Assalam O Alaikum, Wa Rehmatullah, Wa Barakatuhu,
THERE IS NO ANY SECT IN ISLAM. ISLAM + SECT = ZERO
Divisions and differences among this ummah is something inevitable, to which history bears witness, as do the Quran and authentic ahadith of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
Allah says in Surah An'aam 159:
Indeed, those who have divided their religion and become sects - you, [O Muhammad], are not [associated] with them in anything. Their affair is only to Allah ; then He will inform them about what they used to do.
The cause of division is the disagreement in fundamental matters of religion and basic issues of aqeedah, not differences of opinion regarding fiqh.
Prophet [SAW] has ordered us to follow his sunnah and to remain with the jamah (majority), i.e Ahlul Sunnah Wal Jamah, during the time of divisions and differences.
Sunan an-Nasa'i 4020, It was narrated that 'Arfajah bin Shuraih Al-Ashja'I said:
"I saw the Prophet [SAW] on the Minbar addressing the people. He said: 'After me there will be many calamities and much evil behavior. Whoever you see splitting away from the Jama'ah or trying to create division among the Ummah of Muhammad [SAW], then kill him, for the Hand of Allah is with the Jama'ah, and the Shaitan is with the one who splits away from the Ummah, running with him.'" Source:
http://www.sunnah.com/nasai/37/55Sunan Abi Dawud 4607, Narrated Irbad ibn Sariyah:
One day the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led us in prayer, then faced us and gave us a lengthy exhortation at which the eyes shed tears and the hearts were afraid.
A man said: Messenger of Allah! It seems as if it were a farewell exhortation, so what injunction do you give us?
He then said: I enjoin you to fear Allah, and to hear and obey even if it be an Abyssinian slave, for those of you who live after me will see great disagreement. You must then follow my sunnah and that of the rightly-guided caliphs (which constitutes 30 years, see
http://www.sunnah.com/abudawud/42/51). Hold to it and stick fast to it. Avoid novelties, for every novelty is an innovation, and every innovation is an error. Source:
http://sunnah.com/abudawud/42/12Maula Ali a.s also said the same in Nahjul Balagha sermon 126.
Source:
http://www.nahjulbalagha.org/Nahjul-Balagha-Sermons/nahjul-balagha-sermon-126.htmlWith regard to me, two categories of people will be ruined, namely he who loves me too much and the love takes him away from rightfulness, and he who hates me too much and the hatred takes him away from rightfulness. The best man with regard to me is he who is on the middle course. So be with him and be with the great majority (of Muslims) because Allah's hand (of protection) is on keeping unity. You should beware of division because the one isolated from the group is (a prey) to Satan just as the one isolated from the flock of sheep is (a prey) to the wolf.
Some characteristics of the Ahlul Sunnah Wal Jamah.
(1) They follow the truth. They are described variously as “following the truth,” “following the commandments of Allah,” “following the true religion,” etc.
(2) They obey the commandments of Allah, which means:
(a) They are distinguished from the rest of mankind by carrying the banner of Da’wah towards Allah.
(b) They undertake the mission of enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil.
(c) They refute the people of bid’ah, with sound knowledge based on the Wahi (Revelation).
(3) They will be victorious until the Last Hour.
This victory includes:
Being open and not hiding: they are well-known and prominent and have the upper hand.
Adherence to true religion, righteousness, following Allah’s commands and fighting against His enemies in jihaad.
(4) They are patient and resist others with patience.
Who belongs to Ahlul Sunnah Wal Jamah
The term Ahlul Sunnah Wal Jamah applys to those who follow the Sunnah of their Prophet, which is derived from authentic narrations only and are with the Jamah, meaning on the path of majority of Scholars or Imams from among the Sahabah, Tabi'in and Taba tabi'in, because they were the best generation of people (See
http://www.sunnah.com/bukhari/81/18), who were involved with the sciences of sharee'ah, aqeedah, fiqh, hadeeth and tafseer. This term was used in opposition to Ahlul Biddah Wal Dalalah (people of innovaton and division), they include Shia Rafidha, Nawasib, Kharijitis, Sufis and other groups who differed with Ahlul Sunnah Wal Jamah in fundamental matters of religion, adopted many innovations and caused division in Islam/Ummah. They all are misguided groups (not Kafirs), which are separated from original saved group, Ahlul Sunnah wal Jamah.
Ibn Hajar Asqalani, may Allah have mercy on him, explained the matter as follows: “They do not have to all be in one city; they could be gathered in one country or dispersed across the world. They may be gathered in one city or in a part of it. It is possible that one group may exist, then disappear, then be replaced by another group, and so on, until the Day of Judgement, when all will disappear except for one group in one city, who will disappear when the breeze decreed by Allaah comes.”
Allah says in Surah Rum 30-31
[Adhere to it], turning in repentance to Him, and fear Him and establish prayer and do not be of those who associate others with Allah.
[Or] of those who have divided their religion and become sects, every faction rejoicing in what it has.
JAZAK ALLAH KHAIRAN