Assalamualaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,Are the 73 sects based on only Aqidah? And are inovators (who innovates in dhkir, dua, prayer, celebrate different occasions like mawlid, etc) not include in these sects?Jazakum Allahu Khairan

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

The disagreement by which a sect becomes blameworthy in opposing the saved sect, is the violation of a general principle of the fundamentals of the religion and one of the rules of the Sharee’ah – such as Tawheed, predestination, warning of punishment and Hellfire, and the like.

As for noncompliance in some particulars and branches of Ijtihaad, then this does not necessitate going out of the saved sect.

Ash-Shaatibi said in al-I’tisaam:

“These sects only become sects that contradict the saved sect in a general meaning of religion and in one of the rules of the Sharee’ah, but not in a particular part of the particulars, because the particular part and the abnormal branch does not lead to a disagreement that causes division into groups, but division arises when the violation occurs in general matters.” [End of quote]

Therefore, the mere disagreement in some particular branches, such as in Thikr, supplication, prayer, or celebrating different occasions, such as the birthday of the Prophet, etc.) does not necessitate departing from the saved sect.

For more benefit on the saved sect, please refer to Fatawa 25101, and 22612.

Allah Knows best.