Moslem Schisms and Sects (Al-Fark Bain Al-Firak) - Being the History of the Various Philosophic Systems Developed in Islam #251682

The authenticity of this tradition has been attacked, and it has been observed that if by the 72 sects are meant as many divergencies of the fundamental dogmas of religion, there are not as many existing; but if, on the contrary, it is a question of secondary teachings (derived from these fun damental doctrines). There are more than twice as many. Besides, some are to be found giving quite the Opposite of the text which is generally admitted: that all the sects will go to paradise, one only to hell. M afdtih azl-ghaib [keys of the riwsterious world], vol. Vi, p. 193. Some others who disregard the tradition go to the other extreme. Mak rizi, for instance, claims that the Rafidiyah are divided into 300 sects. Ibn — Hazm holds that many of these sects arose as followers of false prophets, clever politicians and mystics. As an example of the cleverness of some of the leaders, he mentions abu-mughith al-husain al-iiallaj,3 who appeared to his companions as God, to the princes as a Shiite, and to the people as a pious Sfifi. In this connection it is interesting to note how often the leader of a new sect is a mania or freed slave.