Ashaari Muhammad was born on 30 October 1937 in Kampung Pilin, Rembau, Negeri Sembilan, in what was then the Federated Malay States (now Malaysia).
His parents practised a tariqa founded by Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdullah as-Suhaimi, and from a young age, Ashaari developed an interest in Islamic practices.
In 1954, Ashaari began attending Maahad Hishamuddin, a religious school in Klang, Selangor, while living with his father, Muhammad bin Idris, an English-educated customs officer, and his stepmother.
In 1968, after working as a government religious teacher, Ashaari initiated a low-profile halaqah (study group circle) in Kampung Datuk Keramat, a Malay suburb of Kuala Lumpur.
[4] Al-Arqam's emphasis on economic independence set it apart from other Islamic movements of the time but also raised concerns within the Malaysian government about the group's potential to destabilize the socio-political order.
Additionally, Ashaari taught that Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah al-Suhaimi, the founder of the Aurad Muhammadiyah, would return as the Mahdi, a prophesied figure in Islam.
Ashaari’s ideas, especially those focused on economic self-sufficiency, spiritual discipline, and communal living, left a lasting impact on some segments of the Malaysian Islamic community.
While his teachings were controversial and led to the disbandment of Al-Arqam, they continued to influence discussions on alternative models of Islamic living in Malaysia.
The government cited claims made in these works, including assertions of Ashaari's supernatural powers and his ability to communicate with the Prophet Muhammad (through yaqazah), as justification for their prohibition.