What is the reason for the proliferation of many madhhabs (schools of thought), and does this affect religion, thought, belief, and reckoning?

Allah the Almighty, in His Book, and the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, in his Sunnah, foretold the occurrence of differences among people. The occurrence of these differences was a miracle for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.

Allah made the truth manifest through His Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Those for whom Allah willed salvation followed it, while those whom Allah forsook deviated from it. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, informed us that the Ummah would divide into seventy-three sects, of which only one, the Jama'ah, would be saved. The emergence of these false doctrines and sayings was necessitated by Allah's wisdom, so that the people of felicity might be distinguished from the people of wretchedness.

Every Muslim must follow the guidance of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and adhere to the methodology of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah, and beware of false doctrines and opinions that contradict the doctrine of Ahlus-Sunnah.

As for the different schools of thought within the sphere of Ahlus-Sunnah, such as the Hanafi, Shafi'i, Maliki, and Hanbali schools, they are all upon goodness. Their differences in secondary matters for which there is no decisive proof are a mercy for the Ummah. This difference is based on the pursuit of truth and the following of evidence, not on caprice. Those who follow them do not cease to be among the people of truth.

There are two types of disagreement: - Blameworthy: This is what falls outside the sphere of Ahlus-Sunnah, and its adherents are feared to face a bad reckoning on the Day of Judgment. - Permissible: This is what falls within the sphere of Ahlus-Sunnah. Its adherents are, in the sight of Allah the Almighty, oscillating between two rewards for the one who is correct, and one reward for the one who errs but is a diligent Mujtahid excused in his effort.