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The Islamic sect operating from an orphanage in Crewe: Beanie-hat wearing founder is self-proclaimed new Pope and 'saviour of mankind' who can 'make the moon disappear'
An Islamic sect whose leader claims to be the new Pope and whose followers say he can perform 'miracles' is operating out of a heavily-guarded former orphanage in Cheshire.
Abdullah Hashem Aba al-Sadiq, a former filmmaker who describes himself as the 'saviour of mankind', uses YouTube and TikTok to spread The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL) and tells followers to 'obey' him.
In one video, multiple men, women and children claim that Hashem has performed miracles ranging from resurrecting family members, making the moon disappear, turning leaves into living animals and curing fatal illnesses including cancer.
In other clips, a primary school-aged girl claims Hashem cured her of stomach pains by simply placing his hand on her, while a daughter alleges that her mother was on the brink of death before she was revived by the leader.
Hashem asks his followers to offer up their salaries or sell their possessions to contribute to the religious sect which combines Islamic theology with conspiracy theories about the Illuminati and aliens secretly controlling US presidents.
Lawyers for AROPL told MailOnline say the sect advocates for mainstream medical advice from the NHS in the UK and there is no requirement that other members should sell property or give up salaries.
One striking feature of the religion is that they all wear black beanies. Hashem describes the beanie as his 'crown', adding: 'I take the beanie hat and wear it proudly so. This hat is a symbol of the working man.
'That's how it was first invented - to keep the working man warm as he's working outside and he's working all day to feed his family with minimum wage. It became a symbol of the poor man, the working class man.'
AROPL was previously based in Sweden but relocated to Crewe in 2021, moving into a Grade II-listed former orphanage, Webb House, The Guardian first reported.
Abdullah Hashem (pictured), a former filmmaker who describes himself as the 'saviour of mankind', uses YouTube and TikTok to spread The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL) and warns followers to 'obey' his every command
The he Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL) is operating out of a heavily-guarded former orphanage in Cheshire (pictured)
Followers claim that Abdullah Hashem Aba al-Sadiq has cured their relatives just by touching them
It's understood around 100 followers live in the £2million Cheshire building, including families with children who are home schooled there. It's believed gatherings take place in the 'basilica' room.
AROLP's lawyers say children living there are home-schooled by their individual parents with the approval of the local education authority which monitors their progress.
A spokesman added: 'Those members of the faith who chose to live at the Crewe Centre (a small minority of the overall membership) are usually expected to contribute to the running of the centre, but are encouraged to maintain links with their families.'
Webb House was originally built as orphanage for children of railway workers who had lost their parents in work-related accidents until 1961 and later became British Rail offices and an NHS specialist mental health facility.
AROPL says it is a peaceful religious movement derived from Shia Islam - the second-largest branch of Islam - that has been persecuted around the world due to its belief in equality and human rights.
It describes itself as the 'fulfillment of prophecy as per the narrations and scriptures of the Abrahamic faiths' - a term for the elements shared by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Young children often feature in videos where they describe Hashem as their 'father' and 'master'.
In one video, a 16-year-old boy describes Hashem as his 'dad, imam, God', while in another a girl an 18-year-old girl who joined the religion aged eight says: 'We are the generation that was raised by [Hashem].'
Hashem frequently appears in clips, including one TikTok video addressed to Christians where he says: 'Hear me and obey. I am a messenger sent to you from Jesus Christ... the church is corrupt and no longer upholds the law of God nor does it defend the oppressed.
'The papacy has been stolen and the rightful heir has been pushed aside.
'There is no one else but me that you are obliged to obey. May God be a witness that I have proclaimed.'
The camera then pans to a crowd chanting for him, while a caption reading: 'The new Pope is here.'
Hashem, an Egyptian-American raised in Indiana, first rose to prominence by making documentaries in which he debunked cults in the US.
Hashem and his partner were sued in 2008 after filming an undercover documentary about a UFO religion based in Switzerland.
But seven years later, he founded AROPL, declaring himself the Mahdi, a saviour figure from Islamic doomsday prophecy.
He also claims to be the new pope and the successor to the prophet Muhammad and Jesus.
Hashem condemns false Mahdis - believed to be around 30 - and claims he is the only legitimate leader.
In his book, The Goal of the Wise, Hashem says his followers have a 'duty' to donate their whole salary - keeping hold of deductions for basic living - and sell their houses to fund his goal to create a 'divine' state.
One woman (pictured) claimed that she had witnessed the Mahdi make the moon disappear
His scriptures include bizarre beliefs such as claims epilepsy can be cured by placing a bird of paradise on a patient's genitals.
Ex-members told The Guardian how they felt pressured to cut ties with the outside world and were encouraged to sell their homes to fund its activities.
One woman claimed she handed over all the money she was gifted for her wedding, while another says he donated about £33,000.
AROPL regularly post slick videos on TikTok, Facebook, X and Instagram about its activities, while it also features several Q&As and podcasts about the sect. It has more than 100k followers and subscribers TikTok and YouTube alone.
Responding to allegations that the religious group have taken the blood of members and threaten people who leave the faith, Hashem said in one video: 'Nobody has ever been harmed, coerced, we don't eat babies, we don't take blood, none of this stuff is true.'
On one TikTok channel, a large group of men, dressed in black beanies, claim they are Hashem's 'soldiers' who will fight and die for him.
Hashem says he has lived across the world, from the US, Egypt, Lebanon, Kuwait, Germany, Sweden and now the UK.
He claims to have formed a 'religious movement' with a title to 'distinguish it from all of the false practices that Muslims are practicing today'.
In one clip about why followers call him 'father' and 'master', a member says: 'It's something we do from ourselves. We call you father, master because you are our Imam in our time and because you have the holy spirit within you.
'You are the representative of God in this day and age.'
AROPL has charitable status in the US and the Charity Commission is currently considering its application to have the same in the UK.
The sect was based in Egypt and Germany before moving to Sweden, where 69 members had their residency permits revoked. The members were deported after several businesses linked to the group were found to be providing fake visas.
Lawyers representing AROPL said there were no sham visas and the businesses in Sweden were affected by Covid and had to reduce the hours of their employees which led in some cases to the employees not earning sufficient to qualify for residency in Sweden.
An investigation into the disappearance of a German member, Lisa Wiese, who vanished while visiting India in 2019, is still ongoing. She had travelled there with another AROPL member and has never been seen again.
The group also expressed their concern over the recent arrest of one of its members, Mohd Tarmizi bin Mond Ariffin, 39, who has been a believer since April 2024.
