Hey. I think this site would be really good to check out to learn the basic beliefs of Islaam: http://beconvinced.com
I'll try to answer the following insha Allaah (God willing):
4a. What are all the denominations of Islam, and why is there reason for having different denominations?
4b. What denominations might be considered "extreme" or "fringe"?
The final Messenger of Allaah/God, Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
The Messenger of Allaah/God, Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
"I counsel you to have Taqwaa (God consciessness) of Allaah and to hear and obey, even if an Abyssinian [Ethiopian] slave were to command you. For, verily, whoever amongst you lives (to grown old), he will see many differences.
So stick to my Sunnah [path/guidance] and the Sunnah of the rightly guided khaleefahs. Cling tightly onto it and hold onto it with your molar teeth. And beware of newly invented matters. For, indeed, every newly invented matter is an innovation, and every innovation is a thing that leads astray, and everything that leads astray is in the Hellfire."
[Authentically Recorded in Abu Dawud]
And he also said:
"Indeed those from before you from the People of the Book [christians and jews] divided into seventy-two groups. And, indeed, this group (Muslims) will divide into seventy-three. Seventy-two groups will be in the Hellfire and one of them will be in Paradise. And it is the Jamaa'ah (group)."(recorded in Ahmad)
And in another narration, he (sal Allaahu alayhi waSalam) said:
"Everyone of them in the Hellfire, except for one group that which I and my companions are upon." (recorded in Tirmidhi)
So we see from the Prophetic statement that there will be sects, but the saved group is the one who follows the Qur'an (speech of God) and Sunnah (Prophetic way) according to the understanding of the companions of the Messenger of Allaah and those who follow them.
This means we can't take the hadith (Prophetic sayings) out of context, we can't take qur'an out of context - rather we follow it according to how they understood it - the way the Messenger of Allaah taught and explained to them - since they had the best understanding, and this is because they were alive with the Messenger of God, Muhammad (peace be upon him) while the revelation was being revealed.
This doesn't mean them sects will be in the hellfire forever, but rather they may go to the hellfire temporarily to be purified. Yet Allaah is not unjust to any of His servants, so anyone who believed that God/Allaah Alone is worthy of worship, and believed in ALL of His Messengers, then they will be in Paradise in the end. Even if they have an atoms weight of faith in their heart.
Try checking these links out for more info insha'Allaah:
http://www.islamicboard.com/sects-di...aved-sect.html (The Saved Sect)
http://www.islamicboard.com/sects-di...wal-jamah.html (The Path of Ahlus-Sunnah Wal Jamah)
http://www.islamicboard.com/sects-di...ing-ummah.html (The Splitting and Differing in the Ummah)
Peace.
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