Sadia Fatima Abdul Khaliq
Nanded Maharashtra
8485884176
*Yoga from an Islamic Perspective*
All praise is for Allah and all blessings are bestowed by Him. A healthy life is a great blessing given by Allah. The effort should be that our every action pleases Allah. In our activities, the concept of Yoga is being included. Yoga is an ancient physical, mental, and spiritual practice that originated in the ancient civilizations of the subcontinent. The word "Yoga" is derived from the Sanskrit word "Yuj," which means to join, combine, or create unity. Historically, Yoga has been considered a method to create harmony between the body, mind, and soul. In the modern era, Yoga has become popular in various countries around the world as a method of physical exercise, mental peace, and health. Islam is a complete code of life that emphasizes the physical, mental, moral, and spiritual training of a human being. Although there is no specific system of worship by the name of "Yoga" in Islam, many values exist in the teachings of Islam that relate to human peace, balance, reflection, and a healthy life. Therefore, to understand the relationship between Islam and Yoga, it is necessary to examine various aspects of Yoga in the light of Islamic teachings. Islam considers a human being as a combination of body and soul. Protecting the body and living a healthy life are also among human responsibilities. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) described the value and importance of health, saying: "There are two blessings about which many people are in deception: health and free time." (Sahih Bukhari)
From this Hadith, it is known that health is a great blessing of Allah Almighty. Islam encourages activities that keep the body strong, active, and healthy, provided they are not against Islamic beliefs and commandments.
Some physical aspects of Yoga, such as keeping the body active, creating flexibility, and regulating breath, can come under general principles of health.
In today's era, Yoga is also used to reduce mental stress and achieve peace. In Islam, mental peace and tranquility of the heart also hold a very important place.
In the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty says: "Beware! In the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction." (Surah Ar-Ra'd: 28)
According to Islam, the source of true peace is the remembrance of Allah, worship, prayer, and trust in Allah. Salah, recitation of the Quran, Dhikr, and reflection are actions that provide peace to the human heart. An important difference here is that the methods of achieving peace in Yoga may be connected to different philosophical foundations, while Islam associates spiritual peace with Tawhid and a connection with Allah. Ancient Yoga was not just physical exercise but also included spiritual ideologies. In some traditional "Yoga systems," concepts about the universe, soul, and God are found that may differ from the Islamic belief of Tawhid.
The fundamental belief of Islam is that... "Allah is One, He has no partner."
Therefore, it is necessary for a Muslim to see, while adopting any action, whether it includes any belief or practice that conflicts with the basic principles of Islam. If Yoga is performed only as physical exercise or breathing practice, and non-Islamic beliefs or concepts of worship are not included with it, some scholars see it as a physical activity. However, if it includes religious ideologies or rituals that are against Islamic beliefs, a Muslim must certainly avoid them. In Islam, Salah is a great act of worship that includes physical movements, concentration, humility, and a spiritual connection. Qiyam, Ruku, and Sajdah provide both physical and spiritual training to a human being.
In Yoga too, some physical postures and breathing exercises are performed to create concentration and physical balance, but Salah and Yoga are fundamentally different. Salah is the worship of Allah. It is a gift given directly by Allah from the heavens during the journey of the Prophet's Mi'raj. It is based on the teachings of revelation. Salah is obligatory with specific times and methods. Salah strengthens the relationship between the servant and the Creator, while Yoga is basically a physical or philosophical system. Its various forms and purposes are found. Exercises focusing on breath are common in Yoga. In Islam too, humans are taught to live life with reflection and awareness. The Quran repeatedly invites humans to reflect on the universe, think about their creation, and understand the signs of Allah. For a Muslim, the best source of focus and concentration is Salah, Dhikr, and recitation of the Quran, which teach internal discipline. Islam teaches moderation in every matter of life. Neither is it right to ignore the body, nor to forget the spiritual aspect.
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Your body also has a right over you." (Sahih Bukhari)
This teaching shows that Islam encourages taking care of physical needs. Adopting exercise, proper diet, and healthy habits is according to the Islamic temperament. In the present age, Yoga is being adopted worldwide for health, fitness, and mental peace. It is possible that by looking at the methods of Salah and its physical benefits, attention was also given to the movements of Yoga.
In schools, institutions, and health centers, physical exercises of Yoga are also sometimes used. In Muslim society, there has been discussion on this topic regarding how Yoga should be adopted. Many people accept it to the extent of exercise, while some individuals advise caution because of its spiritual aspects. The real issue is of intention, method of practice, and belief. The common aspect between Islam and Yoga is that...
There are some general aspects in it where similarities can be seen, such as physical balance. In both, attention can be given to the improvement of the body. Besides this, there is also concentration. The importance of focus and discipline is described in both.
In the matter of internal peace
The effort for mental peace can be found in both, although the foundations are different.
Its positive habits are that
The concept of regularity and self-control can be present in both. Overall, we need to understand the concept of Yoga in Islam in a balanced way because Islam has not presented Yoga as a religious or worship system, but values like physical health, mental peace, and discipline are present in the teachings of Islam. The basic standard for a Muslim is that any action should be according to the principles of the Quran and Sunnah. If any physical exercise is useful for a person's health and does not include beliefs or rituals that conflict with the basic beliefs of Islam, it can be seen as a general exercise. But for spiritual guidance and true peace of heart, Islam gives a fundamental place to the remembrance of Allah, worship, prayer, and moral training.
Thus, it can be said that Islam teaches complete balance to a human being. A strong body, a pure mind, and a heart connected to Allah. This balance is the foundation of a healthy and successful life. May Allah always keep our hearts on the right path. May Allah accept our knowledge and actions. Ameen.