and your reward is assured, while his sin lies upon him.

I then asked, “Tell me about those who rise up against the people with their swords, fighting them and spilling their blood.” He replied, “They are of many different kinds, yet every one of them is in the Fire.”

Abu Hurayrah—may Allah be pleased with him—narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“The Children of Israel split into seventy-two sects, and my community will split into seventy-three sects; all of them are in the Fire except the great majority.”

Ḥammād also related to me from Ibrāhīm ibn Masʿūd that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“Whoever introduces a new affair into Islam has perished; whoever innovates a bidʿa (religious innovation) has gone astray; and whoever goes astray is in the Fire.”