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 Topic: Islamonline Malaysia's Fatwa on yoga!

 (Read 2547 times)
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  • Islamonline Malaysia's Fatwa on yoga!
     OP - April 01, 2009, 11:45 AM

     I've acquited a new hobby of going fatwa shopping at Islamonline!
    They never fail to amuse & occasionally horrify me!  yes
    Question and Answer Details
       
     
     Name of Questioner
     Magdi   - Malaysia
     
     Title
     Malaysian Fatwa on Yoga: Why All the Fuss?
     
     Question
     Dear scholar, as-salamu `alaykum. We read in the news that recently a fatwa issued by the National Fatwa Council in Malaysia prohibiting Malaysian Muslims from practicing yoga has disappointed some Muslim groups and practitioners who deny that it is a Hindu religious practice. The fatwa says that yoga has been practiced by the Hindu community for thousands of years and incorporates physical movements, religious elements together with chants and worshipping, with the aim of ?being one with God?. Because of this, the Fatwa Council believes that it is inappropriate for Muslims to do yoga. Therefore, the council  declared that practicing yoga, when it comes together with the three elements, is haram.

     

    Given the above, could you please elaborate the Islamic stance on practicing yoga in the light of the above, particularly within the Malaysian context.


     
     
     Date
     25/Nov/2008
     
     Name of Counsellor
     Sano Koutoub Moustapha
     
     Topic
     Muslim Creed, Sports & Games
     
     
     
     Answer
       
     
    Wa `alaykum as-salamu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.


    In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.


    All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.


    Dear brother, thanks for your question. May Allah Almighty guide us all to the straight path of Islam.



    Regarding the points you raised, it should be clear that Islam aims at protecting the faith of Muslims against any taints of disbelief. Therefore, it is unbecoming for a Muslim to engage in or practice any sport that would violate the ethics and basics of his belief. If yoga, or any other sport, contains religious elements and rituals that are peculiar to other faiths, it will be disallowed for a Muslim to practice.



    Moreover, it is the right of Muslim scholars in any country to be concerned about the faith and religious practices of Muslims in their respective communities.



    Responding to your question, Dr. SanoKoutoub Moustapha, deputy chairman of the International Fiqh Academy and professor of fiqh and its principles at the International Islamic University, Malaysia, states,



    Thanks for your question.



    I second the fatwa of the National Fatwa Council which disallows Muslims to practice yoga when it incorporates physical movements, religious elements together with chants and worshipping, with the aim of ?being one with God?.



    I can see that the fatwa may be based on the Shari`ah-based principle of sadd adh-dhara'i` (blocking the means to evils). In Malaysia, we observed that many Muslims, especially from the youth, are being passively affected by practicing yoga.



    Malaysia, as a multi-ethnic country, has Muslims living with people from other religions such as Hindus and Buddhists. Therefore, it does not harm other religious communities that Muslims would not practice a health technique that could have passive effects on their faith.



    Moreover, if a Muslim is pressed by necessity to practice yoga, he should look for other alternatives, and there are many available.

    Finally, if practicing yoga will not be associated with religious elements, chants and worship, it would still be better for the Muslim to avoid it in order to avoid something that is doubtful. By avoiding that which is doubtful, a Muslim protects his faith as mentioned in a prophetic hadith.
     
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     Allah Almighty knows best.
     
    Thus, a Muslim is to avoid yoga even if it isn't connected to any other religious practices. Why is Islam sooo paranoid of other religious practices?  finmad

     
         


     
     
     
     

     
     

     

    World renowned historian Will Durant"...the Islamic conquest of India is probably the bloodiest story in history. It is a discouraging tale, for its evident moral is that civilization is a precious good, whose delicate complex order and freedom can at any moment be overthrown..."
  • Re: Islamonline Malaysia's Fatwa on yoga!
     Reply #1 - April 01, 2009, 11:49 AM

    I've acquited a new hobby of going fatwa shopping at Islamonline!

    What you trying to do - get a price for your head?

    My Book     news002       
    My Blog  pccoffee
  • Re: Islamonline Malaysia's Fatwa on yoga!
     Reply #2 - April 01, 2009, 12:35 PM

    I think it is more to do with the potential breaking of the hymen.
  • Re: Islamonline Malaysia's Fatwa on yoga!
     Reply #3 - April 01, 2009, 01:53 PM

    I've acquited a new hobby of going fatwa shopping at Islamonline!

    What you trying to do - get a price for your head?


     Cheesy

    World renowned historian Will Durant"...the Islamic conquest of India is probably the bloodiest story in history. It is a discouraging tale, for its evident moral is that civilization is a precious good, whose delicate complex order and freedom can at any moment be overthrown..."
  • Re: Islamonline Malaysia's Fatwa on yoga!
     Reply #4 - May 15, 2009, 11:42 PM

    I have a Malaysian friend at my university, she is an international student. I'm talking to her now. Just told her about this and she knows all about it. It was a massive fuss over there, apparently.

    The unlived life is not worth examining.
  • Re: Islamonline Malaysia's Fatwa on yoga!
     Reply #5 - May 18, 2009, 05:36 PM

    I think it is more to do with the potential breaking of the hymen.


    I think that is true with horse riding, not Yoga! whistling2

    ...
  • Re: Islamonline Malaysia's Fatwa on yoga!
     Reply #6 - May 18, 2009, 05:38 PM

    I think it is more to do with the potential breaking of the hymen.


    I think that is true with horse riding, not Yoga! whistling2


    They wouldn't declare something as haraam because it could break the hymen, would they?

    The unlived life is not worth examining.
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