KUCHING, Dec 9 — Sarawak has ruled that yoga is “haram” (forbidden) for Muslims in the state in line with the fatwa (edict) issued by the National Fatwa Council on yoga exercise last month.
Assistant Minister (Islamic Affairs) in the Chief Minister’s Office, Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman, said the decision on the fatwa was made by the State Fatwa Council which met last week to discuss the matter and it agreed to accept and gazette the fatwa.
“The State Attorney’s Office is in the process of gazetting the fatwa,” he told reporters after the distribution of sacrificed meat in conjunction with Aidil Adha at Taman Heng Guan today.
Though he could not ascertain when the fatwa would be implemented, Daud said it was up to Muslims in the state to adhere to the fatwa or continue doing yoga.
He said no legal action would be taken against Muslims who continued to do yoga.
“However, Muslims are advised to choose other forms of physical activity, which are many, to keep fit and healthy.”
On the effects of the fatwa on the owners of yoga centres in Sarawak, Daud said it was up to them to adapt the yoga exercise to their own religious belief.
Besides Sarawak, Melaka has also agreed to implement the fatwa while the other states like Penang, Kedah, Terengganu, Perak and Selangor were reported to be discussing whether to apply the fatwa.
The National Fatwa Council had last month announced the fatwa and asked Muslims not to practise yoga as it involves worship and chanting of mantras.
Its chairman Prof Datuk Dr Abdul Shukor Husin was reported to have said that the National Consultative Council decided that the practice contained elements which were forbidden for Muslims as they were against Islamic teachings. — Bernama
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