Question:

Who are the scholars that interpret the hadith of the 73 sects to mean that all are saved except one? I heard this from a khatib several times in a sermon at a local masji but I can’t find where the khateeb got this information from.

Answer:

As for the narration of the Hadith: “all of them are in the Paradise except one” then Shaikh Abdullah Ibn Abdullah Aziz, Ibn al-Aqeel hafidhuhallah was asked:

Question:

The questioner asks about the Hadith reported about the dividing of the Ummah into seventy-three groups. Who reported it and what’s its meaning? Is there a text of the Hadith that says: “all of them are in the hell-fire except one” or “all of them are in paradise except one”?

Answer:

“This Hadith was reported by Ahmad, Ibn Abi Dunya, Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi, Ibn Hibban, al-Hakim and he authenticated it. It was reported by other than them also. It was reported by Awf ibn Malik, Mu’awiyyah, Abu Darda, Ibn Abbas, Ibn Umar, Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas, Abdullah ibn Amr al’As, Wathila, Abu Umamah, and other than them with a close wording…[then the Shaikh says] Imam Safaarani rahimahullah said:

Shaikhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah rahimahullah said in Alexandria:

This Hadith [all of them are in Jannah except one] has no origin and it is a fabricated lie according to the consensus of the People of Knowledge of Hadith. It was not reported by anyone of the people of Hadith who are well-Known. Rather the Hadith which is in the Sunan and Masaanid from the Prophet sallahu alayhi wa salam from different reports says: “This Ummah will divide into seventy three groups, one in Jannah, and seventy two in the hell-fire”. It was reported from the Prophet sallahu alayhi wa salam: “It is the Jama’ah” and in another Hadith: “Whoever is upon what I am upon today and my Companions”. Ibn Hazm weakened the Hadith however Hakim reported it in his Saheeh. It was reported by Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi, and other than them. Also, the wording: Zandaqah is not found in the speech of the Prophet sallahu alayhi wa salam as it is not found in the Quran. As for Zandeeq (apostate) which the jurists speak of in terms of repenting, whether accepted or rejected, then they intend: the hypocrite who makes Islam apparent and disbelieve hidden”

I say (Shaikh al-Aqeel): The Hadith mentioned by al-Ghazali, Hafidh ibn al-Jawzi said in al-Mawdoo’at and he mentioned that the Hadith was reported by Anas with he wording: “My Ummah will divide into seventy or seventy one or seventy one groups all in Jannah except one” They said who, oh Messenger of Allah? He said: the Zanadqah from the Qadariyyah. It was reported by al-Uqayli and Ibn ‘Addi and Tabarani also from Anas who said: We use to see them to be the Qadariyyah..the wording of Hadith of Mu’awiyah preceded, and it is what is relied upon not a fabricated Hadith upon the Prophet sallahu alayhi wa salam. And Allah knows best” [Lawaami’ al-Anwaar al-Bahiyyah (1/92-93)]

[Fatawa Shaikh Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz al-‘Aqeel pg. 30-31]

So it is clear that the wording “all of them are in Paradise except one” is a fabrication and it is not permissible to narrate nor rely upon. The Khateeb in your area should be advised this and he should repent to Allah for narrating a fabrication upon the Prophet sallahu alayhi wa salam.

And Allah Knows Best

Translated by

Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan