His prediction again proved to be true.

He also said, according to an authentic narration: “Were religion to be hung on the Pleiades, men from Persia would reach up and lay hold of it,”(58) indicating that matchless scholars and saints like Abu Hanifa would emerge from Iran. In addition, he foretold Imam Shafi‘i, saying: “A scholar from Quraysh who will fill all regions of the earth with learning.”(59)

According to an authentic narration, he said: “My community will be divided into seventy-three sects, and only one among them will attain salvation.” He was asked: “Who are they?” He replied: “Those who follow me and my Companions,”(60) meaning the Sunnis or Ahl al-Sunna wa’l-Jama‘a.

He also declared: “The Qadariyya are the Magians of this community,”(61) foretelling the emergence of the Qadariyya sect, which would be divided into different branches and reject Divine Determining or Destiny. He also foretold the Rafida, who would produce various offshoots.

Again according to an authentic narration, he said to

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(58) Bukhari, al-Tafsir 62; Tirmidhi, 47; Tafsir Sura 3.
(59) al-’Ajluni, Kashf al-Khafa’ ii, 52, 54.
(60) Abu Da’ud, Sunna 1; Ibn Maja, Fitan 17; Tirmidhi, Iman 18; Musnad ii, 232; iii, 120, 148; ‘Ali al-Qari, Sharh al-Shifa: i, 679. See also, page 130.
(61) al-Albani, Sahih Jami’ al-Saghir iv, 150; al-Hakim, al-Mustadrak i, 185; Abu Da’ud, Sunna 5; Suyuti, al-Fath al-Kabir iii, 23; Musnad ii, 86, 125; v, 406.