Does the proliferation of sects in this age to a number exceeding seventy-three pose a problem for what came in the hadith of the schism?

The questioner : Yes, and there is something else behind it, which is that it is observed in this era that parties and sects have multiplied greatly, to the point that many scholars have been unable to enumerate them or state their number. In fact, some of those who attempted to enumerate them found that they exceeded seventy-five. Moreover, some of the sects themselves have split into sub-sects that cannot be enumerated or mentioned.

The Shaykh : is it

The questioner : Due to their great number.

The Shaykh : So now...

The questioner : This is the problem, O Shaykh.

The Shaykh : That is it.

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : So now I say: There are two things here. When does a group become a misguided sect? It does not become one merely by deviating on a minor point, as was answered earlier. Rather, a group becomes a misguided sect when a community organizes itself based on a methodology they establish and adopt, and they form a party and become fanatical about it. At that point, it becomes a sect.
As for an individual Muslim making a mistake and falling into a religious innovation, whether in creed or in a jurisprudential ruling, this is not considered a sect. Therefore, when we want to classify the sects and say that they have exceeded the number mentioned in the hadith, this requires, as they say today, a survey and study of these sects and an understanding of their methodologies. If they truly have distinct methodologies, each differing from the others, and each contradicting the Book, the Sunnah, and the way of the pious predecessors, then we can say: this is a misguided sect, this is a misguided sect, and this is a misguided sect.
If we enumerate these sects, define their methodologies, and rule that they contradict the methodology of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) and his noble Companions, then we will say that each of these groups is among the misguided sects. If they exceed seventy-three sects, then at that point we say, as the scholars have stated, that the number has no specific implication. However, the number has no specific implication regarding the maximum, not regarding the minimum. Is that clear?

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : Yes, but I tell you frankly that it is impossible for a person to count the sects existing today, conduct a study on every sect, and judge by the just scale of the Shari'ah that this sect is misguided and that sect is misguided, and then say that their number has exceeded seventy-three. This is impossible. Rather, it is a reaction that may be accompanied by some bias, or by some intense emotion, or it may not be accompanied by bias. Therefore, such a research does not benefit us as much as knowing whether this person or this group, in what they have contradicted, is it permissible for us to declare them innovators, to oppose them, and to exclude them from the community of the people of the Sunnah and the community? That is what is important. As for spending a little or a lot of time counting the sects and then saying, "These sects have exceeded the number mentioned in the hadith," what is the benefit of this? There is no benefit. This is my answer to this question. Otherwise, the time is almost eleven o'clock.