The children of Isra'il split into seventy-two groups...

The children of Isra'il split into seventy-two groups, and this nation shall split into seventy-three groups all of which, except one, will go to Hell."[^1] Another almost similar narration of this incident is recorded by authors of books of traditions[^2] who cite ‘Ali (as) saying: "Some people from Quraysh came once to the Prophet (pbuh) and said: ‘O Muhammad!

We are your neighbours and allies, and some of our slaves had come to you without a genuine desire to learn your religion or jurisprudence; they simply escaped from our possession; so, return them to us.' He asked Abu Bakr his opinion, and Abu Bakr said: ‘They are right in saying that they are your neighbours;' whereupon the Prophet's face changed colour [i.e. became red with anger], and he asked ‘Umar what he thought.

‘Umar repeated Abu Bakr's words, and again his face changed colour and said: ‘O people of Quraysh! By Allah! Allah will send you a man the faith of whose heart is tested by Allah, and he will fight you in order to safeguard the faith.' Abu Bakr inquired if he meant him, and his answer was negative.

Then ‘Umar inquired if it was he about whom the Prophet (pbuh) was talking, and his answer was: ‘No, it is the man who is mending the sandal;' the Prophet (pbuh) had given me his sandal to mend," Wassalam. Sincerely, Sh [^1]: The words "firqa" and "Shi’ah" are, if you count the times each one of them is repeated, synonymous, for the total number of each one of them is 385, making the majority of that group hopeful. [^2]: Such as Imam Ahmad near the conclusion of page 155, Vol.

1, of his Musnad, Sa’id ibn Mansür in his Sunan, and Ibn Jarir in Tahthib al-Athar, all testifiying to its authenticity. It is quoted from all of them by al-Muttaqi al-Hindi on page 396, Vol. 6, of his book Kanz al-’Ummal. Previous…