Islamic Ban on Yoga

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Jaishree Balasubramanian Kuala Lumpur, Nov 22 (PTI) A top Islamic body in Malaysia today barred Muslims from practicing Yoga, saying the ancient physical exercise was "haram" and prohibited in Islam. Apprehensive that Muslims could be swayed by Yoga's elements of Hinduism, National Fatwa Council (NFC) issued a religious

decree telling the community, who comprise two-thirds of Malaysia's 27 million population, that practising Yoga was "haram" and prohibited in the religion. Abdul Shukor Husin, chairman of the government-backed NFC, opined that practicing Yoga will erode the faith of Muslims in Islam and does not conform with the religion. "Yoga will erode their (Muslims) faith. We advice Muslims not to practice it," the senior Islamic cleric said. Apart from the physical movements, the yoga practices

contain worshipping and chanting, which were prohibited for Muslims, the NFC said. The globally popular practice of yoga, which originated in India, is a popular stress-buster in Kuala Lumpur. The ruling came after an Islamic studies lecturer recently advised Muslims, who had taken up yoga, to stop practising it as they could deviate from the teachings of Islam. Senior Islamic cleric, Zakaria Stapa, a professor at the National University of Malaysia, had asked Muslims to stop practicing yoga as it

could cause them to "deviate from their faith". The Council's decisions are not legally binding on Muslims unless they are enshrined in national or Shariah laws. However, many Muslims abide by the edicts out of deference. PTIhttp://www.ptinews.com/pti%5Cptisite.nsf/$All/BCAB6738B627068565257509004C36D4?OpenDocument