Hadith 19

And it is reported by Ibn Batreeq from Tafseer Al-Sa’alby regarding Words of the Exalted: Surely, those who were dividing their religion and became sects, [6: 159], by his chain from Zazan Abu Umar who said, ‘Ali-asws said to me: ‘Abu Umar! Do you know how many the Jews divided into? ’ I said, ‘Allah-azwj His-azwj Rasool-saww are more knowing’. He-asws said: ‘Dividing into seventy-one sects, all of these would be in Hell, except one, it would attain salvation. Do you know how many the Christians would divide into? ’ I said, ‘Allah-azwj and His-azwj Rasool-Allah-saww are more knowing’. He-asws said: ‘Dividing upon seventy-two sects, all of these would be in Hell except one, it would attain salvation. Do you know upon how many this community would divide into? ’ I said, ‘Allah-azwj Knows’. He-asws said: ‘Dividing into seventy-three sects, all of these would be in Hell except one, it would attain salvation, and you are from them, O Abu Umar’’. [19] (Non-Shia source)