SHAH ALAM – STRETCHING and mobility exercises associated with yoga are permissible in Islam, provided they are practised purely as physical exercise and do not incorporate religious philosophies or rituals, Kelantan Mufti Datuk Mohamad Shukri Mohamad said.
He said yoga should not be viewed as automatically haram, as its permissibility depends on whether the practice includes elements of worship or beliefs from another religion.
“Yoga, when practised purely as a form of physical exercise without involving its philosophical or religious elements, is permissible. It is simply a series of physical movements.
“However, if we look at the history of yoga, it originally developed as a religious ritual. At its deeper philosophical level, it contains concepts related to divinity and spiritual beliefs,” he told Sinar Daily.
Shukri said Muslims are prohibited from participating in rituals or symbolic practices associated with other religions, drawing comparisons with wearing a cross necklace or taking part in Hindu religious ceremonies.
“The same principle applies to yoga. If it involves the worship of deities or embraces the religious philosophy behind the practice, then it is not permissible.
“But if it is limited to physical movements and does not involve any element of worship or religious belief, then there is no issue,” he said.
He added that permissibility in Islam is not based solely on intention, but must also take into account the nature of the act and its purpose.
“It is not solely about intention. The intention, the action itself and the objective must all be considered,” he said.
To illustrate the principle, Shukri cited the example of burning incense.
“If someone burns incense simply to repel mosquitoes or create a pleasant fragrance, there is no problem.
“However, if the incense is used as part of a religious ritual or spiritual practice associated with a particular belief system, then it is prohibited,” he said.
He also highlighted the Islamic jurisprudential principle that distinguishes between actions that are inherently prohibited and those that become prohibited due to surrounding circumstances.
Using football as an example, he said the sport is permissible on its own but can become impermissible if it leads to gambling or neglect of obligatory prayers.
“Football is a sport and recreation, so it is permissible. But if it is used for gambling, then it becomes prohibited because of that factor.
“Likewise, if someone misses Maghrib or Fajr prayers because they prioritise watching a match, then it becomes prohibited in that situation,” he said.
Shukri said the same principle applies to yoga.
“Yoga itself is not inherently haram. Rather, it becomes impermissible when it is associated with religious elements or misused in a way that contradicts Islamic teachings.
“Generally speaking, it is not automatically forbidden. It depends on the intention, the action and the objective involved,” he added.
As fitness trends evolve, Shukri said Muslims should ensure that yoga-inspired stretching and mobility.