Malaysia Bans Yoga

Interesting indeed - definitely had people tell me that they don't do yoga because of religious reasons. However it is unfair to have a formalized ban removing your right to practice.

Tell me about it.

In the Malaysian constitution there's an Article 153, it states that the citizens are allowed freedom of choice, expression and speech.

Now, the government, who writes this very constitution are taking a white out in their hands and erasing everything that they find amusing.

Thanks for the comments.

Hi friends. Thanks for inviting me to this wonderful site. This image was registered while I was taking the fresh air after breakfast around Lake Garden, Taiping on my work visit. Spotted a group of people doing their yoga routine under the spotless morning sky. Thanks for viewing!

wickedwarhol has contributed a photo to this story.

hi thanks for the photo, it's really nice of you to contribute. :)

Let's not jump the gun - yet. No formal announcement has been made as to what exactly the decision of the Fatwa Council is. The official "excuse" has been that the council chairman was out of the country on the day the announcement was supposed to have been made (Friday, November 7th). Hence, it's been deferred to a yet undisclosed date.

There are a few possibilities:

• it will be deemed Haram (Forbidden)
• it will be deemed OK, with/without restrictions
• the council will defer the decision indefinitely - in hopes that folks will forget (which I will personally make sure doesn't happen, if I can help it)

For those interested, do come by myAsylum to take the poll I've put up (at the side bar).

Hi there, thanks for the feedback really appreciate it. Your possibilities really narrow down the options and the poll you set up is really cool. 

But i have a feeling it will be a big issue since...

1. The civil and shariah court have not made it clear to muslim converts that their offsprings should also take on the religion. 

2. Hindraf and their extremist views

3. The rift between malays and indians: Mainstreet and in the embarassing cabinets of mp behavious

4. Did you know that night clubs have been attacked: most malay crowds night clubs attacked by Indians and most indian night clubs attacked my malays. Read recent Malay Mail story on Qba Westin Hotel.

There's just alot of hatred around, we just do not see "eye to eye" anymore.

Thanks again for the comment. Keep on posting and checking back on me! :)

©NAPIE has contributed a photo to this story.

this is taken at First Beach in Kota Kinabalu, off the coast of Sabah, Malaysia on the island of Borneo.

angela7dreams has contributed a photo to this story.

It's official. Told you so. :)

The story is this, the definition of Malay itself, he/she must practice the malay culture/language and Islam. Malaysia Malay must be a muslim, subsequently obey the quran and hadith. Hence every race in Malaysia has his/her freedom to choose. Malaysian Malays are born into this world not to choose at all. So if it was from the fatwa counsil, as a common malay he must abide.Another race with the same problem are Maldivian from Maldives. Born as a muslim, die as a Muslim or lost both ethnicity and religion. That is reality,

This Yoga fatwa or any other fatwa or FORCED strict compliance to the RULES for that matter is NOT about religion... it is about POWER! When Islam is followed for love and not fear of retribution, then it is STRONG and Yoga or any other custom with roots outside Islam can be practiced freely without eroding the faith or faithful. But apparently the "Guardians of Islam" and others who RULE Islam do not have the confidence that that they can lead from a position of love and respect of Islam

As a Muslim who practice Tai Chi, Gi Gong ,Teakwondo and Yoga,  I am very disappointed with the fatwa. I don't see the rational behind it.  I do yoga  and meditation  and it has made my faith deeper and I am healthier. My breathing is much better, stamina is up, my asthma is down and I am still a Muslim, more compassionate then some Ulama I know. When are they going to make a fatwa against Gi Gong, Tai Chi or Karate, Judo, Teakwondo? all these have roots with Buddhism.

I remember years ago, the Majlis Fatwa wanted to ban Bollywood movies and  Doremon cartoon, but was stopped by our then outspoken Prime Minister. I find it hard to believe a fatwa was passed on Syiah as a deviant religion against Islam,  yet Malaysia imports meat from Iran and we look highly at Iran as a Muslim country and Muslims in Malaysia love Iranian food!

I wonder how the Majlis Ftawa identify critical issues? Do they know how to conduct Issues Management? or that is 'Haram' as well since it is Western thinking. The Majlis Fatwa Ulamas only know how to read Quran and Hadisth in Arabic. I had a good source saying most of the Ustaz in Jabatan Agama Islam Malaysia can't speak nor read English. With that, what books do they refer in regards to Yoga? which are mostly written in English by Yoga Scholars. Even those Profs and lecturers in Islamic Faculty of University Kebangsaan are not well versed in English. I know this for sure being a local graduate.

Honestly, at this time where Islam is searching for it's identity in a Westerned owned Super Power World, Islam does not need a dim-witted attention. This fatwa of ulema  is intolerant toward religious freedom. Instead of enjoying the freedom of religion and civil liberty, the Muslims in Malaysia became the victims of brutal and religious persecution.

Fatwa should involve all elements of society. Fatwas must be based on profound reasoning. The use of reason in the time of issuing fatwas is necessary in understanding the text and the context of the problem. Therefore, fatwa is not about dividing the world in a good and bad part, haram or halal but it should prioritize the urgency of education, enlightenment, and empowerment of society. Fatwas should bring benefits to humans.

The Muslim world need to be aware of the importance of moderate, humanist and progressive fatwa to keep the compatibility between religion and time and space (shalihun likulli zaman wa makan). Furthermore, since radicalism and fundamentalism in Muslim world are increasing, humanist fatwas offer an alternative to build civilization that honor both God and His creatures.

Therefore, interpreting the words of God in a social context is necessary in order to understand the essence of God’s messages in the light of humanity, plurality and benefit. In Malaysia, we need ulemas  who have the past, present and future view. Fatwa are one of the entrances to a humanitarian civilization. Therefore, it should not be contaminated by self-interest and blind ignorance that will eventually eliminate the spirit of Islam. 

they should ban the hindu imports from india