The term yoga comes from a Sanskrit word ‘yuj’ which means yoke or union. Traditionally, yoga is a method joining the individual self with the Divine, Universal Spirit, or Cosmic Consciousness. Physical and mental exercises are designed to help achieve this goal, also called self-transcendence or enlightenment. On the physical level, yoga postures, called asanas, which are associated with various chants (mantras), are designed to tone, strengthen, and align the body. Yoga, also incorporates breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditation (dyana) to quiet, clarify, and discipline the mind.
H.H.Swami Chidanand Saraswati Maharaj of Parmath Niketan says:
Yoga is usually defined as union: union between the limited self and the Divine Self. It is to help us realize our identity with the Divine Self, to make us know and tune into our intrinsic nature.
In this context we can define Yoga as physical harmony & health with mental balance & peace.
Yoga should never be mistaken for any other mode of exercise, which is operational only on a physical level. (www.parmath.com)
All proponents of Yoga agree with the above sayings of swami chidanand.
In Hindu literature, the term "yoga" first occurs in the Katha Upanishad, where it refers to control of the senses and the cessation of mental activity leading to a supreme state. Important textual sources for the evolving concept of Yoga are the middle Upanishads, (ca. 400 BCE), the Mahabharata including the Bhagavad Gita (ca. 200 BCE), and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (150 BCE).
The development of Sufism was considerably influenced by Indian yogic practises, where they adapted both physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayamas) and transcendental meditation. The ancient Indian yogic text, Amritakunda, ("Pool of Nectar)" was translated into Arabic and Persian as early as the 11th century.
The Goal or Purpose of Yoga.
The goal of yoga range from improving health to achieving Moksha (sanskrit = salvation).This particular path to salvation among the several offered by Hinduism, links Tantrism (sanskrit = weaving a web) to those practices of Indian religions, such as yoga meditation. In tantric practices and studies, the student is instructed further in meditation technique, particularly chakra meditation It is considered to be a kind of Kundalini Yoga for the purpose of moving the Goddess into the chakra located in the "heart," for meditation and worship.
Within the monist schools of Advaita Vedanta and Shaivism the goal of yoga takes the form of Moksha, which is liberation from all worldly suffering and the cycle of birth and death (Samsara), at which point there is a realisation of identity with the Supreme Brahman.
In the Mahabharata, the goal of yoga is variously described as entering the world of Brahma, as Brahman, or as perceiving the Brahman or Atman that pervades all things.
For the bhakti schools of Vaishnavism, bhakti or service to Svayam bhagavan itself may be the ultimate goal of the yoga process, where the goal is to enjoy an eternal relationship with Vishnu.
Yoga in Dictionaries.
Longman dictionary defines yoga (noun)
1RRH a system of exercises that help you control your mind and body in order to relax
2RRH a Hindu philosophy in which you learn exercises to control your mind and body in order to try to become closer to God
Collins dictionary:
Yoga (Noun)
a Hindu system of philosophy aiming at spiritual, mental, and physical wellbeing by means of deep meditation, prescribed postures, and controlled breathing
Cambridge dictionary:
yoga noun [U]1 a set of physical and mental exercises, Indian in origin, which is intended to give control over the body and mind:a yoga class2 a Hindu system of philosophy which aims to unite the self with god
Oxford English dictionary.
yoga
• noun a Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline, a part of which, including breath control, simple meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily postures, is widely practised for health and relaxation. ORIGIN Sanskrit, ‘union’.
In view of all this, in 1989, the Vatican declared that Eastern meditation practices such as Zen and yoga can "degenerate into a cult of the body."
One must admit the far sightedness of the Vatican and must acknowledge the power packed and compact reason given.
In spite of the Vatican statement, many Roman Catholics bring elements of Yoga, Buddhism, and Hinduism into their spiritual practices. - New York Times – Jan 07 1990.
Muslims cannot let this happen to Islam, which is perfectly complete and needs no addition or substraction – Imaam Maalik (rahimahullaah) said, "Whosoever introduces into Islaam any innovation, and holds it to be something good, has indeed alleged that Muhammad (sallAllaahu ’alaihi wa sallam) has betrayed his message. Read the saying of Allaah the Most Blessed, the Most High:
"This day I have perfected your Religion for you, completed My favour upon you and I have chosen for you Islaam as your Religion." Soorat ul-Maa‘idah (5:3)
Malaysia's top Islamic body in 2008 passed a fatwa, which is legally non-binding, against Muslims practicing yoga.The National Fatwa Council has declared that yoga is haram (prohibited) in Islam and Muslims are banned from practising it.Its chairman Datuk Dr Abdul Shukor Husin reasoned, saying: yoga had been practised by the Hindu community for thousands of years and incorporated physical movements, religious elements together with chants and worshipping, with the aim of “being one with God”.
“Malaysia is not the only country which prohibits Muslims from doing yoga. Singapore and Egypt have come out with the same edict,” he pointed out.
In January 2009. Indonesian ulema council (MUI) declared yoga anti-Islamic and placed a ban on it.
Surprisingly, Darul Uloom Deoband, a Deobandi Islamic seminary in India in turn criticized these fatwas. Moreover said,
Why give yoga religious connotation, asks Deoband
January 29, 2009
India's best-known Islamic seminary Darul-Uloom said on Wednesday, that there was nothing wrong with any exercise done for health reasons. (Rediif news).
'Namaz' itself form of yoga, says Deoband cleric
29 Jan 2009, 0159 hrs IST, PTI
NEW DELHI: Performing yoga is not un-Islamic as offering 'namaz' is also a form of the practice, leading seminary Darul Uloom on Wednesday said
rubbishing the controversy over the issue. "Yoga is not a problem in Islam, but giving a religious colour to it is wrong," said Adil Siddiqui, spokesperson of Darul Uloom Deoband, India's leading Islamic seminary - [Times of India].
Dear readers, don’t you find any contradiction in the above two statements issued by the spokeperson of Deoband. I would like to ask Deoband, what is Namaz? (correct word for it is Salat).
Namaz – an innovated name for Salaat is nothing but a spiritual connection between the Creator and His slave, which incorporates recitation of His Words (i.e. Quran) and physical postures as taught by His final messenger Muhammad (Peace and Mercy of Almighty Allah be on him).
Thus, it’s quite mesmerizing that on the one hand Deoband asks why give Yoga a religious connotation and then likens it to Salaat, which is itself a religious act. My amazement knew no bounds, as just few days before on 22 December 2008, Deoband issued a fatwa against playing chess, declared it haraam and said playing it is a major sin. (see Fatwa no. 9432 – www.darululoom-deoband.com)
A piece of advice to Darululoom Deoband: Please, do some research before giving any verdict related to the Deen (religion) of Allah – The Almighty Creator. They declare a much bigger prohibited thing as lawful and declare a thing which is much lesser in comparison as unlawful. It is akin to allowing killing a innocent human soul and prohibiting killing a house-fly.
Clearance of a doubt: Few might wonder what if we practice the physical exercise without repeating vedic/polytheistic expressions and without trying to be one with God through it. The answer for it is that then it ceases to be Yoga and become any other form of physical exercise and word the yoga shouldn't be used then. It could be called aerobics, martial arts, etc etc or simply a physical exercise. Exercises that are designed to tone, supple, build up stamina, strengthens muscles, and make the performer agile, fit and strong is not only allowed but is highly recommended in Islam. The last Apostle of Almighty-Creator, Muhammad (Peace be on him) said, Abu Hurayrah (radi Allahu ‘anh) reports that the Prophet (salalahu ‘alayhi wasalam) said: “The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, while there is good in both. Guard over that which benefits you, seek Allah’s Assistance. [Sahih Muslim, Ibn Mahah, and Ahmad]
Caution cum Conclusion: There are many from within and outside our Muslim community who are hell-bent upon to make us loose our path and identity. They want everything that can degenerate Islam to enter into the cult of the body. The biggest proponent of yoga i.e. Baba Ramdev, who almost single handedly revolutionize Yoga in India says Muslims can chant ‘Allah’ in place of ‘Om’ while doing Yoga [courtesy - Times of India, 1st May 2009 – extracted from the article of Firoz Bakht Ahmad].
This further proves that Yoga should never be mistaken for any other form of physical training but unfortunately Deoband mistook it. As we have discussed above that ultimate goal of Yoga is to attain salvation (moksh). We can conclude without an iota of doubt (thanks to Deoband) that Yoga is namaz of Hindus and Salaat is the namaz of Muslims. In short, Yoga is for Hindus what Salaat is for muslims. I conclude here with the most relevant Hadith for the current time, of the last Messenger of Allah.
The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam has informed us of this in the Hadeeth of Hudayfah radiallaahu 'anhu in which he said: "The people used to ask the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam about the good, and I used to ask him about the evil out of fear that it would reach me. So I asked the Messenger of Allaah: "O Messenger of Allaah, we were living in ignorance and evil, then Allaah brought this good to us. So will there be any evil after this good?" He replied: "Yes." I then asked: "Will there be any good after this evil?" He replied: "Yes, but it will be tainted." So I asked: "What will be its taint?" He replied: "A people who guide others to other than my way, you will approve of some of their actions and disapprove of others." I further enquired: "Then is there any evil after this good?" He said: "Yes! Callers at the gates of Hell - whoever responds to their call, they will be thrown into the fire." I then said: " O Messenger of Allaah! Describe them to us." He said: "They will be from our people and speak our language." [Related by al-Bukhaaree (no.7084) and Muslim (no.1847)]
(You can send your feedback, arguments, disapprovals, or suggestions directly to this writer at Shakir Parvez Khan
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