|
PM: Understand yoga fatwa, don't twist it |
|
|
|
Posted by admin
|
|
Thursday, 27 November 2008 11:32 |
|
The Negri Sembilan Regent Tunku Naquiyuddin Tuanku Jaafar agreed with Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah and Perak Raja Muda Raja Dr Nazrin Shah that the National Fatwa Council should consult the rulers before issuing edicts on the yoga and tomboy issues. The Sun
VPrime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today urged all quarters to understand the content of the yoga fatwa issued by the National Fatwa Council and not twist facts which could confuse the public.
He said Muslims who performed yoga exercise and not chanting any mantra could carry on with their activity as it was good for their health.
"I wish to state that a physical regime with no elements of worship can continue, meaning, it is not banned. I believe that Muslims are not easily swayed into polytheism," he said when contacted by Bernama here.
Abdullah was asked to comment on the yoga fatwa issue following the opposing views expressed by various quarters and the confusion that arose after the National Fatwa Council ruled that yoga was "haram" (forbidden in Islam) for Muslims as it involved chanting of mantra and acts of worship which are against Islamic teachings.
At the same time, the prime minister said, non-Muslims should not feel hurt or slighted by the announcement of the yoga fatwa as it was only applicable to Muslims.
"What I understand from the decision of the National Fatwa Council is that it was aimed at explaining to Muslims the implications of yoga practice."
Abdullah said he was also aware that the yoga fatwa would only be implemented after getting the consent of the Conference of Malay Rulers, reported Bernama.
Last Saturday, National Fatwa Council chairman Datuk Dr Abdul Shukor Husin announced that yoga exercise which involved chanting of mantra and acts of worship was "haram" as it was against Islamic teachings.
Yesterday, Negri Sembilan Regent Tunku Naquiyuddin Tuanku Jaafar also gave his views on the fatwa on yoga and tomboyism in his luncheon address on "The Role of the Constitutional Monarch in 21st Century Malaysia" organised by Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (Asli) at a hotel here.
He agreed with Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah and Perak Raja Muda Raja Dr Nazrin Shah that the National Fatwa Council should consult the rulers before issuing edicts on the yoga and tomboy issues.
Tunku Naquiyuddin said rulers are well educated, well travelled and well informed and it would be in the interest of Islam Hadhari, the moderate form of Islam that the Government was propagating, that the rulers are fully involved in giving their opinion to avoid extremist tendencies as seen in other Islamic countries.
"Islam is a progressive religion and the Ulama should be confident of the followers’ faith rather than micro-managing their way of life," he said.
"If I pop into a church or a Buddhist temple, is there any fear of me converting? Take the Malay wedding (for example), the adat bersanding which is actually based on our Hindu heritage, so is this going to be banned in the future? Where do we draw the line?”
 |
The Blogs 
