Question: Is it possible to eliminate sectarianism?

**Question: Is it possible to eliminate sectarianism?** **Answer:** As far as the clear teachings of the Qur'an and Sunnah are concerned, the answer to this question appears to be **in the negative**. This is because the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ foretold that this Ummah (Muslim nation) would split into 73 sects. For example, there is a narration in **Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi**: **Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi – Shakir + Al-Albani – (5 / 26)** *“Abdullah ibn Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘What befell the Children of Israel will befall my Ummah, step by step, like the resemblance between the two shoes of a pair. Even if there was one among them who committed incest with his mother openly, there will be someone in my Ummah who will do the same. And indeed, the Children of Israel were divided into 72 sects, and my Ummah will be divided into 73 sects. All of them will be in Hell except one.’ The companions asked, ‘Who are they, O Messenger of Allah?’ He replied, ‘Those who follow what I and my companions are upon.’”* Abu ‘Isa (al-Tirmidhi) said: *This is a detailed and rare Hadith; we do not know it except through this chain.* Shaykh al-Albani graded it as *Hasan (sound).* Similarly, in **Musnad Abi Ya‘la**, we find: **Musnad Abi Ya‘la – Verified – (7 / 36)** *Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘The Children of Israel split into 71 sects, and my Ummah will split into 72 sects. All of them will be in the Hellfire except the majority group (al-Sawad al-A‘zam).’* Muhammad ibn Bakr said: *This means the main body (of the Muslim community).* These and other similar Hadiths, transmitted through multiple chains, clearly indicate that the Prophet ﷺ foretold the division of this Ummah. We firmly believe that the entire world can be wrong, but **no prophecy of the Prophet ﷺ can ever be false**. Therefore, it is certain that the Ummah will divide and that sectarianism will inevitably exist. We **cannot prevent it**, nor can we **completely unite** the Ummah. In such circumstances, our responsibility is to remain with **al-Sawad al-A‘zam (the main body)** and **Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jama‘ah**, and to distance ourselves from the deviant sects. **May Allah protect us all. Ameen.**