GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Mufti has called for a thorough probe into several video footage being circulated on social media recently of a deviant Islamic sect.
Datuk Seri Dr Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor said he could not ascertain the true purpose behind the actions.
He, however, said there was no doubt that such a belief was another heresy that needed to be straightened out and curbed so that it does not spread among the Muslim community in the country.
He added that anyone who believed that Prophet Muhammad was Allah had indeed left the religion of Islam and became an apostate, and could be sentenced to death according to Islamic law.
"We know that in Islamic teachings, Prophet Muhammad is a messenger sent by Allah to convey His religion to all mankind. Scholars have agreed that His Majesty is the best of creatures and the bearer of grace for the whole world.
"This fact is understood from several verses of the Quran and authentic Hadith accompanied by explanations by authoritative scholars.
"However, the superiority of Prophet Muhammad as 'Sayyidul khalqi' (or the best of creature) should not lead to extreme belief to the point of deifying him.
"We hope that an investigation is carried out immediately by the religious authorities at the federal and state levels to identify the individuals involved so that they can be asked to repent," he said today.
Wan Salim said if they stubbornly continued to stick with the error, then they needed to be brought before the Syariah Court and be punished according to the provisions of the existing law.