PENDEKATAN TAUBAT (ISTITABAH) BAGI KESALAHAN AJARAN SESAT DI BAITUL IMAN, SELANGOR: SOROTAN KES ABDUL KAHAR AHMAD

Istitabah (Repentance) Approach to the Offence of Deviant Teachings in Baitul Iman, Selangor: The Case of Abdul Kahar Ahmad

Abstract

The question of faith cannot be taken lightly because it relates to the aspect of protection of religion (hifz ad-din) in maqasid Shariah.  In Malaysia, there are many faith-related offences committed such as deviant teaching and apostacy. Amongst those offences is concerning the case of Abdul Kahar Ahmad who proclaimed himself to be the prophet of Malays (Rasul Melayu).  Abdul Kahar Ahmad was convicted on five charges including spreading false doctrine and was sentenced to a total of RM16,500 in fines, 10 years in prison and six strokes of whipping. Abdul Kahar was also ordered to spend six months at a Rehabilitation Centre of Aqidah (Faith) Baitul Iman located in Ulu Yam, Selangor for the purpose of repentance and return to Islam.  Purification of faith is a process which provides an opportunity to repent for offenders of faith-related offences such as deviant teaching, false doctrine, apostasy and attempt to apostate.   Thus, this paper aims to study the process of purification of faith undergone by Abdul Kahar. This study applies the qualitative methodology where data were obtained through the documentation metode and semi-structured interviews with the informant who was responsible throughout Abdul Kahar’s rehabilitation process. The results show that purification of faith by detaining and teaching using the Istitabah Module is very effective for faith-related offenders.  This process is able to preserve the sanctity of Islam and to bring the offenders back to repentance and the rightful path of Islam.

Abstrak

Persoalan akidah tidak boleh diambil ringan kerana ia berkait maqasid syariah dalam aspek penjagaan agama (hifz ad-din).  Di Malaysia, banyak berlaku kesalahan berhubung akidah seperti ajaran sesat dan murtad.   Di antaranya adalah kes ajaran sesat melibatkan  Abdul Kahar Ahmad yang mengaku sebagai Rasul Melayu.  Abdul Kahar bin Ahmad telah disabitkan kesalahan atas lima pertuduhan termasuk menyebarkan doktrin palsu dan dikenakan hukuman keseluruhan denda sebanyak RM16,500, penjara selama 10 tahun dan enam kali sebatan.  Abdul Kahar juga diperintahkan menjalani pemulihan akidah di Pusat Pemurnian Akidah Baitul Iman, Ulu Yam, Selangor selama tempoh enam bulan bagi tujuan bertaubat dan kembali kepada Islam.  Pemulihan akidah merupakan satu proses memberi peluang bertaubat bagi mereka yang melakukan kesalahan berkaitan akidah seperti ajaran sesat, doktrin palsu dan kesalahan yang berkait dengan murtad dan percubaan murtad.   Justeru, makalah ini bertujuan membuat sorotan terhadap proses pemulihan akidah yang dilaksanakan terhadap Abdul Kahar. Kajian ini menggunakan metodologi kualitatif. Data kajian diperolehi menerusi metode dokumentasi dan temu bual separa struktur dengan pihak informan yang bertanggung jawab dalam proses pemulihan Abdul Kahar.  Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa pemulihan akidah secara penahanan dan pengajaran menggunakan Modul  Istitabah adalah sangat berkesan bagi memulihkan pesalah-pesalah dalam kes melibatkan ajaran sesat.  Kaedah ini dapat mempertahankan kesucian agama dan mengembalikan pesalah yang terlibat dengan kesalahan akidah bertaubat dan kembali kepada Islam yang sebenar.