Religious affairs minister Na’im Mokhtar said Mohib’s teaching deviated from the true teachings of Islam and the ministry is working with the police to curb all forms of deviant teachings.

“We want to make sure that these teachings do not spread and pervert the beliefs of the Muslim community in our country,” he told reporters today, Bernama reported.

His remarks come three days after the mufti of Terengganu issued an edict (fatwa) against the preacher, who is also known as Ustaz Mohib. The fatwa was published in the Terengganu government gazette on Nov 16.

Terengganu mufti Sabri Haron said Mohib’s teachings were declared to be misguided, misleading and contradicting the pillars of Islamic faith. Other commentaries on Mohib’s teachings have also alleged that he was spreading pro-Wahhabi beliefs.

Sabri said Mohib’s teachings amounted to a form of religious extremism and were a threat to national security, Harian Metro reported. Sabri was quoted as saying that it was forbidden (haram) for any Muslim to practice any teachings related to Mohib.

Among his deviant teachings was a claim that Allah, being almighty, could have children if He so wished. “This allegation damages the beliefs of the Muslim community because they understand that Allah cannot have children,” Sabri said in a statement.

“Any publicity, teaching or broadcast, whether face-to-face, or through social media or in any form, related to Mohib is not permitted and should be blocked,” he said.

A profile on the 46-year-old Mohib published by Sinar Harian in 2018 stated that the Syrian-born preacher is a permanent resident of Malaysia married to a Terengganu woman from Besut whom he met at university in Jordan in 1997.

They were married in 2001 and have four children, three girls and a boy.

The profile said Mohib is known for his fluent Besut-accented Bahasa Malaysia and for religious talks often laced with humour.