Ashaari Mohammad
Encyclopedia
Haji
Ashaari Mohammad (died May 13, 2010, aged 73) was the leader of the Malaysian-based Islamic religious sect Al-Arqam
. The sect was banned by in Malaysia by the federal government
on 21 October 1994. He and other Al-Arqam members were arrested in Thailand
, returned to Malaysia and detained under Internal Security Act
(ISA).
Ashaari was nicknamed "Abuya" (father in Arabic) by his followers, and was known for wearing a turban
, green Al-Arqam rope, and having kohl-lined eyes. He had four wives and 37 children.
Two books written by Khadijah Aam, Ashaari's wife, including his biography, have been banned on religious grounds, including the claim that Ashaari Mohammad had been empowered by Allah with supernatural powers.
Hajji
Hajji or El-Hajj, is an honorific title given to a Muslim person who has successfully completed the Hajj to Mecca, and is often used to refer to an elder, since it can take time to accumulate the wealth to fund the travel. The title is placed before a person's name...
Ashaari Mohammad (died May 13, 2010, aged 73) was the leader of the Malaysian-based Islamic religious sect Al-Arqam
Al-Arqam
Al-Arqam is a Malaysian-based Islamic religious sect, founded by Ashaari Mohammad. The sect was banned by the Malaysian federal government on 21 October 1994...
. The sect was banned by in Malaysia by the federal government
Politics of Malaysia
The politics of Malaysia takes place in the framework of a federal constitutional monarchy, in which the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is head of state and the Prime Minister of Malaysia is the head of government. Executive power is exercised by the federal government and the 13 state governments. ...
on 21 October 1994. He and other Al-Arqam members were arrested in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, returned to Malaysia and detained under Internal Security Act
Internal Security Act (Malaysia)
The Internal Security Act 1960 is a preventive detention law in force in Malaysia. The legislation was enacted after Malaysia gained independence from Britain in 1957. The ISA allows for detention without trial or criminal charges under limited, legally defined circumstances...
(ISA).
Ashaari was nicknamed "Abuya" (father in Arabic) by his followers, and was known for wearing a turban
Turban
In English, Turban refers to several types of headwear popularly worn in the Middle East, North Africa, Punjab, Jamaica and Southwest Asia. A commonly used synonym is Pagri, the Indian word for turban.-Styles:...
, green Al-Arqam rope, and having kohl-lined eyes. He had four wives and 37 children.
Two books written by Khadijah Aam, Ashaari's wife, including his biography, have been banned on religious grounds, including the claim that Ashaari Mohammad had been empowered by Allah with supernatural powers.