Helping victims of deviant teachings a shared responsibility, approach with understanding, strong arguments - Perlis Mufti
The fundamental problem with cults and their teachings was the tendency of followers to idolise their leaders.
SHAH ALAM - It is everyone's responsibility to help followers of deviant teachings by approaching them with understanding and offering stronger arguments and evidence to guide them away from their misguided beliefs.
Perlis Mufti Datuk Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, popularly known as Dr Maza said those involved in cults and deviant teachings can be categorised into two distinct groups.
He said the first group were those who intentionally promote deviant teachings to exploit others.
This group, he said must be firmly opposed and stopped at any cost.
The second group, he said were those who were ignorant and lacked knowledge and were being manipulated and abused.
"We must approach them with understanding and provide stronger arguments and evidence to replace their misguided beliefs, showing that what they follow is against Islamic teachings, logic and humanity.
"We must educate those who have strayed by removing them from harmful environments and providing them with proper education and teachings," he said when contacted.
Asri suggested using zakat funds to support the rehabilitation of former followers who have acknowledged their past mistakes and seek repentance, offering financial aid and resources to help them rebuild their lives.
He said it was the collective responsibility of society to support and welcome those who chose to return to the true teachings of Islam.
"In Islam, everything must be based on evidence, not blind imitation. It is essential to ask for proof in the Quran and Sunnah for any teaching or practice before following it.
"How can one claim to follow Islam while abusing the rights of others’ be it children, women or society as a whole?
"Such absurdities have no place in Islam, as they clearly contradict the wisdom and teachings of the Quran and Prophet Muhammad SAW," he said.
Asri pointed out that the fundamental problem with cults and their teachings was the tendency of followers to idolise their leaders, elevating them to a near-divine status and believing they were infallible and always correct.
"This kind of blind obedience, where followers feel they must fully submit because they see their leader as representing Allah SWT or the Prophet, is a dangerous deviation from true Islamic teachings.
"We must put a stop to any cult or organisation that distort religious teachings, crossing the boundaries set by Islam.
"While we respect religious scholars and leaders, there are limits and if they say or do something that contradict Islamic principles, we must not follow them blindly," he said.
Citing an example of a deviant teaching, Asri pointed out that in organisations like GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH), followers would invoke the name of their late leader Ashaari Muhammad, better known as Abuya, rather than Allah SWT.
He said they believed that Ashaari could still provide them with assistance.
Such practices, he said clearly violated Islamic teachings, yet they justified their actions under the guise of obedience to their leader.
