Some Islamic countries, like Malaysia and Indonesia, in their rudimentary best, intended to send their people to doom when they ruled that Indian Indian health system of Yoga was un-Islamic. Malaysia’s National Fatwa Council declared on 22 November, 2008 that yoga practices which involve physical movements, worshiping and chantings are ‘Haram’ (prohibited) in Islam.

Professor Zakaria Stapa, a lecturer of University Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Islamic Studies Centre, advised Muslims who had taken up yoga to stop practicing it fearing they could deviate from the teachings of Islam. The diktat was followed up by an instant rejection of it by general people both in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Indonesian Ulema Council said it would not follow suit immediately. Its deputy chairman Umar Shihab said the council wanted to study the matter first. Investigators visited gyms and private yoga classes across the country to see what effect Hindu rituals like chanting mantras might have on Muslims. However, they too ended up issuing a similar fatwa (Islamic injunction), banning Yoga on 25 January this year, accepted all over the world. Earlier this week, Indonesia’s top Islamic body also passed an edict banning Muslims from practicing yoga citing concerns it would corrupt their faith.

However, good sense has gone in the air from India to prevent this unnecessary tirade against Yoga. An Islamic body of clerics, held in high esteem for Islamic learning, Dar-ul-Uloom of Deoband (UP), made it very clear that the way people offer Nammz (Islamic prayer), is a form of Yoga. So, Yoga can not be branded as Un-Islamic.

Adil Siddiqui, spokesperson of Darul Uloom Deoband, India’s leading Islamic seminary, saw through the game. He said, ‘Yoga is not a problem in Islam, but giving it a religious colour is wrong.’

This whole episode again goes to confirm that the system of Yoga has gained tremendous strength now all over the world. Some Christian fundamentalists and even secular elements have argued that Yoga’s Hindu roots conflict with Christian teachings and that using it in school might violate the separation of church and state.

A more reasonable and modern Islamic country Egypt’s highest theological body also banned yoga for Muslims in 2004. However, all these have been brushed aside as people gain knowledge and education to think properly. This Indian system of ensuring good living ca not be given a religious or political connotation. Why, anti-gravity Yoga has already gained huge following right inside Indonesia and Malaysia. Can those scant educated clerics ever hope to route out this system and make people suffer?