THE 72 DOOMED SECTS
According to the Hadith, of the 73 sects into which the Ummah will split, 72 will be in the Fire and one will be the saved (Naaji) sect. This does not mean that the 72 sects will suffer everlasting perdition in Jahannum, nor does it mean that those of the Naaji sect will be completely free from the Fire. The 72 sects will be punished for their erroneous beliefs as well as for their misdeeds while the Naaji sect will be punished for only their misdeeds. Both groups will eventually be freed.
(Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi)