ULUM (Dec 2018)
The Influence of the 73 Sects Ḥadīth on the Classification of Theological Sects in Islamic Heresiographical Literature
Abstract
This article deals with the influence of the “73 sects ḥadīth,” which states that Muslims will be separated into 73 sects, when Jews had 71 and Christians had 72 sects, and that only one of them will be saved whereas the others will go to Hell, on, particularly, Islamic heresiographical works written to examine and classify theological sects and their beliefs in the Islamic community from the beginning. This ḥadīth has had a crucial and decisive role in those works’ form and way to study the sects as well as their authors’ perception of their own sect and the other sects. Studying the influence, not the authenticity, of the 73 sects ḥadīth, the article first mentions the famous narration of the ḥadīth, noting other different narrative versions; then points out some questions that would be arisen in one’s mind about the implication of the ḥadīth. The article mainly discusses the attitudes of Muslim heresiographers towards 73 sects ḥadīth and describes by placing them in main three categories: ‘Those who consider the 73 sects ḥadīth authentic,’ ‘Those who do not consider the 73 sects ḥadīth authentic,’ and ‘Those who do not take notice of the 73 sects ḥadīth.’ Considering the ḥadīth authentic, most of heresiographers have different views about the meaning of the number 73 mentioned in the ḥadīth. Some thinks that the number is for a fact and, accordingly, divides the sects to reach up 73 with different formulas and some are of the opinion that the number is a metaphor and a mere allusion on abundance as a common usage in the Arabic language and, accordingly, do not limit the number of the sects to 73. The article ends up with a discussion of the problems of the consideration of the 73 sects ḥadīth a measure for studying and classifying theological groups.
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