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Question
Asalamualykum. An Aunty has asked if it’s permissible to do yoga exercises with a class (only females) for fitness and wellbeing purposes. Jazakallah
Answer
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
حامدا و مصليا و مسلما
Muhtaramah
We have received your query regarding Yoga, our response is as follows:
Yoga has been defined as follows:
1) Hindu discipline: any of a group of related Hindu disciplines that promote the unity of the individual with a supreme being through a system of postures and ritual.
2) System of exercise: a system or set of breathing exercises and postures derived from or based on Hindu yoga
[Late 18th century. From Sanskrit yoga, literally ‘union’. Ultimately from an Indo-European word meaning ‘to join’, which is also the ancestor of English yoke, join, and zygo-.] [1]
From the very definition of the word we find that yoga is definitely impermissible due to it being derived from an alien discipline. We find that the founding principles of many of the so-called yoga exercises are actually prayers to false“gods”. Many of the incantations that one is made to recite are a form of “zikr” of these false “gods”.
Normally a person is attracted to yoga because he believes that through the exercises and meditation he can attain peace of mind and body. In Islaam we have the very best methods of attaining this. Allah Ta’aala, our Creator and the Creator of the entire universe has mentioned :
ألا بذكر الله تطمئن القلوب سورة الرعد 28
Verily, in the remembrance of Allah Ta’aala do hearts find tranquillity.
Similarly, Salaah performed with its prerequisites of khushoo and khudhoo’ i.e. complete submission, humility and subjection of both the heart and physique, is the ultimate form of meditation.
If one looks into Sufism one will find methods of meditation far superior to anything yoga has to offer with the obvious benefit of one’s ‘Aqeedah remaining pure and free of any whiff of shirk. One will also gain nearness to Allah Ta’aala, which is the goal of our lives and countless rewards will be credited to one’s account.
Verily, in Islaam lies the answers to all our questions and the fulfilment of all our desires. May Allah Ta’aala grant us true reliance on His Knowledge and Power and may He save us from ever feeling our Deen to be incomplete in any way.[2]
And Allah Ta’ala knows best
Answered by
Muhammad Irshad Motara
11th Safr 1444
9th September 2022
[1] Microsoft® Encarta® Premium Suite 2004.
[2] أنظر أيضا اب كى مسائل ص334 ج7
