Are political parties considered among the seventy-three sects?

The questioner : Are the existing Islamic groups considered among the sects?

The Shaykh : The answer to this question, as we have said and continue to say always and forever, is that it is not possible to imagine an infallible individual after the departure of Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Consequently, it is not possible to imagine an infallible group either, without another group. Therefore, if we are asked such a question, we cannot say that a specific group is among the misguided sects, or that it is not, unless we know its methodology and its course. Do they first adhere to the Book and the Sunnah in thought, and second, in practice? If they adopt that, then they are not among the misguided sects, even if, in their starting point, they may deviate slightly or significantly, like any individual among the Muslims. We, praise be to Allah, belong to the righteous Salaf, meaning we understand the Book and the Sunnah according to the methodology of the righteous Salaf, and we obligate ourselves to be so. We may err, and we may hit the mark in what we claim of belonging, even in some details. I said “may,” but without a doubt, and without the possibility of error, we err in applying this methodology slightly or significantly. This varies according to the individuals. If our methodology is based on the Book and the Sunnah, and on what the righteous Salaf were upon, there is no doubt that this will be a guarantee for us that we are not a sect among the misguided sects. As for our actions, they are with Allah (Mighty and Majestic); either He forgives us, or He holds us accountable. Therefore, we say: Thus, the decisive ruling between one group and another is looking at its methodology. If a group among these groups declares that it is upon the Book and the Sunnah and adheres to that in behavior within the limits of its ability, it is not permissible to say that it is among the misguided sects and those who have exited the circle of correct Islam. And it is not so in the practical aspect, as we said, because what is said about the group is said about the individuals, because the group is composed of individuals. One extra individual equals a group, and every individual among these individuals, without a doubt, may have an error or more than one error. Excuse me, he may have a sin, more than one sin. But it is not permissible for him to have a thought or belief error, otherwise, by that, he exits the Muslim group truly.