The Fitnah of “Darul Arqam” and the ‘Mahdi Movement’.

Having sound Aqeedah is of paramount importance in the life of a believer, as the acceptance of our acts of Ibaadah, gaining the pleasure of Allah and ultimately acquiring Jannah are contingent to having sound Aqeedah. In light of this, the Darul Iftaa, Trinidad and Tobago and Ulamaa of the Caribbean alertand warn the Muslim community of Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean of a fitnah that has recently emerged and is gaining support among the unlearned: The Fitnah of “Darul Arqam” headed by Sheikh Jawaad Ali aka Abu Mahmood. We urge the Muslim community to distance and disassociate themselves from this organisation due their corrupted and concocted beliefs, practices and ideologies which oppose the mainstream Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaa’ah.

Nb: This organisation and its affiliate (Supporters of the Mahdi Movement) is not endorsed, recognized or promoted by any reputable Mufti or Islamic institution locally or in the wider Caribbean. In fact, it is not recognized or promoted by any reputable scholar or Islamic institution internationally.

Some of their deviated ideologies and claims:

1. Their allegiance and alignment with “Supporters of the Mahdi Movement” founded by Sheikh Hassan Tuhami.
2. The followers of this movement firmly believe that Sheikh Hassan Tuhami is the awaited Mahdi. Nb: Hassan Tuhami, till now has not publicly claimed to be the Mahdi (for obvious reasons). However, he hasn’t denounced his followers from making such a claim.
3. The call for a coalition of the Shias and Muslims (overlooking the Kufr beliefs of the Rafidhi Shias)
4. Their usage of fabricated narrations to support their ideologies.
5. Their deviated interpretations of Prophetic traditions to suite their narrative.
6. Their claim that the Ulamaa of this Ummah do not have the proper understanding of religious matters like they do.
7. They believe that sorcery and magic was done to prevent the Mahdi from emerging. Nb: They differentiate between appearance and emergence. For them he has appeared (i.e. Hassan Tuhami), they’re just awaiting his emergence. The only two groups of people who believe that the Mahdi is present among us and has already been chosen (i.e. known to the people) are the Rafidhi Shias and Darul Arqam (and its affiliate “Supporters of the Mahdi Movement”). The only difference is that the former believes he is the 12^th Imam; Imam Muhammad son of Imam al-Hasan al-‘Askari who is hiding in a cave and the latter believes that he is Hassan Tuhami who is presently imprisoned.
8. Their claim that the Mahdi will not appear until preparation is made for his emergence and their movement is all about preparing the Muslims for his emergence. However, the reality is that this movement has already selected and pledged allegiance to Hassan Tuhami, whom they believe to be the Mahdi and therefore is only luring the unlearned down the lizard hole. 
9. Their belief that Ali (ra) was more worthy of Khilafa after the demise of the Prophet ﷺ than Abu Bakr (ra), Umar (ra) and Uthman (ra).^[1]

Endorsements and Signatures

Darul Iftaa Trinidad- Mufti Khaleel Ali, Mufti Kaleem Muhammad, Mufti Mujahid Lubrin, Mufti Arshad Ali 

Sirajul Ulum Institute (Barbados)-  Mufti Muhammad Chothia, Maulana Junaid Bhana, Maulana Siraaj Bhana

[1] See their book entitled “ al Mahdi min i’trati” (by Hassan Tuhami , the founder of the Harakatu ansaar al mahdi)