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Malaysian Islamic Council Bans Yoga
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by Blue Crush | November 21, 2008 at 11:17 pm
337 views | 31 Recommendations | 8 comments
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Worried that Muslims could be swayed by Yoga's elements of Hinduism, Malaysia's top Islamic body banned the community from practising this ancient physical exercise.
Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia's Islamic regulating council on Saturday issued an edict banning Muslims from practicing yoga. The National Fatwa Council issued the ban Saturday, saying the practice of yoga involved physical movements, worshipping and chantings which were prohibited in Islam. Yoga, which originated in India but is widely practiced around the world, is popular among Malaysia's multiracial population. Muslims make up two-thirds of the country's 27 million population. While the council's decisions are not legally binding, many Muslims abide by the edicts out of deference. The council's decision is expected to raise the ire of certain Muslims groups and a considerably large group of Muslims who practice and teach yoga. The debate was sparked off recently when a lecturer of the National University of Malaysia, Zakaria Stapa, said that yoga, which is based on Hindu elements, could affect the faith of Muslims who practice it. He said yoga could cause Muslims to deviate from Islam.
See also this related story from Malaysia by happybrunette23
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (8)
at 00:04 on November 22nd, 2008
Wow, I wonder if they might be taking that a bit too far?
at 02:44 on November 22nd, 2008
Extremes of any sort and regardless from whom are never ever solving any thing nor helping any one.
at 04:36 on November 22nd, 2008
Sorry to say in reference to religion, but why always Islam talk about restrain, bann ,Fatwa. and never about freedom , harmony, compassion.Yoga teaches you all this.They know once the real awareness will come their power will end.
at 05:23 on November 22nd, 2008
You do make a good point here Amitjha, we may and should report at least equally about other and all extremes may they be fund in Islam, Christianity or Judaism, even Hinduism and other have extremist movements and one has to look only in to the Bible belt States in the US or the Ultra Orthodox in Israel and their equivalent in Gaza.
Sad and disturbing it is that no matter where you look and no matter what denomination or faith extremism and fundamentalism is to be fund every where. Maybe time to look in one owns back yard.
However this post is about one single news taking place and has little if any thing to do with Islamophobia.
at 02:52 on April 9th, 2009
Asalamu Alaikum.
May allah bless u & show u the right path.
Muslims r practising islam, which means submiting ones will to Allah (SWT)
& we believe this world is like prison for us.
We will InshaAllah get reward & freedom in thereafter.
at 07:41 on November 22nd, 2008
This sort of thing disturbs me. There is no tolerance in the world...At a time we need it the most
at 12:26 on November 22nd, 2008
I loved yoga... it's an spiritual, a perfect discipline to control body and mind.
at 04:22 on April 4th, 2009
Your right about extremism fundamentalism in the "Bible Belt". I've lived here all my life. I'm 45 years old. I found yoga in my teens through a television program, "Lillia Yoga and You." I loved it. Of course anything you love, you want to share.... Big mistake. It was tabu boogaboo and I was strongly encouraged to stop the practice. I became a closet yogini. Here I am 30 years later still in the Bible Belt, still practicing yoga, and in my own studio no less. (I'm chuckling just a little.) Trying in educate and inform folks here about what yoga is and what it is not. Here I teach that yoga doesn't pull you away from your religious, racial, or cultural background it enhances it. Hang in there guys, I'm a bit narrow minded too.... I still believe love conquers all.