Yoga

Assalamualaikum...

Today's hot topic is all about yoga. The Malaysian Islamic Authority have release a fatwa against yoga and everybody is making a fuss about it because it is a part of their social and healty life. But do they seriously understood why the Islamic clerics release such fatwa?

Below is an interview taken from BBC news about the yoga in Malaysia:
Adam Junid is a Muslim Malaysian who does both - prayers and gym, specifically yoga.

An engineer in his 30s, he goes to a weekly class for about 30 people.

"I don't think it interferes with the religion at all," he says.

"In fact it helps you, makes you healthy and more aligned and it helps you become self aware," he adds.

Do you know that the yoga postures and exercises are the ways of buddist praying to buddha during our fore-fore-fore fathers? Now, i bet someone would replie, "yes i know that. But my 'nawaitu' - niat, is to get in shape; not converting to another religion. As long as my nawaitu is lurus, i do not think it is against Islam." Let me tell you a story which was told by Ustaz Ismail Kamus. One night, a rich man had big gathering and everybody was invited as long as they give some offerings to his god. A hungry man tried to attend the gathering empty-handed. The guards hold him and ask for his offerings. The man said he was poor and hungry. The rich guy came out and explain to the hungry-man that he could present anything to his god. The hungry man looked on the floor and saw a dead fly. He picked it up and asked the rich guy, "can i offer your god this dead-fly?" and the rich guy replied, "yes" and so he did and went into the festival and eat.

Another hungry guy came along and was hold by the guards as he did not have anything to offer to the rich guys' god. The rich guy told the 2nd hungry guy that he can offer anything even a dead fly. The 2nd hungry guy replied,"if i do such act it would mean i am menyekutukan Allah. I rather die of hunger than do such things that can bring Allah wrath upon me."

Someone would reply to me "But doing yoga is not like as if i am offering something." but the truth is, yes you are. That ACT alone is an offering sudah. Do not think that as long as your nawaitu in joining yoga is for the sake of your health and so it would not jeapardize your religion. The fact is, it does.

I am not a religious person and I do not have the rights to say what is right and wrong. I am just telling you a story and it is up to your discretion to decide what is best for you.


najmoon esa