GEORGE TOWN, PENANG:
A long-time yoga instructor has expressed shock and dismay over statement by a Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) lecturer who said that practising yoga could cause Muslims to deviate from the teachings of Islam.
Datin Suleiha Merican, 56, who has been practising yoga for 40 years, said the meditation technique is a science of health and had nothing to do with religion.
“When we are strong in our faith, why would we want to deviate? The professor’s statement is totally uncalled for,” she said.
Suleiha was commenting on Prof Zakaria Stapa’s statement that yoga could be traced back to Hinduism and that practising it could cause Muslims to deviate from the teachings of Islam.
Zakaria, who is from the Faculty of Islamic Studies, also urged Muslims who are practising yoga to stop it and return to the teachings of Islam.
Suleiha said she still diligently performed prayers every day despite practising yoga.
“There is no conflict at all as yoga is not religion-based. There is no problem. I would definitely encourage Muslims to practise yoga,” she said.
Suleiha said yoga was the answer to health problems, such as headaches and back pain. She noted that hospitals in the United Kingdom and United States offerred yoga as an alternative therapy.
“Every part of the world I have gone to there are Muslims who practice yoga practitioners, for instance in Iran,” she said.
Suleiha, who runs the Maya Yoga Studio in Damansara Perdana, said yoga ran in the family as her father and her grandfather were also yoga instructors.
It was reported that the national fatwa council is also expected to announce its stand on Muslims practising yoga soon.
The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) deputy director-general of operations, Othman Mustapha, was quoted as saying that an announcement on the decision would be made by the council soon.
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November 1st, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Inilah dia kalau belajar sampai lupa asas dalam agama. Sejak bila pula amalan yoga ini bertentangan dengar agama islam. Pelik. Sangat pelik. Apa yang diamalkan di Malaysia semuaya salah. Ada sahaja benda-benda baru dikuat kuasakan tanpa memikirkan kebaikan dan keburukannya. Menyusahkan rakyat. Tidakkah ini menunjukkan kebodohan lecturer UKM tersebut? Kunun-kunun professor tapi otak tetap bawah tempurung. Tetap tidak memikirkan kebaikan yoga kepada rakyat. Hanya memikirkan negatif yang tidak berdasarkan fakta.
Kalau yoga itu amalan indian, bagaimana pula raja-raja kita yang mengunakan amalan-amalan raja-raja indian dahulu. Kesemua adat itu datang dari mana kalau bukan dari India? Pelik. Sememangnya pelik kenyataan professor yang berotak suntuk ini.
Tak tahulah apa yang akan diputuskan oleh kabinet. Kalau otak bodoh macam professor ini juga, maka Malaysia menghampiri kemusnahan dan kebebasan rakyat. Keharmonian akan terjejas dengan adanya mereka-mereka yang suntuk pendapat dan idea idea.
Sedarlah, tuhan tidak mewujudkan kebendaan hanya berdasarkan kepada bangsa atau untuk melayu atau hanya untuk cina dan india. Tuhan memberi semuanya untuk manusia sejagat. Gunakanlah dengan cara yang sepatutnya.
Untuk professor yang suntuk agama tu, belajar belajarlah agama dari pangkal semula.