One of them, who only wanted to be known as Ahmad, 36, revealed that the leaders also claimed they could communicate with Prophet Muhammad through yaqazah (in a conscious state) and said all instructions from the leaders must be obeyed.
Ahmad claimed that the education at the GISBH schools serves as a platform to instil undivided devotion among the members, especially children, towards their leaders.
According to him, the self-created curriculum taught at the schools emphasises the words and writings of the leaders, while other subjects, such as Fardu Ain, are taught at a basic level. “Classroom teachings are only for a short duration and sometimes teachers are unavailable,” he said.
Ahmad revealed that his father was one of the group leaders and his family practised the teachings of the al-Arqam group, which was banned in 1994.
He said he spent his childhood in the group settlements in Perak before moving to Rawang, Selangor, Putrajaya, Kedah, Sabah, Sarawak, and eventually to Jordan and Syria.
Ahmad left the congregation in 2011 after studying with several religious teachers who were not members of the organisation.
“I left the company after the death of al-Arqam leader Ashaari Mohammad. At that time the company was led by Ummu Jah, who is also Ashaari’s widow,” he said.
Another former member of the company, Latif, in his 30s, said students at GISBH schools were taught using books that glorified Ashaari, who was referred to as Abuya (father).
“They claim to be the congregation of truth that will be alongside Imam Mahadi. Everyone has become obsessed. This process didn’t happen overnight as it has been going on since the time of al-Arqam,” he said, claiming that he was sent to the GISBH schools in Pahang, Selangor and Perak by his parents, whose marriage was arranged by the group.
“The schools were usually empty and students often played during lessons as they were not conducted formally,” Latif said, adding that he left GISBH at 17 after going to a government-run skills training centre with a friend, which made him realise the importance of taking the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination.
Abu Bakar, 36, said he left the organisation in 2010 after realising that he lacked a formal education that other teenagers had.
“I wondered why I wasn’t studying like other people but was instead asked to fight to meet Imam Mahadi. And because of my curiosity, I decided to leave,” he said, adding that he tried to escape several times but was caught and brought back by members of the group.
Abu Bakar said his mother left the group after his father divorced her, according to the leaders’ orders, after which the group stopped looking for them.
GISBH has come under the spotlight after police rescued 402 children and teenagers suspected to be victims of labour and sexual exploitation in raids on 20 welfare homes. The operation also uncovered cases of neglect and abuse, leading to the detention of 105 women and 65 men.