Yoga: Behind the fatwa - Part 1

On November 22, 2008, the National Fatwa Council announced that Yoga is 'haram' in Islam and in one fell swoop, Muslims will no longer be allowed to practice it -- once it is gazetted as law.

Yoga attracted what is arguably, unwarranted attention from no less than the NFC as a result of an opinion from an Islamic scholar that Yoga, could be 'haram' in Islam because it could cause Muslims to deviate from his or her faith.

This decision drew criticisms from Muslim and non-Muslim practitioners who have felt real physical and mental benefits of Yoga through its physical exercise and meditative elements.

The Fatwa or religious decree once gazetted, will become enforceable and challenges the rights of individuals of a particular faith from practising what is essentially an ancient form of exercise.

The reason for the ban -- only that Yoga has Hindu roots.

Malaysiakini talks to Yoga instructors and practitioners on their views towards the ban.

We also talked to Norhayati Kaprawi of Sisters-In-Islam and Yusri Mohamad of Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM) for their views on the Fatwa.

This is the first of a 2-part feature on the 'Yoga Fatwa'. The second part will be available on Friday.

Producers: Lydia Azizan & Azreen Madzlan
Editor: Lydia Azizan
Camera: Shukri Mohamad & Fiqtrey Al Hakimey

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• icfj
• yoga
• ban

[masterchiefbert]

What are they gonna do if our Moslem friends pratices yoga privately at home ? Maybe they'll make a law that all Moslem homes will be installed with close circuit cameras and will be monitored by the clerics. Additionally it creates many jobs for unemployed local grads .Many things can happen in Malaysia. Just wait and see.

[sizzer33]

Yoga helped my dad sleep peacefully after years of insomnia. Heals the bad joints as well. These Fatwa gang should just stop doing useless shit like this. People should just forget about their existence as most things done by them are just fucking useless.

[giriisindahouse]

Its stupid how Christians and Muslims say doing yoga is a sin. Your a radical religious terrorist if you think doing the postures are a sin. If you go deep, and it says think of Brahman, isn't it easy to substitute it to Allah or God? After all deeper yoga is a form of meditation

[Vignash13]

@redeye2811 this is not how hindus pray.. its a form of exercise that improve blood flow. very beneficial.. gt ur facts straight.

[redeye2811]

Ok...this as we know the way hindus pray...so why people AROUND the world doesn't practice the movements of Muslim prayers?Without chanting of course so there's no religious factors...oh?yes!people never do this because of those discriminating thinking...it is proved by science that during bowing down our head in sujud the brain receive some blood suppliance..and the "5 times" a day is the proper times the brain need that blood..hmmm????so?how?huh..eve­n muslims doesn't do this everyday...

[aparaajita10]

Yoda is haraam in islaam, & it is the devil's path in christianity. Is it not that both christianit & islam are controlling their followers by keeping them physically & mentally unbalanced? For only a person in good mental & physical health (I don't mean that you bulk up your muscles & run on a treadmill etc) will always have the ability to see the nefarious agenda & the sharp mental & emotional acuity to perceive beyond the 5 senses.

[kenkhan]

intentions are important!



[escobar]

haram bile membuat sambil membaca mentera la dowh......kalo wat yoga jew xper

[killintymm]

yeah muslims cant question anything. or you will be thrown into prison, lashed, some body parts cut in the mosque.

[lahij]

because muslim use pray, yoga is really fitness or faith? i dont know which yoga fact is faith or fitness, muslim girl need from no muslim ability and no muslim girl need lear from muslim ability share

[pinang9]

4.02 "questioning a fatwa is like questioning an aspect of the religion of islam"...??

wat kinda argument is that..??wat kinda relligion is that....?? no wonder the muslim world is so far behind the rest of the world....even with their petro-dollar...

higher moral standing??...errr, most wars today are fought in the name of islam!

[zodiak121]

guys calm down yoga is not haram as the islamic saying gose "ima al a'malu belniyat" it genrely means it depends on your intention if for religus reasons then it is haram if for physichal benifit then it is halal .