Fatwa's Insights - Aqidah

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PERLIS STATE FATWA COMMITTEE

20 SEPTEMBER 2024

FATWA CONCERNING GISB HOLDINGS SDN. BHD.

After receiving evidence concerning GISB Holdings Sdn. Bhd. that convinces the Perlis State Fatwa Committee, the committee decides that the beliefs and teachings within GISB Holdings Sdn. Bhd. contain elements of deviant teachings, particularly esotericism (bāṭiniyyah). It is also a continuation of the al-Arqam teachings that have been decreed as deviant through fatwa.

After the Committee deliberated, the following matters are decided:

1. The tenets of the GISB Holdings Sdn. Bhd. group that cultivate a personality cult around their leaders or religious figures they believe in, exceeding boundaries to the level of seemingly equating the position of the leader or religious figure with the status of the Prophet (peace be upon him), or possessing miraculous powers, or knowing the unseen as if God, is an understanding of an esoteric (bāṭinī) nature, deviant, and misguided. The effects and consequences of such personality cult:

1.1 Produces extreme fanaticism to the extent of obeying the leader or religious group even when clearly contradicting al-Qur'ān and al-Sunnah.

1.2 Following blindly and complying with the commands of the leader or religious group even when contradicting Islamic teachings.

1.3 Seeking blessings excessively from the bodily remnants of their leaders.

1.4 Associating their cult leaders with elements that can justify their erroneous actions by using the name of Imam al-Mahdī, incarnation of the Messenger of Allah, miracles of saints (karāmah walī), blessings (barakah), and the like.

1.5 Believing that their deceased leaders are still alive and can still provide guidance to them.

1.6 Creating new sharī'ah rulings to justify their activities that contradict sharī'ah, namely rulings on prayer, marriage and also transactions.

2. After examining the manner in which GISB Holdings Sdn. Bhd. conducts its economic activities, the Committee concludes that the economic model it practises is not a genuine Islamic economic model, but rather one that contradicts the principles of Islamic economics. This is because it contains elements of oppression and enslavement of those involved, as well as exploitation of members, children, women, and families for the benefit of the deified leadership.

3. Hereby, all teachings, activities, and anything that may assist GISB Holdings Sdn. Bhd. are prohibited.

4. The Committee also recommends that Muslim society assist in the rehabilitation of members of GISB Holdings Sdn. Bhd. who wish to exit from this deviation. Zakāh allocations may also be used to assist their rehabilitation, such as financing proper education, rebuilding lives, security protection, legal assistance related to liberation from GISB Holdings Sdn. Bhd., and financing da'wah for creedal purification. Zakāh allocations under fī sabīlillāh, al-riqāb, and the destitute and poor (fuqarā' wa masākīn) may be used for this purpose.

5. Schools that possess the authentic Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamā'ah educational curriculum should assist in taking in these children of GISB Holdings Sdn. Bhd. to be given the education they deserve.

6. Private organisations may also assist by providing employment opportunities so that former members can live like other members of the Muslim community.

7. The entire Muslim community should adopt a positive attitude in helping former members of GISB Holdings Sdn. Bhd. to free themselves from the bonds of this deviant doctrine.

8. At the same time, all parties should jointly monitor to ensure they do not return to such deviant teachings.

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 on 21 September 2024.