BATU PAHAT: Johor has become the latest state to declare the teachings, ideology, and practices of GISB Holding (GISBH) as deviant and contradictory to Islamic principles.
Johor Mufti Datuk Yahya Ahmad said this was in line with the National Fatwa Committee for Islamic Affairs (MKI)'s decision, which found these teachings inconsistent with Islam.
He said the State Mufti Department was in the process of gazetting the decision to enable enforcement action against GISBH followers."
GISBH Holdings has previously been banned at the national level.
"For your information, this fatwa has been resolved and presented to the Sultan of Johor, who has instructed us to identify and enforce the existing fatwa."
Our decision on GISBH follows the MKI's national ruling that these teachings and practices contradict Islam," he said during a press conference after launching the Johor State Fatwa Education Seminar, themed Challenges to the Faith of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah, at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) today.
Six other states, namely, Penang, Selangor, Sabah, Perlis, Pahang, and Melaka, had declared GISBH's teachings as deviant.
Yahya said the Mufti Department has also ruled that the Qadiani teachings, founded by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of India, contradict Islamic beliefs.
He said the teaching, which was propagated in Johor during the 1960s, has recently seen attempts at revival with the recruitment of new followers.
"We have also issued a new fatwa on Qadiani teachings, similar to the one for GISBH.
"While the Qadiani teachings had been declared deviant long ago, the fatwa had not yet been gazetted."
Given the attempts to revive these teachings, we have taken the necessary measures.
"Among the elements of deviation in these teachings are the founder's claims of prophethood, receiving divine revelation, proclaiming himself as the Mahdi, and denying the existence of heaven and hell," he said.