Malaysia's Islamic body bans yoga for Muslims
Malaysia's top Islamic body on Saturday banned Muslims from practicing yoga, saying the Indian physical exercise contains elements of Hinduism and could corrupt Muslims.
The National Fatwa Council, which has the authority to rule on how Muslims must conduct their faith, issued a fatwa, or edict, saying yoga involves not just physical exercise but also includes Hindu spiritual elements, chanting and worship.
Council chairman Abdul Shukor Husin told reporters that many Muslims who practice the globally popular yoga failed to understand that its ultimate aim was to be one with a god of a different religion.
``We are of the view that yoga, which originates from Hinduism, combines physical exercise, religious elements, chanting and worshipping for the purpose of achieving inner peace and ultimately to be one with god,'' he said.
``It is inappropriate. It can destroy the faith of a Muslim,'' he said.
The Fatwa Council's decisions are not legally binding on Muslims, who comprise nearly two-thirds of Malaysia's 27 million people, unless they are enshrined in national or Shariah laws.
However, many Muslims abide by the edicts out of deference, and the council does have the authority to ostracize an offending Muslim from society.
The fatwa reflects the growing strain of conservatism in Malaysia, which has always taken pride in its multiethnicity. About 25 per cent of Malaysians are ethnic Chinese and 8 per cent ethnic Indians, mostly Hindus.
Recently, the council issued an edict banning tomboys, ruling that girls who act like boys violate the tenets of Islam.
The issue of yoga came into the limelight last month when an Islamic scholar expressed an opinion at a seminar that it was un-Islamic, prompting the Fatwa Council to step in.
Local newspapers have received several letters from Muslims, expressing indignation at the scholar's view, saying yoga is simply a way to maintain health and has nothing to do with religion.
There are no figures for how many Muslims practice yoga, but many yoga classes have a sprinkling of Muslims attending.
In a recent blog, social activist Marina Mahathir criticized the council for even considering a yoga ban, calling it ``a classic case of reacting out of fear and ignorance.''
``Yoga may have spiritual roots but most of us do it for the exercise, both for the mind and body,'' Marina wrote.
journalistgirl, read my post properly. I didn't say Islam is silly. You latched on to the first word you didn't like or took offense to and went off tangent. You have your opinion and you are entitled to it. Peace be with you.
Sajjadsa - Islam was inadvertently brought into this by the Fatwa. I agree with what you said "Islam doesnt ask you not to practice yoga. Likewise nor does the Bible ask its followers not to practice yoga." - absolutely. It is the interpretations of man that twist things from the truth - but then again, can't say "twist" also as there are many different perceptions of truth. Let's stop this one here and chill out. Peace be with you.
/I'll say no more. Understand this - I am not anti-Islam. I see both sides of almost any argument and I detach myself from it. I don't get emotionally involved in order that I may see things objectively. In that, I believe that, as far as possible, I am fair. You don't have to agree with me. We agree to disagree and live and let live.
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Life is short. Live it to the fullest!
Eaglemanuel don't u think it's incredibly narrowminded to say something's silly when if u read the post above, it's not referring to the religion itslef but ot the people??? Islam isn't silly, it's just the human beings who think they know the religion but in fact have no clue...perhpas u're the one being silly here!
Eaglemannuel, dont please bring Islam in to this, Muslims may think whatever they want - Islam doesnt ask you not to practice yoga. Likewise nor does the Bible ask its followers not to practice yoga.
see yoga can be practiced by ancient hindu priest ,,,,,
This only makes a person feel easy ,,,and does not take us away from religon.....
Or please forward evidance in quran if u still thing yoga should not be practiced.
Thank you,
I was doing Pilates. It's a good workout actually. Will get back on it soon, I really miss it.
The internet is our revenge machine
Charan...who knows...you're opinion might be heard...wonder how many cabinet officials are reading QL on a daily basis? lol.
Yoga...religious? lol. that's a new one. What's next...running should be banned coz men tend to sin looking at the bouncing racks of the women they come across with? Or swimming as well, coz the skins are exposed?
It's not because things are difficult that we don't dare, it's because we don't dare that makes things difficult!
I tried Pilates too - yes tougher. But I can't even do Yoga :(
/No tiles to break. Carpeted floor. I was fine cos I'm not skin and bones, ya catch my drift? :P
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Ban Yoga in Qatar as well :)
Ban Spoon Feeding not Me
Eagle: and I can scream and growl at the same time...
oh...n I hope you din break the tiles :-)
personally I think Pilates would be tougher for a Beginner.
I did start with the simplest of the simplest (I was told) but in less than 2 minutes, I was posing like the leaning tower of Pisa .. and the next minute, the tower ... err.. crashed.
Amoud - yes, I understood your post perfectly and you are right. You're referring to yoga as purely exercise per se and I agree totally. My point was different.
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Hey, I can play keyboards. Heathen it is! Let's rock Doha!!
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Life is short. Live it to the fullest!
Eagle I fully understand the concept, and if you read my post I am referring to yoga as exercise, not meditation. Spiritual is completely different that religious in any context, there are many spiritual people who are not religious and vice versa.
A mantra can be whatever you want it to be, and some yogis encourage no mantra at all. _______________________________________________________
"Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock - Will Rogers"
Teach you what? Baby elephant dance..?? LOL!!
All postures are not for evryone, Eagle, start with the simpler ones.. like 'Shavaasana'...LOL!!
Amoud - the rationale, as far as I heard, was that the mantra for meditation for hours - you relax and clear your mind. If the mantra is not spiritual, then the wrong messages get into your subconscious.
/Way forward - put a spiritual mantra lah, dufus them all. Spiritual mantra that is duly approved by an appointed religious official - howz about that? Fit that into that soothing music. Do something lah..
//I heard that it's great exercise. But I don't do Yoga cos I tried it once but cant balance. Man, I yam bottom heavy! * embarrassed *
But think I can do the baby elephant dance. Anybody can teach moi?
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Eagle: LOL...'Heathen'!! now that sounds cool enough to be the name of a Rock band... ;)
Another one showing how silly Islam is?
/This was discussed some time ago in a local Malaysian forum.
Anyway, what I wanted to say was - some fundamentalist Christians are also against "practicing yoga, saying the Indian physical exercise contains elements of Hinduism and could corrupt..." Christians as well. Ignoramus et ignoramous can shake hands.
/Surprised? Always more than 1 side to any story. Most of you Christians don't know of it because you either don't know fundamentalists or you know of them but brush them off or sweep under the carpet. And you can't really argue with them - they are dogmatic and rigid and IMO, crazy. I've been called a heathen, etc.etc. when I ask them questions and find so many holes to pick in their attempted justifications. When they find they're losing the "battle", they say I'm going to hell when I die. Uhuh.. I still say and do what I think is right and the rest of them can go jump in the lake. So far, the fundamentalists I have come across (quite a few) have been speaking from ignorance. I don't know all that much but I know more than them. Give me accurate information and I'll believe... The truth is out there. I want to believe... Hehe! When Mulder and Scully et al get their act together.
//My friends here are different, at least the ones who ARE my friends (not everyone is, of course) so I don't need to tell anyone to go jump in that sand dune yonder... yet.
///Back to topic - I agree with Marina Mahathir, "...a classic case of reacting out of fear and ignorance.
``Yoga may have spiritual roots but most of us do it for the exercise, both for the mind and body."
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Mantra is jus there for focus n concentration...Like one yogi said, you can even say 'f**k you' as the Mantra as long as you focus on it...
But most yoga sessions (of different schools)that I hav attended did not have anything relegious ....it was mostly about postures and breathing
Crazy, I do yoga and it is nothing spiritual or religious about it for me, it merely helps my balance, flexibility and strengthens core muscles.
This is stupid, sorry but a person can make just about anything a religious experience if that is their intention.
I was under the impression that the mantra is not for the actual physical aspects of yoga, it is for meditation. The yoga we all know is physical conditioning to allow a yogic to sit and meditate for hours as it is quite difficult to sit for a long time without aches and pains.
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"Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock - Will Rogers"
verses from koran can be chanted....why not?..chanting is for peace of mind.......
Many disagree with the chanting.. The mantra.. I suppose that one could chant anything they wish.
Since Obamas election, I use the "star spangled banner"
Height of Ignorance
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