Many Malaysians like to start their day with yoga which they see as a healthy, stress relieving activity which has little to do with their religion.  However it seems that the Malaysian National Fatwa Council and prominent Muslim clerics do not agree and they have issued a fatwa on yoga because of it’s roots with Hinduism.  The council chairman Abdul Shukor Husin said that some of the activities like chanting which he sees as being similar to worshipping were inappropriate and could “destroy the faith of a Muslim”.

In an article on the BBC it goes on to describe how many Muslim’s in Malaysia will follow this fatwa even if it is not legally required to do so.  Others, however, will continue to do yoga as they see it as having a great benefit to their lives and in no way compromises their religion.

What do you think?

More here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7743312.stm

According to a statement on the Web site of the American Yoga Association, yoga is not a religion, although its practice has been adopted by Hinduism, as well as other world religions.

‘Yoga combines physical exercise, religious elements, chanting and worshipping for the purpose of achieving inner peace and ultimately to be at one with god,’ said council chairman Abdul Shukor Husin.

  It is not necessary for Muslims to do yoga to relax, the council argues, they can pray to reach that state.

Read more: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/asiapacific/features/article_1492023.php/Practising_yoga_a_question_of_faith_in_Malaysia__Feature__#ixzz3m5MwsrW0

Seems that there is a disagreement about Yoga’s religious element.  It is closely associated with Hinduism as part of their meditative practice but I think in isolation there is nothing religious about practicing yoga per se.  I can see how an atheist could use yoga without contradicting his/her beliefs so it bothers me to see how muslims might need to outlaw it.

What is with the Malaysian Fatwa Council for banning yoga practice?
let me tell you it’s just stupid.

I think it depends on how the person. I see yoga as a religion but as a sports and recreation.

Look at http://voedingswijzer.org for more information