By RINA
New Delhi: While Yoga is highly debated in Islamic world with a number of Muslim countries disfavouring its philosophy, some Ulema and Islamic scholar in India do not find it objectionable from religious viewpoint.
Arguing that Surya Namaskar (a worship offered to Sun) and chanting mantras based on monism are not integral part of Yoga, the spokesman of Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind (JUH), Maulana Abdul Hameed Nomani said, “Sufism and Santwad have exchanged a lot of things. Therefore, it is incorrect to take such things negatively.” He told that JUH had elaborate discussions on the issue and it was concluded that Yoga is an exercise, so, there is no impediment in practicing it.
Maulana No’mani further said, “Similar exercises are found in Sufi practices.” However, he emphasized, “It would be in fitness of things, if mantras and shlokas are replaced by Islamic prayers and Qur’anic verses.”
Maulana Waheeduddin Khan stressed, “Positive aspect of everything should be taken up instead of its negative aspect as doing so is contrary to the spirit of Islam.”
The head of Islamic Studies department in Jamia Millia Islamia University, Prof. Akhtarul Wasey said, “There is no doubt that Yoga is a very scientific method of exercise designed with full consideration of human body. However, it is not acceptable as a Hindu system of worship.” Nevertheless, he suggested, “We can replace Om chanted in Yoga with Allah. There is no impediment in it.”