When you find the Ummah being divided into many sects, hold onto As-Sawād al-A`dham, that is, the majority of Islamic scholars; and you will not find those scholars to be other than Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jamā’ah (People of the Prophetic way and The Majority of Scholars).
In the past 1400 years, Ahl as-Sunnah have always been the majority and they are those who keep on the right path of Rasūllullah ﷺ and His Companions. Prophet ﷺ said:
“My Ummah will not unite upon error.” [Reported by at-Tirmidhī and Hākim – Sahīh]
It’s important we understand this because all the heretical sects believe that “true essence of Islam had become lost through the centuries and they are the revivers in these times.”
I won’t mention any names, but stay away from those who don’t believe in the finality of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ by believing there was another messenger or prophet after Him ﷺ; those who don’t accept the caliphate of Abū Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Uthmān; those who think Islam has become lost over centuries and we need to go back to the “Qur’ān and Sunnah” (as if people were not following that already).
To sum up, you’ll find the scholars of Ahl as-Sunnah following one of the four schools of jurisprudence (Hanafī, Mālikī, Shāfi’ī and Hanbalī) and one of the two schools of creed (Ash’arī and Māturīdī).
May Allāh guide us to as-Sirāt al-Mustaqīm (The Straight Path).
