Fatwa's Insights - Aqidah

THE 68TH MEETING OF THE PERLIS STATE FATWA COMMITTEE / 2024

5 - 6 JUN 2024 / 27 - 28 ZULKAEDAH 1445H

FATWA ON DEVIANT ESOTERIC TEACHINGS

Teachings that possess the following beliefs are deviant esotericism (bāṭiniyyah) and are prohibited:

1. Believing in Tanāsukh al-Arwāḥ (transmigration of souls from a deceased person to another person). This includes believing that a particular figure or teacher who has died, his soul transmigrates to his followers or other living individuals.

2. Believing that an individual or teacher who has clearly died is still alive in an unseen manner and will appear at a certain time.

3. Believing that a particular individual or teacher is the incarnation of Allah or the Messenger or an Angel who must be venerated or obeyed without question.

4. Believing in or interpreting the Qur’ān in a purely symbolic manner that contradicts the principles of Sharī‘ah and the rules of the Arabic language.

5. Believing that Sharī‘ah can be divided into outward (ẓāhir) and inward (bāṭin), such that some people are not bound by the outward Sharī‘ah because they claim to hold only to the inward.

6. Believing that an individual or teacher (other than the Messenger) receives revelation similar to that obtained by the Messengers and knows unseen matters through revelation like the Messengers.

7. Believing that the deceased can confer benefit and repel harm for the living.

8. Believing that seeking help from the dead is equivalent to seeking help from Allah.

9. Believing that the body of a leader is like the body of the Prophet ﷺ in terms of receiving blessings.

10. Believing that the religious status of a leader is equal to or even higher than that of Allah and the Messenger, such that praise and fanatic devotion to the leader take the place of devotion to Allah and the Messenger.

11. Believing in the deviant concept of 'Nūr Muḥammad' which is claimed to be eternal and pre-eternal and existed before the creation of the universe. This also leads to the deviant belief that this light (nūr) descended into the body of Prophet Adam and was inherited into the bodies of all prophets and subsequently into the bodies of imams or teachers and continues until an endless end, including claiming and believing that a person can connect directly with Allah through the Nūr Muḥammad within himself.

Any individual or group, whether operating through an organization, association, or company, that holds any of the above‑mentioned beliefs is categorized as a deviant esoteric teaching that deviates from the true Ahl al‑Sunnah wa al‑Jamā‘ah.

In connection therewith, Muslims are prohibited from practising the teachings, tenets, or understandings mentioned above, including conducting lectures, educational classes and learning through any means whatsoever, including performing any acts that may be characterized as developing and spreading such beliefs.

Muslims are also prohibited from possessing, keeping, printing, or selling audio recordings, books, pamphlets, magazines, or any other publications, leaflets, or documents that are related to the teachings or beliefs mentioned above.

ATTENDANCE AND APPROVAL BY:

1. Sahibus Samahah Professor Dato' Arif Perkasa Dr Mohd Asri Bin Zainul Abidin;

2. Sahibul Fadhilah Ustaz Tajul Urus bin Abdul Halim;

3. Sahibul Fadhilah Professor Dr. Muhamad Rozaimi bin Ramle;

4. Sahibul Fadhilah Professor Dr. Basri bin Ibrahim;

5. Sahibul Fadhilah Dr. Hj Zaharuddin bin Hj Abdul Rahman;

6. Sahibul Fadhilah Professor Dr. Azman Bin Mohd Noor;

7. Sahibul Fadhilah Associate Professor Dr. Mohd Akram bin Dato' Dahaman @ Dahlan;

8. Sahibul Fadhilah Dr. Ahmad Sufian bin Che Abdullah;

9. Sahibul Fadhilah Associate Professor Dr Ahmad Wifaq Bin Mokhtar;

10. Sahibul Fadhilah Ustaz Syed Abu Bakar bin Syed Kamal Bharin;

11. Sahibul Fadhilah Dr. Muhammad Lukman bin Mat Sin;

12. Sahibul Fadhilah K.H Dr Zaitun bin Rasmin;

13. Sahibul Fadhilah Ustaz Aidil bin Abdul Rahman;

14. Al-Fadhil Ustaz Muhammad Khidhir bin Abdul Ghani – Secretary.

RESOLVED at the Meeting of the Majlis Agama Islam dan Adat Istiadat Melayu Perlis Bil. 5/2024 on 13 September 2024.