Kedah MB Says He Doesn't Want To Know About Yoga Issue

Amidst the polemics over the yoga fatwa, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak said he was simply not interested in the yoga issue and left it to the state Mufti to make a decision.

"I don't know what yoga is. I'm not interested to know about it. If people want to sit cross-legged and think deep like Gandhi, it's their business," he said when asked to comment on the National Fatwa Council's ruling of yoga as "haram" (forbidden) for Muslims.

Last Saturday, the National Fatwa Council ruled that systematic yoga practice comprising physical exercise, chanting of mantra and the aim of oneness with God are against Islamic teachings.

Kelantan Menteri Besar and PAS' Spiritual Leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said yesterday that he accepted the fatwa and that Kelantan would have no problem gazetting it.

However, Azizan who was met at Wisma Darul Aman Wednesday after chairing the state executive council meeting, and repeatedly asked by reporters, declined to comment on the matter other than saying:

"I'm not interested and I don't want to know about yoga as there are many other things to think about.

"We have a Mufti, so let him do the job." (Bernama)

LATEST: Malaysia backs down from yoga ban amid backlash

Yoga Exercise Deviates From The Teachings Of Islam? Fatwa Council To Announce Ruling

The National Fatwa Council has deferred announcing its ruling on yoga exercise scheduled to be made Friday, as the council chairman is abroad.

The Islamic Development department (Jakim) director-general Datuk Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abdul Aziz said the announcement would have to be made some other time as fatwa council chairman Prof Datuk Dr Abdul Shukor Husin is in Jordan on an official trip.

“We will check when he (Shukor) is able to make the announcement once he returns home from his trip. The media will be informed when we have a confirmed date from the council chairman,” Wan Mohamad told The Star on Friday.

It was earlier reported that the National Fatwa Council would come out with a ruling on yoga exercise on Friday. The ruling is related to the faith of Muslims who practised yoga where Jakim had carried out an in-depth study on the issue over six months.

Recently, lecturer Prof Zakaria Stapa of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Islamic Studies Centre advised Muslims who had taken up yoga to stop practising it for fear that they could deviate from the teachings of Islam.

Yoga, related to health, has been practised since 3,000 BC and is said to help slow down ageing, reduce risk of diabetes, asthma and heart-related diseases.

Asked if the council would need more time to dissect the issue, Wan Mohamad said the matter had already been discussed and deliberated at length and it was prepared to address the matter.

Wan Mohamad however declined to reveal if the fatwa would prevent Muslims from practising yoga, saying any announcement would have to come from the council. (The Star)

***** With the world economy in shambles and a million important issues the nation is preoccupied with, a fatwa on the practice of yoga isn't something the people are waiting for with bated breath. But it does speak of the pathetic pettiness to which the religious authorities have sunk to over the past few years.

"Birthday Parties, Anniversaries, Mother's Day Against Islam," Says Saudi Grand Mufti!

Celebrating anniversaries, birthdays or mother's day is against Muslim 'righteousness', Saudi Arabia's top cleric has said, quashing suggestions by a colleague that Islam permits personal celebrations.

Media savvy cleric Salman al-Awdah told viewers during a call-in television show last week that celebrating birthdays and wedding anniversaries was not against Islam, sparking a debate in the conservative kingdom and prompting the mufti to weigh in.

Grand Mufti Abdul-Aziz al-Shaikh said celebrating such events would make Muslims like followers of other faiths including Jews and Christians, al-Madina newspaper reported.

Shaikh embodies Wahhabism, the hardline Islamic doctrine that has ruled hand in hand with the Saud family since the kingdom was founded some eight decades ago.

Women are banned from driving and mixing with unrelated men in Saudi Arabia, whose clerics issue edicts ordering Saudis not to buy red roses on Valentine's Day on an almost annual basis.

"A Muslim should thank almighty Allah if his children are healthy and if his married life is stable as the years pass by," the paper quoted Shaikh as saying.

Two occasions call for celebration in the Muslim world, Shaikh said: Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha, which marks the end of the annual haj pilgrimage.

Awdah, who follows a relatively softer line, is widely believed to be favoured by circles close to King Abdullah. The monarch has repeatedly said that Saudi Arabia needs reforms. (Reuters)
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Salman Rushdie Is Finally Knighted

Indian-origin British author Salman Rushdie received a knighthood for services to literature from Britain's Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday, saying he was proud of the honour and had ''no regrets'' over the controversy sparked by his work.

Sir Salman, as the Anglo-Indian writer will now be known, said the knighthood was in recognition ''not for any specific book but for a very long career in writing and I'm happy to see it recognized''.

Rushdie, 61, enraged opinion in the Muslim world with his 1988 novel ''The Satanic Verses'', which was considered blasphemous against Islam by Iran and made him the subject of a fatwa of death sentence by the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Announcement of the British honour for Rushdie a year ago sparked worldwide protests in Muslim countries and caused considerable diplomatic tension between Britain and Pakistan.

The terror network Al Qaeda, in a chilling website audiotape, called the knighthood an ''insult to Islam'' and threatened a ''very precise response'' against Britain.

The British government of Gordon Brown said ''sorry'' if the award had caused offence, but refused a demand by the Pakistan government to withdraw the honour.

The decision to honour the author was taken by Tony Blair, Brown's predecessor as prime minister. There were also protests in Iran, Malaysia and other parts of the Muslim world.

After imposition of the fatwa in February, 1989, Rushdie was forced into hiding and moved 30 times in an attempt to keep his whereabouts secret.

Over the last 10 years, he has returned to public life, living in London and New York.

Speaking after the ceremony Wednesday, and displaying his knighthood medal, he said: ''I'm very proud, very happy.''

''It's been a long time - my first novel was published 33 years ago but I think the thing you hope to do as a writer is leave behind a shelf of interesting books and it's great just to have that work recognized.''

Asked about the controversy surrounding his knighthood, he said: ''At this stage, you know, it's certainly not a day to talk about controversy, it's a day for myself and my family to celebrate this.''

Asked if, with hindsight, he had any doubts about writing The Satanic Verses, Rushdie said: ''I really have no regrets about any of my work. If you're lucky enough to have one book that gets into people's consciousness in that way then it's fortunate.''

''The fact that that book, 27 years after it was published, it still interesting to people, I'm very proud of that,'' he added.

But Rushdie said he was really ''more interested'' in his recent work. He would write another children's book next. (NDTV.com)

Alcohol Fatwa Sparks Controversy

A prominent Egyptian cleric has created controversy by issuing a fatwa that says tiny amounts of alcohol are permissible in Islam.

Yusuf al-Qaradawi's (pic) fatwa says a level of 0.5% is allowed, whereas most Muslims would say alcohol of any quantity is banned.

Sheikh Qaradawi was recently refused entry to Britain as the UK government said his views could spark violence.

He issued his fatwa in response to a question about high energy drinks.

'Distorted'

Sheikh Qaradawi is talking about tiny quantities of alcohol - equivalent to about one-eighth of that found in one unit of light beer.

He ruled there was no religious ban on consuming drinks with a minute amount of alcohol in them if it was formed naturally through the process of fermentation.

He quoted the rule derived from the sayings of the Prophet that if drinking a lot of alcohol makes you intoxicated then drinking a little is also forbidden.

Sheikh Qaradawi argued that any person who consumed a large amount of high energy drink would not become intoxicated, therefore they were permissible, even though they contained tiny amounts of alcohol.

But this logic has not gone down well.

The editor of a newspaper in Qatar - the alcohol-free state where the Sheikh lives - complained that the sheikh had just stirred up a controversy that everyone could have done without.

The editor said the fatwa from a cleric of the status of Sheikh Qaradawi would inevitably be misunderstood and distorted to suggest he was giving permission to Muslims to drink alcohol.

Sheikh Qaradawi, who is a well-known TV figure, views himself as a moderate voice of Islam. (BBC News)

Taking A Cue From Malaysian Fatwa, South African Muslim Body Bans Botox

An influential South African Muslim lawmaking body has banned the use of Botox, a protein injection used to iron out wrinkles.

The Cape Town-based Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) has prohibited Muslims in the country from using Botox to improve their image after recent reports that revealed the jabs contained forbidden substances and were derived from pig’s milk.

Botulinum Toxin Type A — commercially known as Botox — is widely used as a cosmetic to produce a wrinkle- free appearance.

The ban follows a ruling two years ago by the National Fatwa Council in Malaysia, whose chairman, Shukor Husin, warned that Muslims who ignored the decree were committing a sin.

The head of the MJC fatwa committee in SA, Moulana Yusuf Karaan, this week condemned the use of Botox, saying medicinal substances obtained from pig extracts and haraam (forbidden) animals could be used only if there was no suitable alternative or in an emergency.

“Using something for acquiring a form of cosmetic advancement or beauty treatment cannot be said to be a matter of emergency or great necessity. It is for this reason that the use of Botox is prohibited for Muslims, and we agree with the decree issued by the National Fatwa Council in Malaysia,” said Karaan.

Janet Kettels, a spokesman for Allergan, which manufactures the product, said the injections were manufactured in the same plant in Ireland and the final version of the product did not contain any pig-derived enzymes.

“The manufacturing process includes growing of bacterium using a culture containing an enzyme derived from pig’s milk. A specialised purification process removes the pig-derived enzyme and produces a purified medical protein called Botulinum toxin, which is an active ingredient in Botox,” said Kettels.

She said the process was overseen by international regulatory authorities, including the Food and Drug Administration in the United States, European Medicines Agency and South African regulatory authorities.

But Karaan said the jabs were still not permissible for use by Muslims, regardless of the various changes the product underwent.

The imam of the Raza Mosque in Phoenix, Moulana Rafeek Shah, welcomed the ban, saying that if Botox contained substances that were fobidden , it should be prohibited.

“A Muslim is permitted to use a prohibited substance only when it is the only option available for the sake of protecting life. Such procedures would not be permitted for the sake of beauty,” said Shah. (Subashni Naidoo, The Times, South Africa)
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BBC Plans 'Thriller' Documentary On Satanic Verses

The BBC is set to produce a documentary on Indian-born author Salman Rushdie's controversial novel Satanic Verses and it will be "a thriller", says the director.

Gurdip Bhangoo, who heads the BBC Asian Programmes Unit, said the documentary, Words that Shook the World, would capture the cultural and religious turmoil that Satanic Verses created in the late 1980s.

The 1988 novel had angered many Muslims for allegedly blaspheming the Prophet and forced Rushdie into hiding after Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa calling for his death.

The novel, Rushdie's fourth, was banned in several countries including India.

"The proposed 90-minute drama-documentary will tell how, in just six months — from September 1988 to February 1989 — a book was published and quickly became the most controversial work in literature in modern times," said Bhangoo.

Bhangoo, who directed BBC's landmark docudrama The Day India Burnt — Partition, was in Toronto this week to screen it at the Spinning Wheel Film Festival.

"We will feature seven to eight key figures of that period who were on either side of the divide. Like in the partition documentary, we will use personal testimonies of various players of that period," he said.

"And we will dig through archives and collections to cast fresh light on the controversy which, in a way, continues to this day as the Ayatollah's fatwa against Rushdie stays."

Asked whether the BBC had broached the subject with Rushdie, he said: "When production begins early next year, we will speak with him. Of course, he is the central character of the story. But we want to have a balanced and fresh look at the controversy."

"Since programmes about South Asians are a big hit now, the BBC has started its own production in Mumbai." The Birmingham man revealed that the BBC is also extending its South Asian cuisine programme Indian Food Made Easy because of its high ratings.

"This programme has made presenter Anjum Anand one of the most popular persons in the UK. Can you believe that her food book outsold Harry Potter?" he said. "She has done a six-part series, and now we will have another series of six programmes by her. She has done what Madhur Jaffrey couldn't do. Anand has taught the white people how to cook Indian food at home, and they do now."

As the BBC launches more channels to cater to the Indian sub-continent, Bhangoo said the Asian Unit under him was being expanded to produce more documentaries, arts and culture programmes and food shows. (Sify News)
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Saudis Divided On Fatwa Banning Quranic Ringtones

People in Saudi Arabia were divided on a recent religious ruling that prohibited 'Quranic' ringtones on mobile phones.

The ruling by Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Abdullah Aal Al-Sheikh came during a meeting of the Islamic Fiqh Council, which entertained three papers regarding the ''misuse of 'Quranic' verses for communication purposes''.

The reason given by the Mufti was that the Holy Quran is the greatest gift for all Muslims and humanity, and should be used with dignity, full respect and appreciation.

But many people interviewed by The Saudi Gazette newspaper disagreed with the ruling. Those who opposed the fatwa said that it was not logical and that the ring tones reminded them always of worship.

However those who supported the ban said the ruling was appropriate as it was an insult to the holiness of the Quran, especially if the person enters the bathroom with the mobile phone and also because the verses are holy and should not be interrupted when someone calls. (UNI)

***** This is not a brand new issue or problem but has been there for some time now. In fact last year Clerics In India Wanted A Ban On Quranic Ringtones.
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Now Even Hindus Start Issuing Fatwas!

A case has been registered against former Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament Ram Vilas Vedanti, who allegedly issued a 'fatwa' against Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam patriarch and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

Acting on a complaint by one Dhananchezhian, a city resident, police filed the case on Monday night.

The case was registered against Vedanti for "promoting enmity between various communities, committing acts prejudicial to maintaining communal harmony and making statement conducive to public mischief," police said.

The complainant said the 'fatwa', allegedly issued by Vedanti saying that a person who beheaded Karunanidhi for his anti-Ram remarks would be rewarded with gold, could affect communal harmony and disturb peace in Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, police arrested 16 DMK activists for the attacks on the offices of BJP and Hindu Munnani, on Sunday, in Chennai.

All of them were remanded to 15 days judicial custody by a magistrate. (Rediff News)
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