A Fatwa Against Yoga? And How Would This Reflect on Muslims?
By Farish A. Noor ~ November 27th, 2008. Filed under: TOM_Main.
Since I became an activist at the age of nineteen, I have spent more than two decades of my life defending Muslims and the image of Islam. During my twenty-two years of living in Europe, I must have attended hundreds of conferences, seminars, public debates and lectures where I tried my best to dissuade people from the negative image of Islam that is so prevalent in the international media of late.
But there were moments when it seemed as if this was an uphill struggle where every battle won was soon followed by a string of defeats, thanks to the actions of Muslims who took it upon themselves to ‘defend Islam’ on their own parochial and short-sighted terms; and whose actions and words did untold damage to the image of Muslims. I recall one particularly bitter episode when I was asked to speak about the universalism of Islam – that took place just when the Taliban were occupied with the task of blowing up the Buddha statues of Bamiyan in Afghanistan. It seemed pointless to continue then, and despair has been my lot for the past few years.
Now I find myself again in such a situation, after it was announced that the Fatwa Council of Malaysia has just issued a fatwa declaring that the practice of Yoga is haram and thus forbidden to Muslims. Overnight I was bombarded by emails and sms-es from my Islamist friends in Indonesia where I teach at two Islamic universities, who asked: “What is wrong with you Malaysian Muslims, and haven’t you got anything better to do?” How do I reply to such a question when I am forced to ask it myself?
That the Malaysian Fatwa Council could even contemplate issuing a fatwa on Yoga of all things beggars belief. It leaves many Muslims and non-Muslims alike stunned and speechless for it would suggest that the state of normative religiosity in Malaysia has sunk to such a shallow and superficial level that only the most mundane issues are deemed worthy enough to gain the attention of the country’s ‘defenders of the faith’.
There are three issues that I would like to raise at this point, and they are the following:
Firstly it should be noted that for millions of people around the world who may be Hindus or non-Hindus, Yoga is seen primarily as a form of exercise and little else. In Europe where Yoga has been popular since the 1960s, millions of Europeans have been practicing Yoga in their spare time as a hobby or part of their health regimes, with scant attention to its religious and spiritual connotations. If it were indeed the case that Yoga forms an intrinsic part of Hindu belief and that it can be used as a means to convert non-Hindus to Hinduism, then there ought to be millions of Hindus all over Western Europe by today! So where on earth are these closet European Hindus then? Has anyone considered this commonsensical point with any degree of reflection or honesty? If Yoga is seen as merely a regime of exercise, then how on earth does sitting cross-legged miraculously transform me into a Hindu? It would be akin to suggesting that continual consumption of curry would eventually make me an Indian; and I hope we can all see how patently ridiculous that is.
Secondly, let us be clear about what thing: Yoga practices have been part of Southeast Asian culture for more than four thousand years and they are as much a part of Asian society as many of the other cultural legacies left by the period of ancient Indianisation. Another practice that has become normalised and localised over the past four millennia is the practice of massage, which is hugely popular in predominantly-Muslim Malaysia and Indonesia as it is in Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Look at the relief carvings on the temples of Prambanan and Borobudur and it will be seen that massage was prevalent during the Hindu-Buddhist period and the detailed carvings show that what Malay-Muslims call ‘urut’ or ‘picit’ (pressure-point massage) was practiced as far back as the Sanjaya and Sailendra dynasties. Today picit and urut are still popular among Malaysian and Indonesian Muslims, and is practiced by Muslims. Has this ancient form of therapy transformed us into Hindus too? Certainly not, so why the fuss over Yoga?
Thirdly, the declaration that Yoga is haram has robbed Malaysia and Malaysians of yet another neutral civic space where Malaysians of all walks of life can meet and interact as Malaysians and friends. As someone who has been practicing Yoga since the age of nineteen, I can say for certain that many of the Yoga classes I have attended were plural, cosmopolitan gatherings where Malaysians of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds can meet and form lasting friendships and acquaintances. To declare this practice haram for Muslims effectively robs us of another space where we can meet other people, constraining our personal freedoms and limiting the choices in our lives.
Muslims in Malaysia are more closely guarded and policed than ever before, with more and more laws, rules and restrictions on how we dress, eat, speak, interact and even marry and form relationships with. After this fatwa on Yoga, what will be next? A fatwa on karate, kung-fu, pilates, Qi Jong?
At the root of the matter is the fact that the Malaysian Fatwa Council has acted unilaterally once again and unilaterally issued a blanket prohibition in the name of Islam and all Muslims. Well, I did not vote or elect any of the members of this council; and neither did any other Muslims in the country. Here lies the real problematic of power behind such appointed bodies that have been given so much power and authority over our lives. Lest it be forgotten, the only body that is allowed to legislate on our behalf as Malaysian citizens is the Parliament, that was elected by the citizenry themselves. Yet over the past three decades of an Islamisation process that has gone out of control, more and more non-elected and non-democratic bodies have been created that wield enormous power over the lives of Malaysians, particularly Muslims.
What has aroused the angry reaction of Malaysian Muslims in the case of this fatwa is the fact that it was issued unilaterally without any consultation with society. And this reflects the extent to which the Fatwa council is in fact a body that is not answerable to the Malaysian public. More so than a question of theology or theocratic details and fine-print, the workings of the Fatwa Council in Malaysia has demonstrated the workings of a state that has abdicated its responsibility to lead the way towards a modern, progressive Islam that is relevant to the plural and multicultural world we live in today. Yet ironically all this is happening under the watch of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, who made it his project to promote an ‘Islam Hadari’ that is modern and tolerant. How, pray tell, can there be a tolerant, moderate and modern Islam when books are banned on a monthly basis and Muslims are not even allowed to exercise and meditate in peace? And once again, it is the image of Islam that has suffered the most.
November 27th, 2008 at 18:56
Dear Dr Farish Noor,
We met when you gave us a talk at the MCOBA Penthouse last year. I have with me a 17 page document in pdf (the excerpt — only Pg 1 — as below) and I would like to email it to you before commenting on your posting. In general, I share your “exasperation” but with your knowledge on Comparative Religions, perhaps a discourse would be useful with the hope that together, we can make the current scenario (micromanaging?) befalling Malaysian Muslims much better; away from the “murky” situation, so to speak.
I have also included a comment from a senior citizen detailing his experience in TM way back in 1978. Perhaps, in the context of “experiential learning”, all of us may be enriched, through shared experience, knowledge and wisdom.
Sallam,
D.Zin
PS:
Let me know how to send you the pdf document
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HUJAH PENGHARAMAN YOGA
Mohd Aizam bin Mas’od
Caw. Aqidah
Bah. Penyelidikan JAKIM
PENDAHULUAN
Kebelakangan ini, senaman yoga telah menjadi satu budaya baru dalam masyarakat di negara ini bagi membina kesihatan mental dan fizikal. Senaman yoga menurut pengamalnya didakwa boleh menghilangkan tekanan fikiran dan perasaan di samping menyihat dan mencantikkan tubuh badan. Sehubungan dengan itu, banyak pihak tampil ke hadapan untuk mempersembahkan teknik-teknik beserta faedah senaman yoga. Sambutan yang memberangsangkan daripada orang ramai termasuk umat Islam
menyebabkan bisnes berasaskan yoga telah menjadi semakin tersebar luas.
Iklan-iklan berkenaan yoga memenuhi laman-laman web, kedai-kedai buku, artikel-artikel di dalam majalah serta penubuhan pusat-pusat latihan yang mengendalikan senaman yoga.
Pusat-pusat latihan yoga didapati tumbuh dengan pesat di seluruh negara seperti Jiva Yoga, Ancient Yoga Consulting (AYC), Yoga House, TallTree Yoga, Isha Foundation, Surya Yoga Malaysia, Persatuan Yoga Malaysia, Sahaja Yoga Malaysia dan lain-lain. Kebanyakan penganjur dan pengajar senaman yoga
terdiri di kalangan bukan Islam namun terdapat juga segelintir di kalangan umat Islam turut terlibat dalam pengajaran yoga.
Dalam kepelbagaian teknik yoga yang dipersembahkan kepada orang ramai, terdapat juga sesetengah yoga yang mempunyai unsur-unsur penyelewengan aqidah yang jelas. Contohnya, kaedah yang dibawa oleh Sahaja Yoga Malaysia adalah jelas boleh membawa kepada syirik dan pluralisme agama. Menurut
ajaran pengasas yoga ini, iaitu Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, Sahaja Yoga mampu menyatukan inti kepada semua agama. Dalam upacara yoga yang dilaksanakan pula, pelajar diminta supaya menatap gambar wajahnya, serta menyebut dengan sepenuh hati, “Ibu (gelaran bagi beliau), berikanlah aku kesedaran diri (selfrealisation)”.
Pertubuhan ini dilihat telah berjaya mengembangkan pusat-pusat
latihannya hampir ke seluruh negara. Sesetengah yoga yang lain pula seperti yang dibawa oleh Talltree Yoga mendakwa yoga ialah penyatuan tenaga tersendiri dengan tenaga yang berada
di luar iaitu tenaga alam sekitar. Bermakna yoga ialah koleksi teknik dan amalan kerohanian bertujuan untuk menyepadukan pemikiran, badan, jiwa, emosi dan kepercayaan.
Fenomena yoga yang dikatakan mampu mengambil alih tempat agama bagi mengisi kekosongan jiwa dan rohani manusia ini telah melahirkan kebimbangan kepada umat beragama. Sebagai contoh, pada tahun 2004, pemimpin Gereja Roman Katolik telah memberi amaran kepada penganut agama Kristian supaya ..end of Page 1.
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A comment below from a friend about his true experience about Yoga.
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Bros all,
I agree fully with Bro Ali Karim in that we should not be uptight on the latest fatwa, whether it has just been delivered or should have been decided on years ago. We dont really know as to when was this matter brought before it for, I believe, it is not the job of the members of the fatwa council to look around individually and issue relevant judgement collectively. I believe the council only decide on what has been brought before it and, thus, I suppose, the matter must have been brought before it only now, not earlier, and decided upon after research and deliberation supposedly.
Foremost, does any one know anything about the actual practice of the particular “yoga” that has just been islamically illegalised? Has anyone of us practised any form of “yoga” now or before as to be able to give a fair comment on the matter? I dont know how many forms of yoga are there existing, but I must positively say that the “Transcendental Meditation” (TM), a form of yoga in which members have to pay homage to the “Guru Maharishi” is definitely “syirik” and, therefore, wrong in Islam.
My wife and I were initially so fascinated with the “meditation” and its exercises that we straight away became members of the group that met in a bungalo house in Bangsar way back in 1978 soon after hanging up my rugby boots, parting with my hard-earned RM2,000. for our memberships, a lot of money then and small wonder “Guru Maharishi” could own so many Rolls Royces and private jets as reported.
I knew immediately it was wrong when we started our exercises the ensuing week. My wife and I had to dress in all white, bringing a bouquet of flowers (remember the “hippies” and the “flower power” of the 70s!!) each as each of us were led separately into a small dim lit room, but cool and very quiet as it was sheltered from noice. There was a picture of “Maharishi” hanging conspicuously in the room. I had to place my bouquet of flowers in an empty vase on the small table right underneath the picture, after which I had to sit on a nicely placed chair, very comfortable and uprightly, facing the picture. I was given a “mantra” to recite, reciting it while facing “Maharishi” and closing my eyes and thinking of “Maharishi” while reciting. What can this be if it is not worshipping “Maharishi”? And we told that we have to do this ritual everytime we meet.
I never knew what was the result of chanting my “mantra” for deep inside me I truly didnot go on with the exercise, pretending all the time until I was led out of the room. We didnt say a word as we came out of the rooms for we did not want to embarrass any body, including the few Malays waiting for their turn to do the same initial exercise. The other forms of exercises would follow thereon. My mantra was personalised as I was not supposed to reveal it to any body, not even to my wife. I was supposed to enter into a deep form of relaxation, semi-conscious and no doubt still in control of myself and sort of next to falling asleep, if I were to continue with reciting my mantra. Only shortly later that we found out, after firmly deciding not to continue with the “meditation”, that our so-said personalised mantras are the same, “sirrim” and we dont know till today what “sirrim” means, maybe it is sanskrit.
I agree fully with Bro Ghaz that we should accept Islam as the perfected deen and there is nothing better than uplifting ourselves physically and spritually through our solat (facing the Ka’abah instead of the picture of “Maharishi” and worshipping only Allah Swt) and our dhikir (reciting “la illaha illallah” to the mantra, which is meaningless). I never get to know whether this TM is any good because my wife and I left after the first day, losing RM2,000. instantly, basically just to know that TM is wrong.
The group was somewhat hush-hush and I noticed then that there were quite a number of prominent Malays in it, through stealthily looking at the registration book when the desk was unattended. I had few phone calls and two letters persuading my wife and I to continue with the TM, but I politely turned them down. I also waited for the calls from the several Malay members of the group (I knew a few) since my name is also registered, but none of them did. Now, if this is the condition and situation with every member of the group (almost similar to the Freemason), how could this practice be made easily known much earlier, more so to the fatwa council, bearing in mind that I was almost in the group in 1978, 30 long years ago. Obviously, there are other forms of yoga today, the practice of which maybe worse. I could have discarded the initial ritual and just continue on with the exercises, but what is the point, I ask myself.
Yes, yes, it all boils down to IMAN. If our belief in Allah is firm and unshakeable then nothing can cause us to deviate from His guided ways and path. May Allah Swt bless us all always. Thank you.
Selamat Menyambut Hari Raya Korban
AJ65
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November 27th, 2008 at 20:15
patience, farish. patience..
November 27th, 2008 at 22:06
I ask, who benefits most?
I see its the agenda that UMNO is trying so hard to push that benefits most.
Since 8 March there has been so much more talk of Ketuanan Melayu, Social Contract, NEP, Malay rights and such. But this has been just an acceleration of the tempo of the past and maybe it was not seeing traction from within the Malays themselves. If there was traction, then UMNO’s need for keeping the races separate would have been achieved.
So they push up the ante. The Fatwa Council is obviously an UMNO led BN government appointment. There is that incestous relationship between those in the council, especially those who are pro-UMNO leaning and UMNO itself. Obviously they too see their own demise if PAS was to take over the Federal Government, together with the others in Pakatan, as their own qualification to continue holding on to their elevated postions might be questioned by their own peers within the Islamic learned persons fraternity who were previously denied higher up positions only because they were PAS leaning.
I would like to suggest that this was an attempt at pushing the wedge further dwon the divide between the races. The greeater the difference the Malays/Muslims are made to see of themselves from teh non-Malay/Muslims, it would seem like, within their equation somewhere, this would be beneficial to UMNO.
After all, whatever Pakatan Rakyat is doing, it is clear to see that in Pakatan the different races see themselves coming closer together as bangsa Malaysia.
I only feel sorry for PAS, as whats profitable for PAS may not exactly go dwon well with many in PAS.
November 28th, 2008 at 00:14
Dear Farish,
Allow me to throw my 2 cents thought in this article in which concerned me deeply since a month ago, when I’ve read about it first here in TOM concerning Yoga and NFC
At first glance I was a vague and quasy as this recent fatwa from NFC smell stink inside my nose due, hiddened agenda that i’ve believe was put from the ‘big’ hand in upper level and intended to slowing down the heat of political issues play by umno.
And in second thot, i do understand the aimed of NFC which to prevent the muslim indirect mislead by sangam or mantra in the yoga routine.
How far the truth of mantra and sangam can effect the ‘iman’ of muslim is definitive a good topic to look in.
In other hand, the media as usuall play the spinning wheel and turn the story hanky panky. The NFC declared not to banning the yoga itself, but only the partial routine of it elements that used the mantra and sangam, Thus, in my point of view, transformed the routine to ritual praying in superficial.
Thanks…
November 28th, 2008 at 02:00
Pernah sekali, saya bertanya kepada mak saya, macam mana agaknya akan terjadi bila orang Islam atau orang Melayu terserempak dengan hantu cina? Agak-agaknya ayat-ayat suci orang muslim ada tak kesannya terhadap hantu cina tu…Dia senyum tak menjawab…Hehehe…
Dah lah tau sejak hari pertama dalam kelas ugama, Islam adalah yang benar yang lain pulak palsu…Jadi apa yang diorang takut sangat eh…? Tak paham paham…
Yoga memang dah lama kat sini, ada tak apa berita atau kes pasal orang keluar Islam pasal tu….Takde pun…
Pasal patung Buddha tu…Saya rasa buddhist buddhist tak marah pun, yang marah tu kebanyakannya ahli sejarah yang kerja kat muzium…hehehhe
November 28th, 2008 at 09:28
Hi Farish, I was waiting for you to smack these idiots. WTF is wrong with our country? Perhaps we should stop all this BOLEHLAND thingy and start name this country as UTURN Country. They spill it and then blame the whole world bcoz misquoted them. Pak Lah say OK, Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan said HARAM!! Majlis FATWA Negeri said ON HOLD, Majlis Raja2 said talk to us..
Anyway, do you think they will HARAMkan KAMASUTRA?
November 28th, 2008 at 10:29
Farish,
Why dont you react to the posting from Mohd Aizam bin Mas’od
Caw. Aqidah, Bah. Penyelidikan JAKIM?
November 28th, 2008 at 13:44
Dear Dr., I am a schoolmate and friend of Zin Dahari and also from MCKK. My father was the late Sultan Idris Shah of Perak. If he was around, l can imagine him saying to the fatwa council, “haven’t you guys have better things to do than passing fatwa on yoga?” We have many other more pressing issues that require our love and attention, to alleviate the poverty of fellow muslims, to give a better future to the future generations through a better understanding of each other with fellow humans; social interaction. We all belong to one race - the human race. Salams.
November 28th, 2008 at 14:48
Hi Dr. Farish,
Have Zin e-mailed you pdf copy of the Jakim’s document? Hope you he had e-mailed you the document as I am very keen to read your response. TQ
November 28th, 2008 at 22:45
Yes, Farish. You must be incandescent with rage.
My own chakras are still out of alignment since the tomboy fatwa.
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/93001
The fatwa council acted as if Malaysians muslims are so stupid and so weak in their faith. They can fatwa away to irrelevance and obscurity.
Upcoming fatwa? Listening to choral music may lead to Christianity therefore no Handel’s Messiah for Malaysian Muslims. What are the chances of this happening? Place your bets NOW!
November 28th, 2008 at 23:31
Yep Ida! And maybe they’ll start banning plays and musicals too. What about Christmas trees? And story books? Aaah.. the story of Peter Pan… and all those Hans Anderson fairy tales.
I wonder what they will think of next.
November 29th, 2008 at 02:38
Sallam Ku Shah and Mihad,
I have just email to Farish the pdf document from Caw Akidah JAKIM.
November 30th, 2008 at 22:00
We Malaysians, muslims especially, have more pressing issues to resolve, more challenges to face in the 21st century. I’ve been practicing yoga in some forms or the other for the last 35 years following Richard Hittleman’s manuals and I’m still a muslim. Never once moment in my life while practicing yoga, had ever crossed my mind that I’m practicing a hindu ritual what more thinking of converting to hiduism. I took Indian Studies during my student days at the university. I read mahabharatta. So what? Do all those things turn me into a Hindu or Indian? In my humble opinion, Islam does not want to unnecessarily overburden its followers. The hadith which says : “Seek knowledge even if you have to go to China”, is something that can guide us, if that hadith is sahih. Why did the Prophet urged muslims to travel far and wide to seek knowledge. He knew that the world changes, that peoples of diffrent nations and cultures will interact and intermix and will have influnece on each other. Malaysians should feel blessed that we are multi racial and multi culltural. We should feel culturally riched and enjoy the multi facets of multi cullturalism our country has to offer.
November 30th, 2008 at 22:08
What I’ve been trying to wrap my head around is that the terms Syurga, Neraka and Puasa all come to us from Sanskrit, and describe specific concepts in Hindu thought. By using these words, do they leave traces of their etymological origins in our psyche, planting seeds of syirk without our awareness?
The English terms fare no better, with Heaven and Hell both used in Norse/ Teutonic mythology.
I’m quite serious about this by the way.
I don’t necessarily see anything wrong with the secularised, deritualised form of yoga, although I imagine there must be Hindus and Buddhists who are a little upset with it. I can’t imagine, for example, the solat suddenly becoming stripped of its religious elements to become some sort of exercise fad.
November 30th, 2008 at 22:57
I am a Malaysia student who is studying in taiwan.In our community many of our us were not concern in this issue .Most of them thought passing Yoga on fatwa only will cause an impact in Muslim, there were not really big deal to us. Yet ,I disagree with those thinking by beside my friend,.The fatwa council started to be more despotically in our life.If non-muslim don’t realized that this a first step of the Fundamentalisms try to construct our country become a Islamic country like Afghanistan, Iran and other Middle East country. I tried to tell my friends, we should oppose those inhuman policy.Not only for Muslim community is also for us. So gald to read your article that discussed with objectivity viewpoint. Thanks for writing those thing for our country. Anyway ,bless have a well life
P/s this is my first time to reply a massage to an English Bloger,hope my lousy English can tell my ideas to the Muslim community some of us also care and take concern in this issue.
B.Y.Poh
November 30th, 2008 at 23:07
I am of no particular faith and respect wholeheartedly the indivudual choice of all who choose to practise a faith.
My understanding of Islam has been that it is a faith that promotes and seeks dialogue, encourages debate and discussion, and respects the rights of anyone whatever their faith. And that, it is also a faith whose hospitality to non-muslims are legendary.
It seems to me like a ’select’ group of un-elected individuals, with an extremely biased and ‘corrupt’ view of Islam have taken it upon themselves( perhaps with a ‘nod and a wink’ from ‘powerful, self serving’ entities) to, once again humiliate and dis-credit the true teachings of the Koran. And sadly, very sadly indeed, there are many who are too frightened and sub-servient, to question and challenge these so called ‘fatwa’s’.
The laws of average point to a day of reckoning, and again, it will be the everyday decent person/persons and the innocent, whose lives will be ruined.
Malaysia, a Nation rich and bountiful with it’s fabric of ancient and learned cultures, traditions and languages, is being systemeticaly ‘polluted’ by again, a ’select’ group intent on not only destroying whatever vestiges of intellect and beauty that remains, but turning the country into a laughing stock across the planet.
December 1st, 2008 at 01:16
Salams my dearest Learned Brother Farish
Do recite surah Al Insyirah as it is a balm for all tensions, pressure and a heavy heart that you are faced with concerning the YOGA issue.
When Islam arrived during the period of Jahilliyah or Ignorance, it was considered a STRANGE religion…and just about now when we are all living in the End of Times, Islam has again appeared to seem STRANGE to the eyes of the non Muslims.
The Quran commands us not to despair of the help of Allah. Despair and despondency are not acceptable modes of thoughts for believers. All the social injustices, treachery, deceit and moral degeneration in the age we live in has driven people to despair. Allah SWT annouces that those who serve HIM purely without associating any of HIS creatures with divinities besides HIM and do good works to win HIS favour, will be endowed with power and authority.
I believe in YOGA on one level as a beautiful form of exercise. I also believe that as a Muslim we are taught not to associate our deeds, actions etc with anything other than what is taught to us in our holy Quran and the Sunnah’s of our beloved Prophet Muhammad.
What is case sensitive is that there are some Yoga centres expecting participants to revere the Gurus e.g. Maharishis etc. I beg to differ, i was one time a student of dance (Bharata Natyam) for purpose of leisure, hobby and exercise. It too came with initiation and opening rituals honoring a certain Goddess (Durga if i am not mistaken) as i was still in my youths at the time. Alhamdullillah, i have repented and i still think it is a beautiful dance. And this is where some of the weaker Muslims in faith will tend to falter. As a Muslim we are all brothers and sisters and it is our duty to lookout for one another in faith, that is all. I respect all religions and cherish my Hindu friends.
Alhamduliilah even if you are reading this till this line. May Allah bless you with light and mercy and guide to you further on the path of Allah. Thank you for your time.
Your humble sister in Islam
Wassalam
December 1st, 2008 at 19:42
I find it really fascinating to read the comments on this issue. Some claimed to be of no particular faith and yet has the courtesy of wanting to tell the faith he disbelieve in on what is right and what is wrong. He even go to the extend of accusing the majlis fatwa of having extremely biased and ‘corrupt’ view of Islam assuming that his version is most unbiased and and uncorrupted, though he disbelieve in it.
We also see people claiming that they have not converted to Hindu even though they have practiced Yoga for many years. I wonder if these people understand what is akidah in Islam. Do they think that being out of Islam is only by embracing some other religions? Do they really understand what is syirik?
Ignorance is indeed their great enemy, but arrogance is their worse enemy. The funny thing is that nobody would dare to stand in a scientific conference to talk about science when they are no scientist. But when it comes to Islam, everybody seems to believe that they know this religion better than the other to the point that a panel of experts is considered having bias and corrupted view when weighted to their own view.
December 1st, 2008 at 23:40
Salams to my dearest Learned Brother Farish, and Greetings to all,
Forgive me, im no religious teacher or officer of any political party. But if i may, i wish to also mention some things somewhat a little abt religion here and i am only doing this to add to what i have said earlier in order that my explanation in my earlier post, may be a little clearer.
The recent fatwas or rulings on lesbianism and Yoga has no doubt brought about an uneasy feeling amongst some Muslims and non-muslims. For those who are Muslim, if we look closely to the fatwas, both are in line with the law in Islam that is called Law of Tasyabbuh. The word Tasyabbuh comes from the Arabic word “al Musyabahah” meaning to copy, to become an example of, to connect, to appear like, to be a part of, and to follow…..(Dr Nashir bin Abdul Karim al Aql, Man Tasyabaha bi Qaumin Fahuwa Min Hum..those who copy a group of people by way of dress, actions, speech etc are from that group).
Dr Nashir explained in the law of Tasyabbuh, that what is unacceptable in Islam, is to embrace, copy, act or behave like non Muslims in all aspects of faith, laws, culture, and behaviour that explicitly depict the characteristics, features or natural orders of that particular non Muslim group.
A Hadith saahih, reported by Abu Dawud, said “Whomever choose to look like a certain group of people, therefore he is from that group.”
This clearly shows the relevance of the fatwas based upon the above Hadith and as Muslims, we shoud abide by it.
Yoga not only promotes a total physical wellness but towards a spiritual well-being. Yoga being one of India’s wonderful gifts to the world, was founded by Patanjali, a legendary person, who brought humanity, serenity of spirit through the philosophy of Yoga. Indian iconography honored Patanjali as a half human, half serpent form who successfully united the physical side of mankind via exercises called “asanas” which keeps the body cleansed and fit and the other aspect of Yoga which is the Mental side, made up of breathing techniques to quieten the mind and brain for inner peace.
Patanjali, a Sage, who lived some time in the pre-Christian era about 220 BC whose treatise on yoga is called the Yoga Sutras, Yoga Aphorisms and they are considered authoritative today. Asana is just one (1) limb of the other eight (8) limbs related as part of a whole. Others such as dharana or concentration, dhyana or meditation and samadhi or state of trance are examples of a few limbs of Yoga.
As you see from the brief description above, there are very serious reasons as to why we should adhere to the fatwa if at all we understand the Hadith of our Prophet Muhammad. There are a few wise reasons (hikmah) why Muslims are not allowed to look like a non Muslim.
1. The Deen or Islam was established as a Faith on Truth, to worship One God and Prophet Muhammad is His Messenger. This is a claim when Muslims take an oath of the Shahada.
2. By copying another religeons beliefs, philosophys and acts, makes us Muslim as a follower of that religion.
3. When we copy these actions, we will undoubtedly escalate our learning and be in awe of its philosophys and their ways of life.
4. When we submit to their ways, acts and beliefs it is bound to make us love everything and anything that connects to that particular group and a sense of loyalty towards the group.
5. When we copy the group, and get in too deep with the whole, we lose our submission and faith to our own Deen of Islam and as such we are no longer held in esteem of Islam and we move away from Islam.
The Holy Quran has shown the luminous and righteous path to all Muslims, and it contains faultless and perfect precepts for the guidance of all believers. Many proofs are available to show the efficacy and truthfulness of these divine tenets. When any person transgresses the laid down restrictions and limits, he suffers physically as well as spiritually.
I am not claiming to have the last word on this subject. I do hope with the rough and simply explained laws, people who want to understand why such fatwas were deemed necessary will find this enough information for their satisfaction, insyaAllah.
May Allah guide us all to truth.
Salams or Peace be with you always
your humble sister and servant of God
Soufiya Inaya al Idris
December 2nd, 2008 at 11:52
Quoting Soufiya Inaya, “The recent fatwas or rulings on lesbianism and Yoga has no doubt brought about an uneasy feeling amongst some Muslims and non-muslims.”
I disagree with you. It has never cause any uneasy feeling amongst the non-Muslims (for some Muslim who are partly “guilty”, probably yes). But I see most of the comments are for political reason, i.e. Islam bashing. They see this as a good reason to ridicule the Muslim, taking the fatwa council as a scapegoat. I doubt any of these non-Muslims would ever has the slightest feeling of being affected by the fatwa. Really, I doubt that. And their Islam bashing agenda is fueled by the support of some ignorant Muslim who comment simply based on their limited understanding understanding on the issue.
December 3rd, 2008 at 17:51
“Ignorance is indeed their great enemy, but arrogance is their worse enemy. The funny thing is that nobody would dare to stand in a scientific conference to talk about science when they are no scientist. But when it comes to Islam, everybody seems to believe that they know this religion better than the other to the point that a panel of experts is considered having bias and corrupted view when weighted to their own view”.
As I understand it, in science, it is made up of theories which if generally accepted by the scientific community will be considered a rule. But despite being a rule, it does not mean that it cannot be criticized or disproved by anyone (even by a person without a degree). I therefore feel the ’science’ metaphor is not appropriate when you are dealing with matters of religion and a body which has the power to ‘legislate’ and condemn a person as a ‘deviant’ in the eyes of the religion.
The Fatwa Council is a body set up by the government (which even with the most myopic goggles, cannot be said to be the beacon of transparency, trustworthiness or fairness) which consists of a panel of experts made up inter alia of State Muftis which are appointed by the same government. Now this body (which is not subject to criticism from ‘normal’ Muslims) has the ability to legislate laws which govern the Muslims in this country by somewhat ‘backdoor legislating’ i.e. the respective state religious authorities can adopt the ‘fatwa’ and it has the force of law.
Here we have a body which consists of JPA recognized scholars in Islam, who are not elected by the Muslim population and not subject to criticism but bestowed with the ability to provide divine interpretation and power to decide on the rights and liberty of Muslims by way of closed door consultation process (no open debate like Parliament or open consultation process where experts from the particular field e.g. Yoga are allowed to make representation to them). For me, that in itself is a cause for concern. They are not merely giving an opinion (which I have the option of following or not) but they have the ability to make it law without the normal safeguards in a democratic system.
For me, the beauty of Islam is the one-to-one relationship with Allah. I do not need a conduit when I pray or ask for forgiveness and I will be judged at judgment day for my deeds and wrong doings in the world. Unfortunately, as much as I wish it was so, it will not be any defence for me to say during judgment day to say that I did or did not do something due to what some ustaz or ulamak said. Life would be easier that way but we were given a brain for a reason.
I appreciate and thank Ms Soufiya for her well articulated and reasoned argument in favour of the fatwa. For Grand Marquis, it is your right to follow the fatwa to the letter without question but to call others ignorant for criticizing the fatwa merely amplifies your arrogance and blind faith.
December 3rd, 2008 at 20:26
Aku tiap2 pagi bermula selasa hingga khamis akan ada kuliah kat opis selama sejam. Lepas tu petangnya ada lg kelas agama selama setengah jam.
Apa yg aku cuba katakan, pada asalnya atie aku memang keras. Tapi lama kelamaan atie aku dah jd lembut cket.
Ustaz yang datang beri ceramah pernah cakap, masa tue kuliah pasal korban. Pasal taklik..aku pun x brapa ingat. Tapi dia ada ckp satu point..rahsiakan dr orang yang tak ada ilmu agama..ada perkara yang tidak perlu dipertikaikan, tapi bagi org yg tak der ilmu agama akan pertikaikan…akibatnya huru hara..kata ustaz tu.
Sama macam kes yoga, para ulama tau apa yang dia org buat kerana dia org arif dalam bidang tue, itu bidang dia org..jadi kita yang di luar bidang nie jangan pandai2 nak mengomen. Inilah maksud ustaz tentang RAHSIAKAN DARI ORG YG X DER ILMU AGAMA..huru hara jadinyer.
Bukan x leh amik tau, boleh.tapi kenalah rujuk pada yang arif dalam bidang nie..baru betul..jangan semberono jer nak salahkan para ulama’.
Maaf kalau terkasar bahasa…
December 4th, 2008 at 09:17
Cara kita bersolat adalah satu senaman yang terbaik sambil mendekatkan diri kepada Allah S.W.T.
December 4th, 2008 at 10:46
Salam kepada saudara farish,
Minta maaf jika saya katakan bahawa saudara terlalu terburu-buru dalam mengeluarkan kenyataan tanpa menyelidiki kandungan fatwa yangg dikeluarkan oleh Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan. Kita tidak boleh bertindak sebegitu kerana ia mungkin lebih mengelirukan orang ramai.
Terima kasih.
December 5th, 2008 at 15:32
Malang sekali ada di kalangan kita yang memilih untuk tidak mahu memahami hujah kenapa yoga (yang boleh mengsyirikan kita dengan Allah) diharamkan.
Moga Allah membuka pintu hati kita Muslimin.
Nota: Pengharaman Yoga tidak melibatkan yang bukan Islam. So tak payah nak komen. Teruskan dengan yoga anda.
December 10th, 2008 at 22:31
Thank U, ’sleme’.
Thank u for your efforts to write and post a considered and intelligent reponse to ‘grand marquis’, perhaps tainted understanding, of my post.
I feel very much for many a moslem in malaysia for being made to walk a ‘precarious’ path by men who do not seem to posses the intellect nor courage, to discuss & debate, whatever the issue, with the common man and woman before issuing ‘half-baked’ fatwa’s.
My apologies, no offence meant.
December 10th, 2008 at 23:37
Man is an example of an ignorant person.kau ingat dunia nie ko sorang je ke?
December 12th, 2008 at 00:02
To all Muslims out there, keep your faith in the hands of our ulama’ and we will never go astray as a nation…insya-Allah.
Nelson : Its MUSLIM and its QURAN. Please get it right the next time. If you don’t know the process of making an Islamic ruling on something then please don’t comment. If you want to attack Islam, don’t hide behind this mask of half-baked fatwas as you call it.
derabbleouv : Why do you say Man is ignorant? This fatwa does not involve non-Muslims. It may affect your lives…..but it certainly does not involve you so please butt out.
sleme : OK so lets not use the science metaphor. But still why are you criticizing and questioning the Councils decision when you know that you’re knowledge is not on a level par with them? In fact its way off judging from your post.
The process of making an Islamic ruling on a certain matter certainly does not include open-ended discussions or debates, and calling in so called experts (really) like you said. Im sure the council has gone through the proper steps in order to arrive on the proper Islamic ruling.
I pity you for not believing that it will be of a defense to you to hide behind an ulama’ statement. Yes everyone has a brain but with the wrong knowledge what use is it? The highest level of knowledge lies with our ulama’ so have faith in them.
December 13th, 2008 at 06:51
Are you still a muslim? Islam bashing seemed to be your speciality. and you try to hide behind intellectualism. I don’t think that you have the balls to debate face to face with one of the ulamas concerning relegion. Bring along your band of liberal, 1/2 muslims and kafir supporters if you may.
December 15th, 2008 at 10:08
Dear Farish
Fatawa issued by the Malaysian Fatwa Council, such as the one on yoga, sadly reveal the Malaysian ulama’s lack of understanding of the principles of the shari’ah. There are 5 categories of acceptability in Islamic law but the Malaysian ulama these days seem to think there are only two categories — the wajib and the haram. Whatever happened to the other categories?
cheers, Prema
December 16th, 2008 at 15:12
Dear Prema Somasundram,
I am very sure that consideration had been given based on these 5 categories of acceptability in Islamic law..this is very basic. But in the case of yoga, it’s clear cut; any practices which associate with mantra (or similar) is haram (forbidden). In fact, it does not matter whether it’s yoga, wushu or even silat; those with elements of deviation from the teaching of Islam is haram, as simple as that.
Please read more about Islam.
Man : )
Thank Q untypicalme
December 25th, 2008 at 20:10
It’s wonderful to see freedom of speech and tolerance of differences manifested in The Other Malaysia. Hopefully nobody has to ban anybody and may the discourse lead to collective intelligence and perhaps enlightenment.
I am just an observer from where chewing gum is banned.
January 4th, 2009 at 22:31
Concerning the lastest fatwa delivered by NFC about yoga, as a lay man I think it is their responsibility to do so but then at times it is quite absurd. Why must NFC comes up with such fatwa, it is not that there are so many muslims in this country practising yoga as part of their daily routine. If you mention the word yoga there are many muslims out there who cannot make head or tail about it. Even if a muslim is trying to engage him or herself with practising yoga definitely the person will do some sort of research. Nobody in their right mind will do something without really knowing what he or she is doing. There are of course many muslims practising yoga but if they are trully muslims then they should realise by now there is something amiss with all sort of questionable rituals (maybe there are maybe there are not).
As for NFC I am waiting for their fatwa on ISA. They should deliver a fatwa on that draconian law soon.
March 26th, 2009 at 20:11
May i accept the view that we muslims are too weak to practice anything without been led astray? Fine also is that the yoga restriction is self imposed and not imposed on others besides muslims.
Not so now with the case of not allowing others to use ‘Allah’ to depict their holy deity.
Now, others cannot practice their rituals in the arabic tongue. To us muslims others are considered ‘astray’. Thus why disallowing the astray of practicing something correct?
No, no, the contention is not others. Again, its us muslims. Too weak to pratice anything. Too weak to have others practice anything.
Some slow breathing anyone?
January 29th, 2010 at 00:12
Great article. There’s a lot of good data here, though I did want to let you know something - I am running Redhat with the latest beta of Firefox, and the look and feel of your blog is kind of bizarre for me. I can understand the articles, but the navigation doesn’t function so well.