ADMINISTRATION OF MUSLIM LAW ACT(CHAPTER 3, SECTION 32)

FATWA ISSUED BY FATWA (LEGAL) COMMITTEE , ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS COUNCIL OF SINGAPORE 

The Fatwa Committee 2007-2010 met with representatives of “Madrasah Faiz al-Baqarah” on 11th March 2010, and has issued the following fatwa in its 21st meeting of 20 May 2010.  

FATWA

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الحمد لله رب العالمين ، والصلاة والسلام على سيد المرسلين وإمام المتقين نبينا محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين.  اللهم أرنا الحق حقا وارزقنا اتباعه، وأرنا الباطل باطلا وارزقنا اجتنابه . وبعد ، 

The Fatwa Committee had received several feedback from members of the public, and reviewed the Berita Harian report (dated 8 February 2010) on the teachings of a group called “Madrasah Faiz al-Baqarah”. 

2 The Fatwa Committee met the leader of the group, Mr Rahman Bin Kamari, on 11th March 2010, to verify the information received on the group, as well as to ascertain its teachings.

 

3 Based on the documents and reports received, and the meeting held with the group, the Fatwa Committee notes the following further information on the teachings of the group: 

• “Madrasah Faiz al-Baqarah” is the new name of the old group known then as “Roh Mutmainnah” – whose leader was Hassan Bin Jonit.
• Mr Rahman claims to have studied with Hassan Bin Jonit for 40 years.
• Mr Rahman claims that he is the respresentative of the “Grand Teacher”, who is in the “spiritual world” named “Ustaz Muhammad Noor”.
• Mr Rahman claims that he is in constant communication with the said “Grand Teacher”. This communication takes the form of  a voice that only he can hear, when he is in a semi-conscious state.
• Mr Rahman claims that the “venerable” “Ustaz Muhammad Noor” is the early spiritual form of the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. (awwalin), which came to the earlier Prophets such as Prophet Adam a.s.
• Mr Rahman states that his cousin, Kamaruzaman Bin Ismail, has started to hear such a “voice”.
• Generally, this group performs acts of worship (ibadat) similar to other Muslims. However, these forms are subject to modifications as decreed by the said “voice”.
• The “voice” informed Mr Rahman that on 2 January 2010, an earthquake will take place in certain parts of Singapore. Mr Rahman and his representatives were ordered to  leave Singapore. Hence, Mr Rahman and a few of his family members left Singapore for Gelang Patah, Johor Bahru, to seek protection from the said earthquake.  
• Mr Rahman explained that the “voice” has ordered him to spread the teachings of his group to the whole world.
• Mr Rahman insisted to continue spreading this teaching, regardless of any possible actions against him by the authorities. 

4 Based on the above information, the Fatwa Committee concludes on the teachings of “Madrasah Faiz al- Baqarah” as follows:

• “Madrasah Faiz al-Baqarah” is a continuation of the “Roh Mutmainnah” group after the passing of Hasan Bin Jonit. This latter group has been ruled as deviant by the Fatwa Committee in 1974 and 2001;
• From the aspect of the Islamic creed, although “Madrasah Faiz al-Baqarah” claims to teach the 20 attriibutes of Allah, the Fatwa Committee observes the following points from the teachings and beliefs of the “Madrasah Faiz al-Baqarah”:
• Their belief that the voice heard by their leader is an “inspiration” from Loh Mahfuz, and is then recorded in the form of a booklet entitled “Berita Agama”. This is as stated in the introduction page of the booklet:
  “Dengan Rahmat Allah jua perkataan di dalam kitab ini dibawa dari Loh Mahfudz memberi khabar dan petunjuk bagi mereka-mereka yang takut kepada Allah.”
• Almost all of the “inspirations” are in the Malay language and consist of incomplete and incoherent sentences. The “inspirations” received by Hasan Bin Jonit share a similar feature.

An example of such “inspiration” received by Hasan bin Jonit is: "...barang yang kamu kata. Allhumma solli ’alaa saiyidinaa Muhammad. Nabi Muhammad yang dilahirkan itu sudah tidak ada lagi. Tetapi Nabi Muhammad yang ada pada kamu itu cari bela pelihara. Hari keputeraan Nabi Muhammad ” .

An example of an “inspiration” received by Rahman Bin Kamari is: " Engkau ambil ini berita. Dunia ini akan digoncang semula jadi. Ratapan umat Muhammad tak didengari. Ratapan Ibu mu menjadi saksi. Wahai anak Ku kesayangan Bonda. Apakah nasib, apakah dosa. Junjungan kaseh, junjungan mulia. Wahai Ibunda ku sayang. Sayang semangat, sayang si roh...”.

• Their belief that the ”inspiration” received by the leader of “Madrasah Faiz al-Baqarah” comes from his teacher in the “spiritual world” named “Muhammad Noor”. They also believe that the said teacher is the light of the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. This is a false statement and fabrication made on Allah s.w.t and the Prophet s.a.w.  The Prophet s.a.w. has said:

(مَنْ كَذَبَ عَليَّ مُتَعَمِّداً فَلْيَتَبَوَّأ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ )

Which means: Whomever intentionally attributes anything falsely to me, verily he has reserved a place for himself in hellfire. (Narrated by Imam Tirmizi & Abu Dawud).

• Their belief that the grand teacher “Muhammad Noor” is unlike anything on earth, and the nature of his existence is similar to that of Allah s.w.t. Such a belief clearly leads to syirik. Allah s.w.t explains in the Qur’an:

لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ   

Which means : There is nothing whatever like unto Him, and He is the One that hears and sees (all things). [Surah As-Syura, verse 11].

Syirik is one of biggest sins in the eyes of Allah s.w.t.:

إِنَّ الشِّرْكَ  لَظُلْمٌ عَظِيمٌ

Which means: For false worship is indeed the highest wrong-doing. [ Surah Luqman, verse 13].

• Their belief that the “inspiration” must be followed even if they are in conflict with established Islamic rulings. This belief has no basis in Islam and is blind adherence to one’s desires and personal gains. Allah s.w.t. has described those who follow their worldly desires in the following Qur’anic verse:

أَفَرَأَيْتَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ إِلَهَهُ هَوَاهُ وَأَضَلَّهُ الله عَلَى عِلْمٍ وَخَتَمَ عَلَى   سَمْعِهِ 

وَقَلْبِهِ وَجَعَلَ عَلَى بَصَرِهِ  غشاوة   

Which means: Then seest thou such a one as takes as his god his own vain desire? Allah has, knowing (him as such), left him astray, and sealed his hearing and his heart (and understanding), and put a cover on his sight. [Surah Al-Jathiyah, verse 23].

• Based on their blind adherence to the “inspiration”, Rahman Bin Kamari had also spread a false prediction/prophecy that an earthquake will take place, and claims that he received it from his grand teacher, the said “Muhammad Noor”. The prediction/prophecy has caused much confusion and anxiety among members of the community. This is in conflict with the guideline provided by Prophet Muhammad s.a.w who said:

(المُسْلِمُ أَخُو  المُسْلِمُ ، لاَ يَخُونُهُ ، وَلاَ يَكْذِبُهُ ، وَلاَ يَخْذُلُهُ).

Which means: A Muslim is the brother of his fellow Muslim; he doesn’t  betray him, he doesn’t deceive him, and he doesn’t neglect him. (Narrated by Tirmizi).

Such predictions/prophecies are also against the principles of Islamic belief mentioned in the Qur’anic verse:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ السَّاعَةِ وَيُنَزِّلُ الْغَيْثَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِي الأَرْحَامِ وَمَا تَدْرِي 

نَفْسٌ مَاذَا تَكْسِبُ غَدًا وَمَا تَدْرِي نَفْسٌ بِأَيِّ أَرْضٍ تَمُوتُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ     

Which means: Verily the knowledge of the Hour is with Allah (alone). It is He Who sends down rain, and He Who knows what is in the wombs. Nor does any one know what it is that he will earn on the morrow: Nor does any one know in what land he is to die. Verily with Allah is full knowledge and He is acquainted (with all things).  [Surah Luqman, verse 34].

• From the aspect of religious practice, they have amended  some rulings based on the “inspirations” received. For example, an “inspiration” has taught them to perform the sujud (prostration) in daily prayers by touching the ground with only the nose and chin, whereas the forehead is not required to touch the ground. Such a way in performing the sujud doesn’t fulfill the requirement as mentioned in the hadith of the Prophet s.a.w. which states:

( أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَسْجُدَ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَعْظُمٍ : عَلَى الْجَبْهَةِ ، وَأَشَارَ بِيَدَيْهِ إلَى أَنْفِهِ وَالْيَدَيْنِ وَالرُّكْبَتَيْنِ وَأَطْرَافِ الْقَدَمَيْنِ )   

Which means: I have been ordered to perform the sujud (prostrate) on seven parts of the body: forehead, and then the Prophet s.a.w. pointed with his hand towards his nose, hands, feet, and the toes. (Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim).

It is a scholarly consensus in Islam that performing the sujud without fulfilling the requirements stated above renders the prayer invalid. The Prophet s.a.w has also prohibited false additions to established rulings, as follows:

(تَركْتُ فيكُمْ أَمْرَيْنِ لنْ تَضِلُّوا ما تَمسَّكْتُمْ بِهِمَا : كِتاَبَ اللهِ ، وَسُنّةَ رَسُوْلِهِ).

Which means: I leave you with two sources of guidance (with which) you will never become astray as long as you hold on to them: the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet. (Narrated by Imam Malik & Tirmizi). 

5 After considering all of the above, the Fatwa Committee has made the following decisions:

• 1974 & 2001 Fatwa:

 “Madrasah Faiz al-Baqarah” is a continuation of the teaching of Hasan bin Jonit, which had been ruled as deviant by the Fatwa Committee in 1974 and 2001, for the following reasons:

• Hasan Bin Jonit claimed to receive “inspiration” from the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.
• Hasan Bin Jonit claimed that the book “Ilham Kitabullah Kitab Al-Akbar” is a commentary of the contents of the Qur’an.
• Hasan Bin Jonit explained the Qur’an based on the “inspirations”, without adhering to the methodologies of tafsir (exegesis) as agreed by scholars, and without understanding the Arabic language.
• Islamic creed (akidah) of “Madrasah Faiz al-Baqarah”

The Fatwa Committee has decided that the creed of “Madrasah Faiz al-Baqarah” is deviant and misleading. The belief that they teach is contrary to authentic Islamic teachings.

• Religious practice of “Madrasah Faiz al-Baqarah”

The Fatwa Committee has decided that their religious practices which contradict the Qur’an, Sunnah and scholarly consensus, is a falsification of religion. This is based on the Qur’anic verse:

الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيْتُ لَكُمُ الإِسْلاَمَ دِيْناً 

Which means: This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. [Surah Al-Maidah, ayat 3].

Hence, the way in which they perform their prayers is not in compliance with established requirements, and renders the prayers void and invalid.

• “Inspirations” and predictions/prophecies of “Madrasah Faiz al-Baqarah”

The claims of receiving “inspiration” by Mr Rahman Bin Kamari are not genuine and constitute a total fabrication. It causes confusion among the Muslim community, and can mislead others. 

6 Based on the above, the Fatwa Committee instructs “Madrasah Faiz al-Baqarah” to: 

 

• Stop conducting all forms of teaching and classes;
• Stop the printing, publication and distribution of all books on the teachings of “Madrasah Faiz al-Baqarah”;
• Stop the spreading of any form of “inspiration” and prediction/prophecies.

 

7 The Fatwa Committee also advises Mr Rahman Bin Kamari and all the followers of “Madrasah Faiz al- Baqarah” to repent to Allah s.w.t, and revert to the true teachings and belief of Islam, thus disassociate themselves from the teachings of Hasan Bin Jonit and the “Madrasah Faiz al-Baqarah”, in order to preserve the purity of their Islamic faith.

• Based on the fatwas on these teachings issued in 1974, 2001 and 2010, the Fatwa Committee concludes that this group and its teachings be exposed to the Muslim community, to protect members of the community from being influenced and misled by their false teachings and claims.

الله أعلم ، وبالله التوفيق ، وصلى الله على سيدنا محمد وعلى أله وصحبه وسلم.

SYED ISA MOHD B SEMAIT

MUFTI NEGARA SINGAPURAPENGERUSI, JAWATANKUASA FATWA

MAJLIS UGAMA ISLAM SINGAPURA