Yoga

Question:

Asalamu alkum

Hope you are well. is yoga allowed or not? Please let me know.

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-Salāmu ʿAlaykum Wa-Raḥmatullāhi Wa-Barakātuh

In principle, Islam encourages physical exercise, subject to the limits prescribed by the Sharīʿah, for the purpose of developing physical strength, fitness, and good health.

However, any exercise that incorporates or promotes polytheistic (shirk), disbelief-based (kufr), or non-Islamic religious or philosophical beliefs is not permissible.

Accordingly, since yoga, in its origin and many of its recognised forms, is rooted in Hindu religious and philosophical traditions and may include beliefs, practices, symbolism, or rituals associated with those traditions, it is not permissible to practise it as such.

Physical exercise that is free from such religious associations remains permissible, provided it otherwise complies with the teachings of the Sharīʿah. [1]

And Allah Taʿāla Knows Best.

Baba Abu Bakr

Student –Darul Iftaa

Accra, Ghana

Checked and Approved by,

Mufti Muhammad Zakariyya Desai

محقق و مدلل جدید مسائل(765/2)۔