Ashaari Mohammad

Haji Ashaari Muhammad (30 October 1937 – 13 May 2010 ) was the founder and leader of the Malaysian Islamic group Al-Arqam, which gained prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. On 21 October 1994, the Malaysian federal government banned Al-Arqam, citing concerns over its teachings and activities. Ashaari, along with other members of the group, was arrested in Thailand and subsequently returned to Malaysia, where he was detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA). He remained in detention from 1994 until 2004. During this period, Ashaari publicly renounced his views, and the legal process did not include a formal defence against the charges.

Ashaari was referred to as Abaya (Arabic for "father") by his followers. He was recognized for his distinctive appearance, which included wearing a turban, green Al-Arqam robes, and kohl-lined eyes.

Early life Ashaari Muhammad was born on 30 October 1937 in Kampung Pilin, Rembau, Negeri Sembilan, in what was then the Federated Malay States (now Malaysia). His parents practised a tariqa founded by Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdullah as-Suhaimi, and from a young age, Ashaari developed an interest in Islamic practices. By age 13, he was initiated into the tariqa by his uncle, Lebai Ibrahim, a religious teacher. In 1954, Ashaari began attending Maahad Hishamuddin, a religious school in Klang, Selangor, while living with his father, Muhammad bin Idris, an English-educated customs officer, and his stepmother.

Spiritual career

Career with Al-Arqam In 1968, after working as a government religious teacher, Ashaari initiated a low-profile halaqah (study group circle) in Kampung Datuk Keramat, a Malay suburb of Kuala Lumpur. This study group laid the foundation for what would eventually become the Islamic group Al-Arqam, which gained prominence in the 1980s. Under Ashaari's leadership, the group promoted Islamic values of spirituality, self-reliance, and communal living. His futuristic vision, based on interpretations of Islamic texts, predicted that Southeast Asia, particularly Malaysia, would play a central role in the resurgence of Islamic civilization. Al-Arqam's emphasis on economic independence set it apart from other Islamic movements of the time but also raised concerns within the Malaysian government about the group's potential to destabilize the socio-political order.

Personal life Ashaari was married five times and had 37 children. His first marriage, to Hasnah binti Haji Salim, occurred in 1959 and ended in divorce in 1985. He married Tengku Noriah Tengku Abdullah in 1978, followed by Rokiah Mohd Radhi and Khadijah Aam in 1980. Rokiah died in 2002, and Ashaari married Noraziah Ibrahim in 1985. His practice of polygamy was by Islamic marital laws, and his family life became a notable aspect of his public persona.

Death and legacy Ashaari Muhammad died on 13 May 2010 at the Ipoh Specialist Hospital at the age of 72. After his death, aspects of Ashaari’s teachings, particularly the Aurad Muhammadiyah, continued to be practised by splinter groups and loyal followers.