Sky Kingdom

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1 Following
2 Beliefs and practices
3 Symbols
4 History
5 References
6 See also
7 External links

Sky Kingdom (Bahasa Melayu: Kerajaan Langit) was the name of the commune of the so-called “teapot cult” founded and led by Ariffin Mohamed, also known as Ayah Pin (Ayah is a common honorific meaning "father"). The commune was demolished by the government of Malaysia in August 2005.^[1]

The six-acre, 33-building complex was located near the village of Kampung-Batu 13, Hulu-Besut district, Terengganu, Malaysia (some 400 km north of Kuala Lumpur and 20 km from Jertih. Sky Kingdom had existed on the site since the mid-1980's, though the group itself dates back to the late 1970's. Before the commune was demolished, the group supported itself through rubber tapping, religious tourism, and confectionery production.

Sky Kingdom attracted worldwide mass media attention in mid 2005, over concerns about efforts by the Malaysian government to suppress its followers as apostates from Islam.^[2] The controversy brought to light the issue of whether sharia superseded the right to religious freedom under the Malaysian constitution. This attention was coupled with considerable bemusement over followers’ central objects of veneration, which include a large cream-coloured teapot. The teapot is said to symbolise the purity of water and "love pouring from heaven." It is the earthly model of a celestial prototype.

As of 2006, Ariffin Mohamed resides in exile in Narathiwat, Thailand, just over the border from Terengganu.

18 members of the Sky Kingdom commune remain at the mercy of the Malaysia's Higher Shariah Court, with 40 having received leniency upon renouncing the group.

The original Hulu Besut commune, now down to 24 souls, has reportedly chosen a new leader--a former police chief inspector in his 30's. The group is suspicious of visitors, and routinely turns out the commune's lights whenever a car approaches at night, in order not to be found.

[edit] Following

The Malaysian government has described the “teapot cult” of Sky Kingdom as one of 22 "heretical" Islamic "sects" or "cults" in Malaysia, which altogether have an estimated 22,800 adherents.

Most estimates of the numbers of followers of Sky Kingdom put them at several thousand, though this number would heavily depend on the criteria used for inclusion. As few as 25 now live on the commune, down from about 120 prior to the demolitions. Followers are mostly Malay but also include Africans, Indians, and British believers. One adherent is from New Zealand. Besides Malaysia, members are also said to be located in Singapore and Bali.

[edit] Beliefs and practices

A Muslim by birth, Ayah Pin claims to have direct contact with the heavens and is believed by his followers to be the reincarnation of Jesus, Buddha, Shiva, and Muhammad. Moreover, devotees of Sky Kingdom believe that one day, Ayah Pin will return as the Imam Mahdi. His followers consider him the king of the sky, and the supreme object of devotion for all religions.

A major emphasis of the Sky Kingdom religion is ecumenical dialogue and inter-religious harmony. People of different religious backgrounds have joined. Ayah Pin has visited several Hindu temples - expressions of tolerance which were used against him in court - and the group once hosted a visit by a Christian group, a rare move by Malaysian standards.

Ayah Pin accepts the existence of angels as well as a class of Malaysian forest fairies called Orang Bunian. Ayah Pin is reported as claiming to be a god.

Ayah Pin used to conduct "sessions" on Saturday nights and Sunday mornings. According to one article, these began with a special ritual:

The ritual includes ushering Ayah Pin from the main building to a concrete boat in the compound in which he would lie. His followers would then start chanting.

"The followers are not locals. They are expected to chant for Ayah Pin until 4am," said the villager.

Following would occur a lengthy question-and-answer period, with him seated on a dais facing an audience. Hymns would also be sung, and the group has produced a musical CD. Sky Kingdom also emphasizes spiritual healing as well as dream interpretation.

[edit] Symbols

A giant cream colour teapot two storeys high, with matching blue vase, costing 45 million Malaysian ringgit. According to one interview it

"was inspired by the dreams of one of the cult's followers, and reflects a similar vessel in the sky which God uses to shower his blessings on mankind.

"Followers who come to the village for the first time have to drink "holy water" pouring from a giant vase that is perpetually filled by the teapot."

quoted in "Apologetics Index" (see link below)

A giant yellow umbrella, also two storeys, which offers

"a place for people to take shelter beneath God. It can also be associated with the nine planets in Hinduism." (Ibid.)

An ornamental fishing boat, identified with Noah's Ark.

A crescent moon icon symbolizing people without a religion, including the Orang Asli (indigenous peoples of peninsular Malaysia) and the aforementioned Orang Bunian.

[edit] History

1943 Ariffin Mohamad (the future Ayah Pin) born in Beris, Kampung Besar Bachok, Kelantan.

1953 He becomes seriously ill, and he alleges that an angel visited him.

1973 The angel returns; Ayah Pin begins his spiritual career.

1975 Spiritual group forms in Bagan Lebai Tahir, Butterworth, Penang. Whether Ayah Pin was the founder is unclear; during this phase he may have been a follower of Hassan Tuhan (a.k.a. Anak Rimau), apparently another claimant to divinity.

mid-1980's (?) Sky Kingdom commune formed on its present site. Some reports state that the office of Islamic Affairs declared the group to be deviant at this time.

1995 Sky Kingdom's signature building projects begin, as per divine revelation.

1997 Local Religious Affairs council (Jawatankuasa Fatwa Majlis Agama Islam dan Adat Melayu Terengganu) issues a fatwa against the group.

1998 Four members renounce Islam, are arrested, then freed on the grounds that as ex-Muslims, Malaysia's sharia court no longer enjoys jurisdiction over them.

2001 Ayah Pin renounces Islam. The Sharia court accuses him of contravening Section 25 of Enakmen Pentadbiran Hal Ehwal Agama Islam 1986, stating that his teachings and beliefs were false, deviant, corrupting and threatening to the public peace (membawa ancaman kepada ketenteraman orang awam serta merosakkan akidah.) He pleads guilty to the charge of "belittling Islam ("menghina Islam"), and is jailed for 11 months and fined RM2,900.

The Religious Affairs Office hoped that Ayah Pin's arrest would prevent the movement's growth; however, Sky Kingdom continued to attract new followers from among university students and Orang Asli. See interview by Danny Lim (link below).

July 18, 2005 A group of masked vigilantes attack the group's headquarters, smashing windows and torching buildings.

July 21, 2005 49 members arrested (including 3 of Ayah Pin's four wives). Ayah Pin escapes arrest (and remains at large). 45 of these face charge of failing to observe the government fatwa (i.e. for continuing to be members of a sect declared as deviant), which carries up to a RM3,000 fine or two years in prison. 1 faces additional charge of "humiliating Islam" (for claiming not to be a Muslim). Court cases promise to revolve around the issue of religious freedom, which is theoretically guaranteed by the Malaysian constitution.

August 1, 2005 Officials of the Besut Land Office destroy Sky Kingdom's various buildings, citing Section 129 of the National Land Code (which punishes unauthorized construction with land confiscation). The titular landowner is Ayah Pin's first wife, who apparently failed to appear in court for a hearing on the matter.

September 1, 2005 At a hearing, a trial date for 45 followers accused of violating the government fatwa is set for three days beginning December 18 this year. All of the accused are represented by Wan Haidi Wan Jusoh of Ubaidullah Aziz and Co, who unsuccessfully petitioned the court to order his name blacked out by the media. The group had previously experienced great difficulty in attracting legal representation, presumably owing to attorneys' fear of reprisals or negative publicity.