KUALA LUMPUR: The act of a leader attempting to coerce followers to sanctify him or seek his blessings through personal items such as hair and containers of blood is considered extremism or 'ghuluw' in Islam, say several muftis.
They added that there is a clear distinction between seeking blessings from religious figures, which is permitted by scholars, and the fanatical practice of seeking blessings from leaders of deviant teachings.
They were responding to the discovery of "blessed items" during police raids on several welfare homes linked to GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH).
These included containers of cupping blood from the leader, tissue paper, cloth fragments and hair, including from the group leaders.
Pahang Mufti Professor Datuk Dr Asmadi Mohamed Naim said there is a clear distinction between permissible practices of seeking blessings, as seen in today's society, and those that are not advocated by Islam.
He said believing that a leader of such teaching has supernatural powers, or that their belongings hold miraculous properties, can lead to extremism and 'ghuluw'.
"This belief is against Islamic principles and is an excessively extreme act.
"No one should attempt to revive the al-Arqam group, which has been declared heretical by all states. Any attempts to revive this group or its teachings must be firmly eradicated."
Asmadi added that claims by former followers that leaving the group equates to opposing Allah and the Prophet are false and baseless.
Penang Mufti Associate Professor Datuk Dr Mohd Sukki Othman said certain groups or teachings use specific items or objects related to their leaders for blessings.
He said there was the belief that these acts would make entering the afterlife easier, as they would receive intercession from their leader.
"Some even believe that their leader has not died but merely disappeared temporarily and will return to the world to save the ummah.
"One of the main hallmarks of these deviant teachings is elevating their leader as Imam Mahdi, and followers being promised a shortcut to paradise."
He added that those who are easily swayed by deviant teachings tend to be individuals with weak religious knowledge.