Yoga banned for Muslims

Naz —

[quote]
Malaysia's top Islamic body have issued an edict that prohibits Muslims from practising yoga, saying that elements of Hinduism in the ancient Indian exercise could corrupt them.

The National Fatwa Council's chairman, Abdul Shukor Husin, said many Muslims fail to understand that yoga's ultimate aim is to be one with a god of a different religion - an explanation disputed by many practitioners who say yoga need not have a religious element.

"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," Abdul Shukor said.

News of the yoga ban prompted activist Marina Mahathir to wonder what the council will ban next: "What next? Gyms? Most gyms have men and women together. Will that not be allowed any more?"

The edict reflects the growing influence of conservative Islam in Malaysia, a multiethnic country of 27 million people where the majority Muslim Malays lost seats in March elections and where minority ethnic Chinese and mostly Hindu ethnic Indians have been clamouring for more rights.

Recently, the council said girls who act like boys violate Islam's tenets. The government has also occasionally made similar conservative moves, banning the use of the word "Allah" by non-Muslims earlier this year, saying it would confuse Muslims.

Analysts say the fatwa could be the result of insecurity among Malay Muslims after their party - in power since 1957 - saw its parliamentary majority greatly reduced in elections because of gains by multiracial opposition parties.

Malay Muslims make up about two-thirds of the country's 27 million people. About 25% of the population is ethnic Chinese and 8% is ethnic Indian, most of whom are Hindu.

Decisions by Malaysia's Fatwa Council are not legally binding on the country's Muslims, however, unless they also become enshrined in national or Shariah laws. But many Muslims abide by the edicts out of deference.

There are no figures for how many Muslims practice yoga in Malaysia, but many yoga classes have Muslims attending. [/quote]

Forum

You — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 - 16:48

it is a good question... the excercise/relaxing there is nothing wrong with, but if the chanting is of a religious nature, that can cause issues.

But if it is, I assume it can be removed/replaced with something that is acceptable to Muslims?

Naz — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 - 17:09

You dont chant in yoga do you? :doubt:
Pilates you defo dont chant.
Mediation not chatting just humming

You — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 - 17:11

no idea - never done it.

But is the "ohmmmmmm" stuff not a part of it all? (no idea if that is from a religious chant or not...)

Omrow — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 - 14:30

Salam

[quote=You]
But is the "ohmmmmmm" stuff not a part of it all?
[/quote]

[quote=You]the excercise/relaxing there is nothing wrong with, but if the chanting is of a religious nature, that can cause issues.

But if it is, I assume it can be removed/replaced with something that is acceptable to Muslims?[/quote]

Yoga is banned?

This is outrageous.

Malaysia's National Fatwa Council needs to sit down and chill.

Hindus simply say "OMMMMMM..."

If YOU say "Ommmrooo", can how can that be wrong?

Omrow

Dawud — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 - 14:50

[quote=Omrow]
This is outrageous.

Malaysia's National Fatwa Council needs to sit down and chill.

Hindus simply say "OMMMMMM..."

If YOU say "Ommmrooo", how can that be wrong? [/quote]
😃 Priceless.

Ya'qub — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 - 18:41

[quote=The Lamp]Isn't Dhikr technically meditation? But with having Allah on your mind?[/quote]

Technically, the goal of meditating is to empty you mind of everything.

Whereas the goal of dhikr is to empty your mind of everything EXCEPT Allah (swt).

Its the same difference as there is between an atheist who believes "There is no god" and a Muslim who believes "There is no god except God".

Amal — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 - 10:14

[quote=Naz][quote]
The government has also occasionally made similar conservative moves, banning the use of the word "Allah" by non-Muslims earlier this year, saying it would confuse Muslims.

[/quote][/quote]

How can you place a limit on the name of God? :doubt: The arabic word for God is Allah - used by both Christian and Muslim Arabs. Its even in the Arabic bible.

[quote=Naz]You dont chant in yoga do you? :doubt:
Pilates you defo dont chant.
Mediation not chatting just humming
[/quote]

There are lots of variations and interpretations of Yoga around today - some very heavily based around Hinduism, but many are adapted versions, watered down or combined with other forms of exercise (like Aerobic/Power Yoga or Aqua Yoga)

Western influences in Yoga have probably resulted in the chanting and whatsnot being removed. I used to take yoga and was never made to chant yoga mantras. But we did refer to elements such as Chakras (7 energy areas in the body), and repeating mantras is part and parcel of traditional yoga. I was able to see the Hindu influences/aspects in it. The Chakras, for example, correspond to various different Hindua Dieties. There is more to it than meets the eye.

Yoga requires a long-term commitment and dedication. It is meant to be holistic, exercising both mind and body (hence the great emphasis on meditation). It is very slow, but calming and refreshing.

Pilates, on the other hand, only exercises and strengthens the body, and will give you results in a shorter time frame, but requires long-term commitment in order for it to be mastered or benefited from properly. If I was to recommend either, it would be pilates. I have yet to find any sport/exercise that beats it. Personally, I gain my "meditation", if you like, from my salah, and other ibadah and therefore do not have the need for meditation or yoga.

Dawud — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 - 10:17

[quote=Ya'qub][quote=The Lamp]Isn't Dhikr technically meditation? But with having Allah on your mind?[/quote]

Technically, the goal of meditating is to empty you mind of everything.

Whereas the goal of dhikr is to empty your mind of everything EXCEPT Allah (swt).

Its the same difference as there is between an atheist who believes "There is no god" and a Muslim who believes "There is no god except God".[/quote]
Words, like mortals, fall short of the Divine.

Dawud — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 - 10:18

[quote=Amal] The Chakras, for example, correspond to various different Hindua Dieties. There is more to it than meets the eye.
[/quote]

Or do the deities correspong to the Chakras?