and if they do so correctly, both you and they receive the reward; but if they err, you receive the reward and they bear the blame.” And he said:

“This community will split into seventy-three sects: one will be saved, and seventy-two will be in the Fire.” He was asked, “Which is the saved sect?” He replied, “It is the community. Allah’s Hand is over the community.”

Division and disagreement are the gateway through which corruption has entered this community—and indeed other communities. Such divisions have arisen among its rulers and scholars—its kings, shaykhs and others—to an extent known to Allah. Although a person may be forgiven for some of this because of his scholarly reasoning, for which his error is excused, or because of his good deeds that erase sins, his repentance, or other reasons, it must nevertheless be understood that upholding this principle is among the greatest foundations of Islam. Thus, what distinguishes those of this community who attain salvation from those who suffer punishment is adherence to the Sunnah and the community. In this connection, they cite many Prophetic traditions and transmitted reports, too numerous to recount here. Thus, after the Book and the Sunnah, consensus is the third foundational authority that must take precedence in practice, for Allah does not unite this community upon misguidance.

The fifth type consists of the doubts and objections that many people raise concerning much of what the adherents of the Sunnah and the community agree upon—indeed, even some matters upon which all Muslims agree, and even some upon which the followers of all religions agree. These doubts and objections sometimes concern their transmission and narration, and at other times their disagreements and opinions.