccupies those who fail to understand the diversity of faith. Similarly, Mowlana Jalaluddin Rumi, according to Mottahedeh, thinks that the “deeper religion is the trans-religious mystery of love of God ... This manifests itself in many (ie 72) ‘madnesses’ and takes the soul beyond the world of being. Ultimately, we not only accept pluralism among Muslims, but among all the mysterious paths of the love of God” (Diversity and Pluralism).

Truth cannot be contained and constrained by communities’ quarrels among themselves. When we step outside the narrow confines of our communities, we realise that there is so much to learn from others. This point is reinforced by Abdul Aziz Sachedina in his remarkable book The Islamic Roots of Democratic Pluralism by demystifying the mystery of different religions and sects, and how Islam views this diversity.

Throughout history, communities have learnt much from each other. Today as well, there is an increasing global trend to learn from and celebrate the diversity of faiths in many ways.

This discussion leads us to the realisation that sectarian numbers and who ‘owns’ the truth are complex issues. We need to look at Muslim diversity with respect, humility, responsibility, and celebration rather than through the prism of sectarianism.

Let there be no bloodshed just because one sect believes and practices its faith in a particular way. All are seeking the truth. The Quran refers to this positive outlook in many verses and an example is: “… if thy Lord willed, all who are in the earth would have believed together. Wouldst thou (Muhammad PBUH) compel men until they are believers? It is not for any soul to believe save by the permission of Allah. He hath set uncleanness upon those who have no understanding” (10:99-100).

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[Mughal1]

Surah 94 AL-INSHIRAH-Proper understanding of way of life advised by God for mankind for living in this world properly as a proper human community in a kingdom for ensuring their own well being through help and full support of each other and its faithful adoption by human beings by way of needed hard works by them to fulfil its purpose for which God created everything including human beings can lead to solutions of all problems that face humanity therefore life could become a mind blowing blissful experience for humanity.

This surah is named AL-INSHIRAH from root SHEEN, RAA and HAA. Already explained but for reminder it means something that causes a space to open up wider. Also enlightenment that leads to open mindedness or better understanding of things, an idea that leads to solution of a problem or removal of a an obstacle or difficulty or hardship in the way of getting to a goal or destination. To slice, to cut into thin pieces, to dilate, to expand, to expound, to detail, to explain, to blow or blow up, to explode, to manifest, to clarify, to justify, to expose, to disclose, to reveal, to bring into the open, to bring into light, to make obvious, to add on, to realise, to actualise, to reveal, to lay open, to display, to open the door to new ideas or things, to spread the meat, to spread something valuable that acts as food for thought, to make room for something, to accommodate, to justify, to offer an excuse, to make something acceptable, to explain something in detail, to link, to connect, to bring together, to tie up together, to enlarge, to help someone understand something, to help comprehension, to help overcome something, to bring into view, to bring something to someone’s attention, to make someone aware about something, to inform, to tell or let know, to bind, to bundle up, addition, addendum, an attachment, extended or widened view, increased horizon, bigger skyline, better perspective, better outlook, bigger scope, better perception, expanded sphere, compass, purview, widened orbit, widened circle, ambit, something highly exciting, something mind blowing, something mind boggling, something difficult to imagine or think about, something beyond imagination, something highly shocking, some wonderful or strange event or happening, something that stretches human imagination, mind stretching, mind opening, opening up or stretching of mind, open mindedness etc etc.

This surah is named AL-INSHIRAH because the Quran talks about lessons and learning through observation and reflection upon realities of this universe along with revelation of God for properly understanding things so that mankind are able to see things for what they really are and whether they are the way they should be or need some work by people to change or modify or refine them to be what they should be according to set standard of God. All this cannot be done unless people have wider and deeper understanding of real world realities and revelation of God so that they could adopt such mindset, attitude and behaviour that is helpful for themselves for their own blissful, dignified and secure existence as a proper human community in a kingdom for ensuring their own well being with help and full support of each other for carrying out God assigned program or mission for them. Therefore understanding the God sent manifesto and spreading it to gain support of people for forming a proper human community in a kingdom is of vital importance for mankind. This is why almost all time that remains after meeting necessities of living must be spent on furthering this cause till human population becomes a proper human community in a kingdom. Even after people become a proper human community in a kingdom it becomes absolutely necessary for them to maintain the community and the kingdom so that things do not fall apart due to negligence or lack of maintenance. All this because unless people work very, very hard for a best human society it cannot come about or continue in existence. It has to be taken as a mission or main cause by people who wish to bring about the kind of human world the Quranic program proposes or suggests or advises. The reason is that if you want something to be proper then each and everything has to be done properly because one fatal mistake or such wrong move can ruin the whole plan for everyone.

Proclaim! In the name of Allah, the provider of psychological, sociological and biological needs of mankind,

1] Have We not extended for you the mankind your horizon by stretching your mind through teaching you Our revealed program for living in this world properly?

As explained already word SADR from root SWAD, DAAL and RAA means the centre of power or chain of command or central nervous system, central or innermost part of soemthing, kernel, centre, central part of something without which something cannot be, necessary or essential part of something, bosom, chest, box, enclosure, skull, ribcage, protective covering over something fragile, government, administration, management, handler, director, pointer, president, metropolis, main city of a country, capital city, main habitat of a human population in an area, control centre, heart of a plan, cause, mission or being, very heart of something, the very being of something, the very thing, heart, mind, brain, thinking ability or faculty, tree, branch, fruit, result, effect, outcome, consequence, middle part of something, a part of a system that is connected to all other parts of it for its existence and proper functioning, core, hub, nucleus, the very centre of something, a vitally important part of something that plays main part in its continuous existence and proper function etc.

2] To help remove thereby from you your heavy burden in form of problems, hardships and difficulties for living your lives properly in this world

3] which was breaking your back due to fractured relationships between yourselves because of lack or loss of community spirit in you people which resulted in needless tensions between yourselves,

4] that is why We raised with you the mankind the issue of hard work to understand things and to do what needs to be done so that you people end up in blissful, dignified and secure existence as a proper human community in a kingdom.

5] Because surely with hard works according to proper way of life problems and difficulties for living in this world can be overcome and life can be turned into a blissful experience by mankind.

6] Surely through hard works according to right way of life come about solutions of problems which remove difficulties and hardships for people and land them into blissful, dignified and secure existence.

7] Therefore if you really want freedom from problems, hardships and difficulties and want to end up in blissful, dignified and secure existence as a proper human community in a kingdom then focus your energies on completing the assigned program

8] and become fully involved in carrying out the mission assigned for you by your Creator and Sustainer till it is fully accomplished and then work hard to maintain things so that they do not fall apart thereafter.

The Quran repeatedly tries to focus human attention on its program so that mankind could have a great life in this world while serving purpose of God according to his plan. This is sole purpose for which God revealed the Quran and sent his revelations for mankind before this final revealed message in form of the Quran. This is why Islam is not a religion because it is not a system of dogmatic beliefs about worship of God as imagined by people who lack in proper knowledge about things. Islam is name of a way of life whereby mankind are supposed to fulfil purpose of God for which he created them by living in this world according to it. This way of life is about people carrying out program of God. God did not create people to mess up their lives by running about in all directions like headless chickens, not thinking and doing what needs to be thought and done. Deen of Islam is about society, its politics, its culture and its economics etc etc.