Rufaqa Corporation Sdn Bhd's lawyers are looking into the decision made by the Sabah Fatwa Council to ban the corporation for allegedly attempting to revive the outlawed Al-Arqam sect.

"We want to know how Sabah mufti Ahmad Alawai Adnan can issue an edict to close our businesses for allegedly spreading a deviant teaching," said Rufaqa publishing arm director Zaini Othman.

"Can a mufti issue such an order? Why not the local authorities or the Registrar of Companies?" he told malaysiakini .

Zaini urged the religious authorities to furnish proof of the corporation's alleged deviancy.

Apart from ordering the closure of Rufaqa businesses in Sabah, the state mufti also banned a book titled Abuya Ashaari Muhammad - The Most Miraculous Leader of His Time .

According to the mufti, the book which is about the former leader of Al-Arqam and Rufaqa executive chairperson Ashaari contains elements which are against Islam and can confuse the people.

Photos being removed

In a related development, Rufaqa has also ordered the removal of Ashaari's photos from its business premises to avoid action from the religious authorities.

Zaini said the instruction was issued last week "Up to now at least 50 percent of Rufaqa businesses in the East Coast have removed the photos and I hope the rest would follow suit."

"Although the authorities have not issued any order asking us to remove the photos, we are doing it to avoid any confrontations," he added.

Recently, Selangor exco Abdul Rahman Palil said the state Islamic affairs department or Jais will carry out operations to remove the photos of Ashaari from the premises.

However, Zaini said until today Jais has not raided any of the premises.

"I want to explain that Rufaqa's business is carrying on as normal and none of its premises have been closed as a result of raids by the religious authorities," he added.

He said the religious authorities have never held any talks with Rufaqa to identify the problems.

Ashaari was detained under the Internal Security Act in 1994 and was held for two years. By then Al-Arqam had attracted some 100,000 followers, including a large number of government officials.

He is currently believed to be residing in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan.