Are the contemporary Islamic groups among the seventy-three sects?
Question

                There are some who say that the groups which we are commanded to shun in the hadeeth of Hudhayfah are the Islamic groups such as the Salafis, the Ikhwaan (Muslim Brotherhood) and the Tableeghis. What do you say concerning that?
Praise be to Allah. 
          When Hudhayfah asked, “O Messenger of Allaah, we were 
          in a state of ignorance and evil, then Allaah brought us this good. 
          Will there be any evil after this good?” the Prophet 
          
          (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Yes.” Hudahyfah asked, 
          “Will there be any good after that evil?” He said, “Yes, but it would 
          be tainted with dakhan (i.e. a little evil).” I asked, “What will its 
          dakhan be?” He said, “There will be some people who will guide (people) 
          according to something other than my guidance and will lead them according 
          to something other than my Sunnah. You will see their actions and disapprove 
          of them.” Hudhayfah said, “Will there be any evil after that good?” 
          He said, “Yes, there will be some people who will invite others to the 
          doors of Hell, and whoever accepts their invitation to it will be thrown 
          in it (by them).” Hudhayfah said, “O Messenger of Allaah, describe those 
          people to us.” He said, “They will be from among us and speak our language 
          (i.e., from among the Arabs).” Hudhayfah asked, “What do you command 
          us to do at that point?” He said, “Adhere to the jamaa’ah (group) of 
          the Muslims and their leader.” Hudhayfah asked, “What if there is no 
          jamaa’ah and no leader?” He said, “Keep away from all those different 
          sects, even if you have to bite (i.e. eat) the root of a tree, till 
          you die while you are still in that state.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari 
          and Muslim). 
 
          This important hadeeth explains to us that the Muslim 
          is obliged to adhere to the jamaa’ah of the Muslims and to co-operate 
          with them wherever they may be, whether it is a jamaa’ah that is found 
          in the Arabian Peninsula, or in Egypt, or in Syria, or in Iraq, or in 
          America, or in Europe, or in any place. 
 
          When the Muslim finds a group that is calling people 
          to the truth, he should help them and be one of them, he should aid 
          them and encourage them, help them to remain steadfast in adhering to 
          the truth. If he cannot find a jamaa’ah at all, then he should adhere 
          to the truth and he will be the jamaa’ah even if he is only one, as 
          Ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) said to ‘Amr ibn Maymoon: 
          “The jamaa’ah is that which is in accordance with the truth, even if 
          you are on your own.” 
 
          The Muslim has to seek the truth. If he finds an Islamic 
          center which promotes the truth, or a group in any place which promotes 
          the truth – i.e., which calls people to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah 
          of His Messenger, and to sound belief – in Europe or Africa or in any 
          place – then he should join them and seek the truth, doing so with patience, 
          and being with the people of truth. 
 
          This is what is obligatory upon the Muslim. But if he 
          cannot find anyone who calls people to the truth, whether a state or 
          a group, then he must adhere to the truth on his own and be steadfast 
          in doing so. In that case he will be the jamaa’ah, as Ibn Mas’ood (may 
          Allaah be pleased with him) said to ‘Amr ibn Maymoon. 
 In 
          these times – praise be to Allaah – there are many groups which are 
          calling people to the truth, as in the Arabian Peninsula (the Saudi 
          government), the Yemen, the Gulf, Egypt, Syria, Africa, Europe, America, 
          India, Pakistan and other parts of the world. There are many groups 
          and Islamic centers and Islamic societies which are calling people to 
          the truth and proclaiming the message, and warning against that which 
          is opposed to it. So the Muslim who is seeking the truth in any place 
          has to look for these groups, and when he finds a group or a center 
          or a society which is calling people to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah 
          of His Messenger 
          
          (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), he should follow it and 
          adhere to it, such as the Ansaar al-Sunnah in Egypt and Sudan, Jama’iyyat 
          Ahl al-Hadeeth in Pakistan and India, and other groups which are calling 
          people to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger 
          
          (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), devoting their worship 
          sincerely to Allaah alone, and not calling upon anyone else such as 
          the occupants of graves or others.