He (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) clarified what will happen in the future, and that the Ummah is in need of this advice. It is to listen and obey the leader of the Muslims. Then he said,”Surely whoever among you lives after me then he will see several differences. Hence, you must adhere to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of rightly guided successors.”This is another means among the causes for the Ummah’s salvation. The first means: is to listen and obey the leader of the Muslims.The second means: is clinging to the Sunnah of the Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and the Sunnah of His rightly guided successors Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthmaan, and ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with them). Hence, they are the successors to the Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) along with adherence to the Sunnah of the Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) He said,”Several differences.”It is not a simple difference; it is several and abundant differences, and the Ummah will not be saved from this abundant differing except by adhering to the Sunnah of Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), and upon what his rightly guided successor, the Muhaajirun and the An’sar. Allah, the Most High, said,”And the first to embrace Islam of the Muhaajirun, the An’sar; and also those who followed them exactly (in Faith); Allah is well-pleased with them as they are well-pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens under which rivers flow.” [Soorah at-Taw’bah 9:100]When the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) informed (us) that differing and splitting will occur, He said,”The Jews have divided into seventy-one sects; the Christians have divided into seventy-two sects, and this Ummah will become seventy-three sects. All of them will be in the Hellfire except for one sect. We said, “who is it O Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) of Allah?” He said, “whoever is upon what I and my companions are upon.”
