[ This is the conclusion of the article, Splitting into Groups and Parties, by Shaykh Muhammad Naasir ad-Deen al-Albaanee (d.1420) – may Allaah have Mercy on him. ]
…The reason why I have brought all these points is so that we understand that there is no way to reach the true, correct understanding of Islaam, except by knowing the seerah of the Companions and how they practiced this great Islaam, the religion that he (sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) taught them personally, whether by his statements, actions, or approvals.
Based on this, we believe firmly that every group that does not build upon this foundation, the Book, the Sunnah, and the methodology of the righteous predecessors, with an expansive, studious approach that includes all of Islaam’s rulings, big and small, central issues and subsidiary ones, is not part of the saved sect, the one that treads the Straight Path that the Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) referred to in the authentic hadeeth.
If we took into account that there are various groups in the Muslim lands, all upon this same methodology, then these are not sects, rather they are only one group, their methodology is one methodology, their way is one way. Their division throughout the different lands is not a division because of fiqh issues, nor a division based upon different ‘aqeedahs, nor a division resulting from different methodologies. Verily this division is only due to their physical separation throughout the lands, as opposed to the differing between groups and sects all in the same land, with regards to that [1]:
( …every sect rejoicing about what was with them )
We do not believe that these sects are upon the Straight Path, rather we say quite decisively that they are upon those other paths, the ones that have a shaytaan at the head of each one of their paths calling to them.
I hope that there is an answer in this to the question that preceded.
Translated by: Moosaa Richardson [2]
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FOOTNOTES:
[1] the meaning of Soorah Ar-Room (30):32
[2] Source: Recording 602 of the Silsilah al-Hudaa wan-Noor series.