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The scholars banned smoking in public places. (Reuters) |
JAKARTA — Indonesia's top Muslim body on Sunday, January 25, banned Muslims from practicing yoga when involving elements of Hindu worshipping and also prohibited smoking in public places.
"We banned Muslims from practicing yoga with strong reason based on Islamic teachings," Prof. Utang Ranuwijaya, the head of the Ulemas Council (MUI)'s research and development, told IslamOnline.net.
In the MUI's national meeting in Padang, West Sumatra, about 700 scholars agreed to ban Muslims from practicing yoga if they engage in Hindu religious rituals, such as chanting, mantras or meditation, during the exercise.
Indonesian Muslims are still allowed to do yoga strictly as a physical exercise or a sport.
"But if it is just for health exercising then it is okay," explained Ranuwijaya.
"We only prohibit the activities that can corrupt Islamic values."
Yoga, an ancient Indian aid to meditation dating back thousands of years, is a popular stress-buster in many parts of Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation.
The fatwa is not legally binding for Muslims, who make up some 86.1 percent of Indonesia's 235 million population, but can influence government policy.
The council, established in 1975, has carved a key role for itself in the Muslim country.
Malaysia's National Fatwa Council issued a similar ban on "Hindu" yoga two months ago.
Public Smoking Ban
The MUI banned smoking in public places and prohibited certain sections from smoking altogether.
"We prohibit children, teenagers and pregnant women from smoking cigarettes," Ranuwijaya told IOL.
He said scholars were divided on an outright ban as some MUI members feared it could harm the country's economy.
"There are two big interests fighting each other here; business and health," explained Ranuwijaya.
"So we tried to find the way out."
Ban opponents argue such a move would leave tobacco farmers bankrupt, affect hundreds of thousands of workers in cigarette industries and cost millions of losses from cigarette taxes.
Indonesia is the world's third biggest cigarette consumers after China and India.
At around $1 a pack, cigarettes in Indonesia are among the cheapest in the world.
More than 60 million Indonesians are active-smokers.
The MUI also banned Muslims from vasectomy, early-age marriage, body-organ donation and abstaining from voting in elections.
"The fatwas are aimed to protect Muslims people from deviations," said Ranuwijaya.
He said the MUI urged Muslims to follow the State Law on early-age marriage regulation.
"Even though there is no specific age for marriage in Islamic teaching but the State Law stipulates those who are eligible for marriage should reach minimum 16 years old."
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