Be wary of deviant groups: Arifin
Published on: Friday, April 28, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: Muslims have been advised to be wary of some deviant groups that use certain "Tarekat" (the path to be close to Allah) names and concepts, claiming to practise "Tasawwuf" or Sufism, which is a part of Islamic knowledge on cleaning the inner and spiritual part of oneself through prayers and certain practices that bring them close to Allah.Making the call, Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, who is in charge of Islamic affairs in Sabah, Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif, said these deviant groups are using the "Tarekat" group name and "Tasawwuf" concept to reflect piousness as a tactic to recruit more followers.He said Muslims must not simply join such groups and should not be easily influenced by their methods claiming to be close to Allah as some may have deviant elements.
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Instead, Arifin said, they must refer any doubtful teachings and suspicious practices of these groups with qualified Islamic clerics and teachers."It cannot be denied that there are several deviant groups that tried to spread their own teachings using the name of 'Tarekat' and 'Tasawwuf'."In fact, studies have also shown that these groups would use similar terminologies that are being used in the 'Tasawwuf' field but the concepts are far from the real meaning."Hence, State Islamic authorities and the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) have been proactive in their action to explain deviant concepts and teachings by groups identified as deviant," he said.
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Arifin said this when opening a national level Sufism Seminar based on the Wasatiyyah approach at Sa'adah hall at Wisma Muis, here, Thursday.Also present were Jakim Da'wah Head Mazlan Abdullah, Malaysia Wasatiyyah Institute Deputy Director Dr Mohd Afandi Mat Rani, Sabah Islamic Religious Affairs Department (Jheains) Director Yusof Abas and other senior officials.
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Arifin said the existence of deviant groups and their teachings that misuse the Sufism concept that uses "Tasawwuf" or "Tarekat" elements that confuse and cause misunderstanding among Muslims must be rectified and explained comprehensively based on true Islamic knowledge."Tarekat" practices need high discipline and understanding of the knowledge as it is difficult to be translated in layman terms unless Muslims go for consistent and continuous in-depth study on the subject matter diligently."Confusion would arise if the Muslim community cannot see the difference between the meanings of the right concept and the deviant ones."That is why it is very important to learn about the 'Tasawwuf' or 'Tarekat' concepts and practices in Islam from proper and qualified Islamic teachers to avoid being involved with deviant groups," he said.Arifin also called on the Islamic authorities in Sabah to always work together with police and other enforcement authorities to curb the activities of doubtful groups from within country or outside Malaysia that come to Sabah.During a press conference, he said the State Islamic authorities have identified the deviant groups in Sabah and that most of them have been banned.The latest group, he said, was the Abraham Millah leaders and followers that was tackled recently and another deviant group that called itself "Ajaran Rizki" whose deviant teachings include carrying out prayer practices in the woods that supposedly can turn leaves into money.In the case of the 11-year-old Tahfiz whose legs were amputated after alleged beatings at a religious school in Johor Baru and who later passed away in the hospital, Arifin said the State Government via its Islamic authorities always monitors the 40 Tahfiz schools and Islamic religious schools registered with Jheains in Sabah.He said there are about 40 Tahfiz schools, 200 People's Islamic Schools and 104 State Islamic Religious Schools under the supervision of Jheains that are being monitored.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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