Perak crown prince warns Fatwa committee to consider ruling on yoga 'very carefully'

Kuala Lumpur, Nov.26 (ANI): The crown prince of Malaysia's Perak state, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, has asked the Perak State Fatwa Committee to consider very carefully the ruling on yoga for Muslims.

Raja Nazrin Shah, who also heads the Perak Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIAMP), said any decision made by the committee on the matter would be brought to MAIAMP before being presented to the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, for consent.

In a statement issued by the Datuk Pengelola Bijaya Diraja, Datuk Samsul Baharin Hassan, here yesterday, the Raja Muda also said that it would be more appropriate for any fatwa (edict) on a public matter be brought to the Conference of Malay Rulers first as Islamic religious matters came under the jurisdiction of the Malay Rulers.

"This is in line with the procedures in the Islamic Religious Administration Enactment (Perak) 2004 concerning the adoption of fatwa," Raja Nazrin Shah said.

Last Saturday, the National Fatwa Council ruled that the systematic practice of yoga is haram (forbidden) for Muslims as it contains elements of Hinduism, and therefore contrary to Islamic teachings. (ANI)