Explain the hadeeth that the ummah would splinter to 73 groups as happened to the Ummah of past and present in full details.

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 Prophet said “Jews will split into seventy-one groups and Christians will split into seventy-two groups, and my nation will split into seventy-three groups. All the groups will enter Hellfire except one. They asked: “Which one is it, o Prophet of Allah? He replied: “Those who will remain on the path on which I and my companions are today.”

The meaning of this Hadeeth is very clear; the Ummah (i.e. the Muslim nation) will be separated into many groups. But the only one group which is on the right way is the victorious group. This group always follows the Sunnah and refuses the Bid'ah (innovation). This group will continue till the last day. The Prophet Muhammad said: “A group of my Ummah will continue victoriously adhering to the truth; those who let them down or differ from them do not harm them and they will keep adhering to this path until the day of judgment.”

For more benefit on the Ummah (Muslim nation) splitting into 73 sects, please refer to Fataawa 393448, 12682, 82163, 33503, and 322.

Allah knows best.