"Awf ibn Malik reported that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said,

'The Jews split into 71 sects: one will enter Paradise and 70 will enter Hell. The Christians split into 72 sects: 71 will enter Hell and one will enter Paradise. By Him in Whose hand is my soul, my Ummah will split into 73 sects: one will enter Paradise and 72 will enter Hell.'

Someone asked,

'O Messenger ofAllah (Peace be upon him), who will they be?'

He replied,

'The main body of the Muslims (al-Jama'ah).'

Awf ibn Malik is the only one who reported this Hadith, and its isnad is acceptable." And in another version of this Hadith the Prophet (Peace be upon him) goes onto say that the saved sect,

"...Are those who follow my and my Sahaba's path"

(Tirmidhi, vol. 2, pg. 89)

The bit in bold... does it not describe a democracy?

Also:

My ummah will never unite on falsehood. The hand of Allah is with the Jama'ah (the people on truth), whoever isolates himself will be flung into the fire.

Also from Tirmidhi, on the authority of ibn 'Abbas.