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Indonesia's ulema ban Hindu-heavy yoga for Muslims
Niniek Karmini , The Associated Press , Jakarta | Mon, 01/26/2009 4:50 PM | National
Indonesia's top Islamic body has banned Muslims from practicing yoga that contains Hindu rituals like chanting, the chairman of the group said Monday, citing concerns it would corrupt their faith.Cleric Ma'ruf Amin said the Ulema Council issued the ruling following weekend talks attended by hundreds of theological experts in Padang Panjang, a village in West Sumatra province. Though not legally binding, most devout Muslims will likely adhere to it because they consider ignoring a fatwa, or religious decree, sinful.
The ban, which follows a similar edict in neighboring Malaysia, was passed after investigators visited gyms and private yoga classes across the country to see what effect Hindu rituals like chanting mantras might have on Muslims.
Amin said clerics decided it could weaken their faith.
"Those who perform yoga purely for health reasons or sport will not be affected," he added. "We only prohibit activities that can corrupt Islamic values."
Indonesia is a secular country of 235 million people, 90 percent of whom are Muslim. Though most practice a moderate form of the faith, a vocal extremist fringe has gained strength in recent years.
In an unrelated trend, yoga – a blend of physical and mental exercises aimed at integrating mind, body and spirit whose roots lie in Hindu meditative practices – has been gaining many adherents in gyms, wellness centers, and yoga centers around the world.
In the United States, where it has become so popular that many public schools have started offering it in gym classes, yoga has also come under fire.
Some Christian fundamentalists and even secular parents have argued that yoga's Hindu roots conflict with Christian teachings and that practicing it in school might violate the separation of church and state.
Egypt's highest theological body also forbade Muslims from practicing yoga in 2004.
Indonesia's Ulema Council – which wrapped up its annual meeting for the issuing of fatwas late Sunday – decided to look into banning yoga after Malaysia's top Islamic body issued its fatwa late last year.
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Tracy Durand (not verified) — Sat, 02/14/2009 - 1:11am
I agree with Siwa. Its such a shame how religious authorities dictate people spiritual lives and make what is the most normal and natural things on this earth complicated and completley out of focus. Joining with the one true God should be the one and only focus that we all as human beings should try to achieve regardless of the language or backdrop setting. Siwa...you go girrll!!!
Rob Haupt (not verified) — Mon, 02/09/2009 - 9:38pm
I'm gonna start chanting Ombama now ....
Jaka (not verified) — Sun, 02/01/2009 - 4:44am
I just want to comment the title. I think that is not appropriate to mention two historical religions of Indonesia diametrically in a title like that. MUI moves is unilateral and does no harm to Hinduism. It is an internal Islamic discourse. The Jakarta Post should consider the impact of the title wisely under the local context.
Siwa (not verified) — Fri, 01/30/2009 - 6:00pm
The word Yoga means "to Join". Join God is the purpose of all Religions (derived from Re Legare = join back. Rejoin God). One of the process towards joining God is through prolonged meditation. Meditation needs concentration with single pointed thought of God. Yoga Asanas (postures) are to condition your body to remain undisturbed for long periods in meditation. Chanting of mantras in yoga practice is to enable your mind to focus on single thought to the exclusion of all other thoughts, God. During the advanced stage of meditation the chants will also disappear and you merge with the absolute bliss. The mantras used were originated in Sanskrit words and they shall be replaced with words from Quran, Bible or whatever the practioner choose to make his mind focus on God. It is the objective that matters not the words. Therefore, it is a shame that ignorant people dictate the norms.
Naked yoga participant (not verified) — Fri, 01/30/2009 - 4:49pm
I don't care about this Fatwa.
I still do naked yoga once in a week....of course, with equally attractive people. So MUI, we don't give a crap.
Khalidabdullah — Fri, 01/30/2009 - 2:10pm
MUI is quite correct in issuing a fatwa forbidding the practice of yoga that involves Hindu chants. Obviously this issue has come to the attention of MUI and a decision had to made in order to clearly inform those who practice Islam (not talking KTP here!) or desire to practice Islam correctly that they need to be mindful of practicing shirk. Well done MUI.
Sandeep (not verified) — Fri, 01/30/2009 - 6:43am
Dear Indonesia's ulema,
Its a request please dont change "INDONESIA"-Such a beautiful place into Talibanisation,by giving wrong information about yoga.Its just a exercise....
And please dont do things / support ---which Stupid Malaysia is doing and asking you guys to do).
We all love Indonesia--- :)
Thanks & Regards
Sandeep
Stefano (not verified) — Thu, 01/29/2009 - 10:57am
You need a ban from a moron to save your faith? This is the proof that ypur faith is weak already, and therefore even a small thing like practicing Yoga can put it in peril.
Kenichi (not verified) — Wed, 01/28/2009 - 5:27am
Firstly, I don't know whether it's sinful or not. Even if it's sinful for some people, it might not be considered sinful by others.
After all, sinful or not, it's not us who decide so. It's GOD's business (that's for people who believe in GOD, if they don't then this argument is invalid from the very beginning).
What is written in the bible is interpreted by human experience and therefore we can't always say that it's 100% what GOD wants us to do or not to do. Bibles or Al-Quran has been interpreted from one generation to another for ages and when you learn it in different languages, there is a possibility of mistranslation or misinterpretation. Therefore, you can't just follow straight, what is written there without contemplating further with your logics or experience. If it says, kill people from religion X, does it mean that we all have to follow that? Does it justify crimes? What about another verse that says 'love your enemy', which one should be prioritised? I believe most of us are smarter than that to be able to judge which one makes more sense...
The problem is MUI is acting like GOD, deciding what is sinful and what is not. They could have used dialogue or they could have just used persuasive means instead of coming up with Fatwa (or whatever they call it) unless MUI members is lacking what we can refer as 'brain cells' which is necessary to argue and persuade people in a just and smart way.
Riduan (not verified) — Tue, 01/27/2009 - 9:23am
"If people believe in something, they won't lose it just because of some chants that they are practicing during yoga. They might not even know what the chants mean anyway."
Kenichi,
The problem with the mantra chanting is that they are often in Sanskrit, and involve saying things like "Hail Ram" and "Long live Lord Shiva." Repeating these phrases, even if mindlessly, is the problem because people are inadvertently praising Hindu gods, and for many people, that is a sin even if they dont believe those praises with their heart. If you mindlessly say in english "I believe Lord Jesus, son of god, is my savior", but don't know English, you can see why that may be troubling for some people.
Sure, those people could just stop saying the phrases, but the thing is, no one knows Sanskrit, and since chanting is an integral part of yoga, people just do it because their instructors tell them to do so. You can't just assume that everyone knows what yoga mantras involve, because I bet most yoga practitioners dont know that these chants are praising Hindu gods.
Personally, I wish the council would have just started an information campaign to educate people as to what they are really saying, but they didnt - and so their good intention comes off as them just trying to control people.