The Kuala Lumpur Traveler

This is what had been said by The National Fatwa Council’s Chairman Datuk Dr Abdul Shukor Husin :

….yoga had been practised by the Hindu community for thousands of years and incorporated physical movements, religious elements together with chants and worshipping, with the aim of “being one with God”.

“Because of this, we believe that it is inappropriate for Muslims to do yoga. The council is declaring that practising yoga, when it comes together with the three elements, is haram,” he told a press conference here yesterday.

He noted that while merely doing the physical movements of yoga without the worshipping and chanting might not be against religious beliefs, Muslims should avoid practising it altogether as “doing one part of yoga would lead to another”.

Source: Star Online

I repeat, “….practising yoga, when it comes together with the three elements, is haram” and “…merely doing the physical movements of yoga without the worshipping and chanting might not be against religious beliefs..” and finally the advice by the religious council “…Muslims should avoid practising it altogether as “doing one part of yoga would lead to another”

To my Hindu friends, please understand that this decree is a guidance for Muslims by a body that is responsible for giving the Muslims advice on issues that may affect Muslims. It is not meant to degrade Hinduism, its followers or whatever. After all, when decrees are issued, it is still up to individual Muslims whether to accept and practice as recommended by the council, very much like all other decrees issued by the Council before.

Please stay calm and do not make things worse by over – reacting. If you are commenting on this issue in this blog, please do it with due care as this issue can be blown out of proportion.

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