KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) uncovered deviant practices among Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISB) members.
These included seeking blessings from Allah through tabarruk actions.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Mohd Na'im Mokhtar said, through interviews with witnesses, Jakim had found that members of the group would practice tabarruk which was to seek blessings from God by touching objects that were considered "holy".
"Jakim has found that while they were involved with Al-Arqam, Rufaqa, and GISB, the deviations include issues related to aqidah (faith), syariah, and akhlak (morality), tasawuf (sufism) and muamalat (transactions).
"They believe in the emergence of (Aurad Muhammadiyah founder) Syeikh Suhaimi as Imam Mahdi, and that (Al-Arqam founder) 'Abuya' Ashaari Muhammad will appear alongside Syeikh Suhaimi in the end times.
"They would use things such as the water used to wash the hands, tissues and cloths of leaders, the water used to soak their clothes, hair, beard, and the blood from the cupping of leaders and former leaders."
Na'im said this in his explanatory session on GISB in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Among others, he said, GISB members would practice jamak prayers (combining two obligatory prayers at one time), and not perform the obligatory Friday prayers.
The living arrangement of husbands, wives and children aged 2 and above were separated, he said, and followers who leave the group would not be allowed to meet their family members.
"Followers are asked to sacrifice and work tirelessly in conditions of scarcity without pay for the benefit of GISB, while the leaders lived in luxury, fully supported by the organisation.
"Most children are raised in charity homes and separated from their parents from the age of 2."
Na'im also said schools under GISB did not use the syllabus set by state Islamic religious councils.
On Oct 1, the department's meeting with state Islamic Council heads chaired by the Jakim director-general had made several decisions on the proposed action plan for the rehabilitation of GISB members.
Na'im said these include the aspect of faith rehabilitation; review on marriages through coordination with Jakim, Social Welfare Department and the National Registry Department; Zakat assistance; establishing rehabilitation centres and implementing other rehabilitation modules from the Selangor Islamic Council and the Quran and Fardu Ain (Kafa) syllabus for children.
"We take this issue seriously and are committed to all actions taken to ensure that this matter can be addressed effectively," he added.