The View of Non-Shiite Sects about the “Saved Sect

This article aims to provide an overview of the perspectives held by non-Shiite theological and jurisprudential sects regarding the concept of the "saved sect" (al-firqat al-nājiya), as mentioned in the hadith concerning the division of seventy-two sects. We argue that while Sunni sects, in contrast to Shias, maintain that they collectively constitute a single sect, their various subgroups, such as the People of Hadith (ahl al-ḥadīth), People of Opinion (ahl al-raʾy), Muʿtazilites, Ashʿarites, Māturidis, and jurisprudential schools, perceive themselves as the "saved sect," while considering other sects as being “perished (hālika) sects.” Furthermore, we explore the varying interpretations among Sunni scholars regarding the concept of "perish" (halāka) mentioned in the hadith of the "saved sect." These interpretations encompass possibilities such as disbelief or eternal confinement in hell.