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MUI investigates yoga, tells Muslims to suspend practicing
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Tue, 11/25/2008 8:20 PM | National
The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) is telling Indonesian Muslims to stop practicing yoga while the council investigates the practice after public concern rose when a Malaysian top Muslim body banned the practice.
MUI head of edict affairs said Tuesday the council would invite yoga experts to explain the practice within the next two weeks.
"We will let them explain it to us before we issue an edict on the practice," he said as quoted by Tempointeraktif.com
The council plans to study whether yoga includes rituals, actions or teachings that run counter to Islamic teachings.
Last week Malaysia's National Fatwa Council, which has the authority to rule over how Muslims practice their faith, issued an edict banning Muslims from practicing yoga, saying the Indian physical exercise contains spiritual elements including chanting and Hindu worship practices that could corrupt Muslims.
Many analysts have said the edict reflects the growing strain of conservatism in Malaysia. The majority of Malaysians are Muslim. (dre)
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Cam (not verified) — Thu, 11/27/2008 - 9:22am
Yoga is an extremely beneficial form of both physical and spiritual exercise. As big cities in indonesia become more and more unfriendly to exercise- minded people, activities like yoga are becoming very popular.It costs nothing once you have a few lessons and is fun. Indonesians say no to yet another hand on the throat of liberty and choice.
Seah (not verified) — Thu, 11/27/2008 - 1:09am
This is preposterous, and hardly reflective of the majority moderate Muslim population that makes up the archipelago; this is extremely typical of the blatant ignorance that is symptomatic of the poor international image the archipelago has been viewed in as of late.
Edward Kristian (not verified) — Thu, 11/27/2008 - 12:21am
What's in it to investigate? Yoga is a form of exercise for the body and soul. No one is asked to chant nor to use other forms of religious spiritual elements. The mainstream Muslim Indonesians would stop and question in their path about something so ridiculous imposed by their ignorant Malaysian neighbors. Can organized religion really get along with each other for once in a life time?
Abu Zaenal (not verified) — Wed, 11/26/2008 - 10:45pm
Wow!!! Malaysia's National Fatwa Council is banning Muslims from practicing yoga, is that the same story they prohibit their people in hearing Indonesian songs?
Doddy Firmansyah (not verified) — Wed, 11/26/2008 - 7:13pm
I think now I'd better stop taking my new born baby under the morning sunshine now.. After all, the practice relates to the sun in the morning.. Must've been a Shinto practice..
SYAMSUDdIN (not verified) — Wed, 11/26/2008 - 6:14pm
MUI NOT ONLY YOGA BUT ALSO PLEASE BAN THIS: TV,CAR,COMPUTER,TELEPHONE,AIRPLANE etc as they r not invented by Moslem.
PLS MAKE IT RIDING CAR "HARAM" AND CUMPULORY JUST TO RIDE ONTA(CAMEL) BECAUSE PROPHET MUHAMMAD NEVER RIDE CAR ANYWAY!
MUI PLEASE BURN ALL THE INDONESIAN FOREST AND TURN IT TO "GURUN PASIR" AS PROPHET NEVER LIVE IN TROPICAL AREA.
MUI PLEASE DO NOT GO TO TOILET AS IT IS A PRACTICE OF NON MUSLIM. MUI PLEASE DO NOT EAT THROUGH UR MOUTH AS IT IS A PRACTISE OF ATHER RELIGION.
MUI PLEASE DO NOT SLIP AT NIGHT AS NON MULIM R SLIP AT NIGHT.
MUI ARE YOU HUMANBEING OR "HANTU"?
AND AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED MUSLIM TOLD BY PROPHET TO PRACTICE WHATEVER BRINGING MORE BENEFIT THAN HARM. THIS IS WHAT WESTERN COUNTRIES PRACTISING IN EVERY ASPECT OF THEIR LIFE AND ITS PROVEN TO MAKE THEM BIG AND POWERFULL. BUT MUSLIM? MUI IS AN EXAMPLE. MUI IS CRAZY AND NO COMMONSENSE! SO AS A MUSLIM MYSELF I WILL NEVER EVER LISTEN TO THIS BIGOTS UNLES THEY DO NOT IGNORE COMMON SENSE!!!
Jaka (not verified) — Wed, 11/26/2008 - 5:42pm
@MUI: Dont follow what malaysians do. This will, again, ruin your authorities on educated-muslims in your country.
Ludo (not verified) — Wed, 11/26/2008 - 2:07pm
is it true? although a hate yoga
Muhammad Iqbal (not verified) — Wed, 11/26/2008 - 1:48pm
I think the government should ban Muslims to practicing Yoga because Yoga is typically Hindu.Its restricted for Muslim to imitate other religion way of worship. Anyway, Islam has Dzikir which has the same physical benefit with Yoga. Even Dzikir is better than Yoga. You will get healthy, fresh mind and also reward from Allah Subhanahu Wata'ala.
Karl Bruner (not verified) — Wed, 11/26/2008 - 1:11pm
MUI = Copycat