19 Nov 2008

Hamidah Atan

PUTRAJAYA: The National Fatwa Council will come out with a ruling on yoga exercise this week.

Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) director-general Datuk Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abdul Aziz, who said this yesterday, remained tight-lipped when asked if the fatwa would ban Muslims from taking up yoga.

However, he said, the council and Jakim would not hesitate to issue fatwa or rulings to ensure Muslims do not deviate from the teachings of Islam.

"Just like the ruling we issued recently on tomboyish behaviour, our decision on yoga has to be made to preserve the faith of Muslims," said Wan Mohamad.

Council chairman Professor Datuk Dr Abdul Syukor Husin yesterday said they had finalised the ruling on yoga exercise. "The draft was ready last week but I still have to analyse it. Let Jakim fix a suitable date and time to announce it."

It is understood that the ruling was agreed upon after an in-depth study lasting more than six months. The matter was referred to the council at least three times. Recently, Professor Zakaria Stapa, of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Islamic Studies Centre, advised Muslims who had taken up yoga to stop practising it as it could cause them to deviate from their beliefs.

Yoga, which is related to health, has been practised since 3,300BC and is said to help slow down ageing, reduce risk of diabetes, asthma and heart-related diseases.

Zakaria said the daily exercise practice had many poses, positions and concentration techniques based on elements of Hinduism.

Syariah law can be brought to bear on Muslims who practise a culture that can cause them to deviate from their faith.

"I do not understand why Muslims would want to practise yoga for the purpose of finding serenity when Islam, through its teachings, enables its followers to do just that.

"Muslims should just practise what Islam has taught them."

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