Many other issues that Jakim should look into

Tuesday November 25, 2008 (The Star Online)

AS a Muslim I am disturbed and deeply offended to read that Jakim has declared yoga as haram and that practising it will “erode” my aqidah.

Is Jakim suggesting that yoga enthusiasts are so weak and mentally feeble that doing yoga will make them deviate from the teachings of Islam? Are they implying that doing some balancing acts will sway them into forgetting Allah? Do members of the Fatwa Council regard people who practise yoga as gullible and spiritually wasted?

To claim that practising yoga is a step towards erosion of one’s faith is a huge insult to my intelligence and my conviction in God!

There are so many pressing issues that Jakim should look into. Issues that are decaying our ummah like drugs, rape, child sexual abuse and single mothers. The list is endless and the numbers rising.

Would it not be more heartening for us to read about programmes Jakim has done to root out social ills?

Chairman of the Fatwa Council Datuk Dr Abdul Shukor Husin explained the need to ban yoga as “prevention is better than cure”. True but there are pockets of sickness in our ummah, please go treat them first!

NARIZA H HASHIM,

Kuala Lumpur.