What is the definition of a sect?

[jinnzaman]

what do you think the defining characteristics of a 'sect' are as opposed to a group?

[Abu_Abdallah]

what do you think the defining characteristics of a 'sect' are as opposed to a group?

al-Salamu 'Alaikum,

Could you be more specific in your question, dear brother? Do you mean 'sect' as in any language? Or do you mean 'sect' as firqa or tâ'ifah or any other Arabic [shar'i] term?

wa-Salam

[jinnzaman]

al-Salamu 'Alaikum,

Could you be more specific in your question, dear brother? Do you mean 'sect' as in any language? Or do you mean 'sect' as firqa or tâ'ifah or any other Arabic [shar'i] term?

wa-Salam

Linguistically and legally.

Whats the distinction between a firqa and a madhab?

[aboosafar]

Good question. I'd like to know, also, what's the difference between a fiqah and a hizb. I think I can tell the difference between a sect and a madhhab, correct me if I'm wrong, is that madhahib dont' necassarily disagree except in ijtihadi matters whereas a firaq disagree in non ijtihadi matter like in usul ad din and a hizb is just a an allied group that can be for the truth or falsehood or a combination of both.

Let me know if that's correct and please elaborate.

I'm just going off what came to my mind, and from the examples I could think of.

Maybe that's why the ikhwan al muslimeen would be considered a hizb, because they have principles they unite upon and allow any members of any sect to join as long as they agree with those principles and the jahmiyah, khawarij, and shi'ah etc. are more like full blown sects since they unite each upon their own distinct brand of falsehood and madhahib are more like the four schools of fiqh who disagree in ijtihadi matters only thus following any one of them is allowable and not considered tafarruq.

Please explain this Brother Sharif and let me know if I'm or wrong about this.