Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s messenger as saying, “God will not cause all my people (or he said, Muhammad’s people) to err. God’s hand is over the community, and he who is separate from it will be separate in hell.”
‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God's messenger as saying, “My people will experience what the B. Isra’il experienced, as closely as one sandal resembles another. If they had among them one who openly- had intercourse with his mother, among my people there will be one who does that. The B. Isra’il divided into 72 sects, but my people will divide into 73 sects, all of which but one will go to hell.” On being asked which it was, he replied, “It is the one to which I and my companions belong.”
Tirmidhi transmitted it.
A version by Ahmad and Abu Dawud from Mu'awiya has, “Seventy-two will be in hell and one in paradise, it being the community. And folk will come forth from among my people in whom those passions will run as does hydrophobia in one who suffers from it, permeating every vein and joint.”
He also reported God's messenger as saying, “Follow the main body, for he who is separate from it will be separate in hell.” 1
1 The source is lacking. The editor of Damascus edition quotes Mirak Shah as saying Ibn Majah gives this tradition from Anas. Ibn Majah (fitran, 8) has part of this in a tradition from Anas.
‘Amr b. ‘Auf reported God’s messenger as saying, “The religion will shrink back to the Hijaz as a snake shrinks back to its hole, and the religion will seek refuge in the Hijaz as the mountain goat seeks refuge in the mountain top. The religion began few in number and will return to the state in which it began. Blessed are the few, for they will set right the corruptions caused in my sunna by people after my death.”
