The mass orgy(as Dee described it aka all girls getaway) last week end is one of the rarest opportunities for us to juz hang out together & have girlie fun! Sure, it was not Bondi or the luscious greeneries of MacQuarie Uni but what made the trip most lovely was the delightful company of four other cranky & crazy gals who have bonded over the years & Batam is forever etched in my mind as a beautiful memory. Seems like it's a kewl island to juz go & have female bondin session...earlier tis year i had a great time with my Pure Indulgence Seekers & now, with the Garang Tak Sayang Mulut gurls... nice nice. came back with a bunch of soaps (liquid/bars) like i haven't bathed for ages! LoL tis is called SUPPLIES of if-u-dun-go-to-batam-u-won't-get-em(at all or cheap-in-SG!) yeaps, label me Kiasu, i dun mind at all for such goodies! somehow, i wish i could do the same with the minah payung of SP...but now with almost everyone committed to their social/family agenda, i guess...i could only hold on to the memories of our secret island...those were the carefree & single days...
aside from soap shoppin, i tried foot reflexology & had an intimate hot stone massage with Dee sharin the cosy spa hut with me. the foot reflexology left me with a slight pain on the left big toe & Mummy June said that it has somethin to do with my brain and true enuff, i felt giddy the whole of yesterday & upon checkin out a foot reflexology chart off the Net, the point that had the pain was connected to the cerebrum. Okie...tt's freaky but Emm i think there's too much rush of blood to the head or too much wind to expel...Thank God after havin some coke last nite, after plenty of burpin...i felt much better. i think meetin Iyuan helps too...Love Therapy...hahah!
So much abt the trip, the week end was greeted with 2 bizarre news. First was that now Michael jackson is a Muslim called Mikaeel & second was the fatwa issued out by the National Fatwa Council in Malaysia statin that Yoga is HARAM. well alhamdulillah if Michael Jackson has truly embraced the beautiful religion and is a part of our brotherhood in worshippin the One God but as for the fatwa that was dished out, hmmm kinda controversial i'd say.
I am For yoga, as it has nothin but a positive effect on me when i was actively practisin...but then, i was only practisin the Physical aspect of it excludin the meditations & mantra. Still, i felt a certain calm, good focus & transitionin to different poses only challenges myself & increases my flexibility that promotes a certain peace & harmony instead of tension & stress for my inner self. I can't say that i am blatantly against the fatwa as the syura's rationale is quite in line with the very teachings of Islam of taking a safe stance of Prevention of people from goin against their faith in One God & emulatin/practisin what non-muslims are doin but on the other hand, with knowledge & education of what should not be done/thought/chanted, i personally feel that the Physical aspect of Yoga (especially proper breathin technique) does no harm to faith..it is juz like other Riadah such as swimming, pilates or aerobics. in fact i think it aids one to have a better sense of well-being & appreciate all creations of God in a more positive light...hmmm...
Every day is juz more complicated than yesterday...
"Every day is juz more complicated than yesterday..."
ReplyDeletenicely put, babe... and oh so true.... :)
babe, i thought that 'news' about michael jackson becoming a muslim has been floating around years ago and it was confirmed as false rumours?
ReplyDeleteAnd why Yoga is haram?
Man....i must start reading the news! hehehe
elvewt: indeed :)
ReplyDeletelelamanja: ouh i juz read abt it in Life! last fri, it was also said that the bro is also a convert. why yoga is haram ah? google google..hee
ewah...pegi batam eh.best kan? cheap toiletries,cheap massage & spa as compared to here. *grins*
ReplyDeletehey babe, hope the giddy spell wear off by now. it was sure fun and i wish to repeat it =)
ReplyDeletehaha...2 girls in a spa and and hot tub drinking ginger tea is surely scandalous..lox
yes, i agree tdy is more complicated than yesterday. im confused abt the Yoga issue too. time to do some reading. hmm...
ooh no wonder the sms replied..."im not in sg..."
ReplyDeleteheheheheh
gwap: yeaps best...borong borong!
ReplyDeletedeesdaily: lol scandalous...shhhh it's our secret ;)
pinkpesona: ya mbak, maaf ya ngga bisa nolongin lho hari itu...gue liburan di pulau batam! sms mahal dech! udah dapat nelepon orang yg dicari ngga? *LoL*
ya udah neng.....kekeke pics where?? uplod prease!
ReplyDeletepics eh? hmmm must wait a lil longer...gotta grab em from the other gals cos my cam was sent out for repair.
ReplyDeletehey babe i found these article to answer ur Question:
ReplyDelete1. From http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1227019160405&pagename=Zone-English-News/NWELayout
CAIRO — Because of its Hindu mantras and elements of worshipping, Malaysia's National Fatwa Council on Saturday, November 22, prohibited the practice of yoga by Muslims, The Star reported.
"Yoga is forbidden for Muslims. The practice will erode their faith in the religion," said Abdul Shukor Husin, the council's chairman.The council said yoga has been practiced by Hindus for thousands of years and incorporates elements of chants and worshipping that aim to be "one with God".
"Because of this, we believe that it is inappropriate for Muslims to do yoga and the council has declared that practicing yoga when it comes all together with the three elements as haram," said Abdul Shukor. "We discourage Muslims to do yoga as a form of exercise because it will ultimately lead to religious worshipping and chanting which is against Islam."
Yoga, an ancient Indian aid to meditation dating back thousands of years, is a popular stress-buster in Kuala Lumpur. The fatwa was issued after a Malaysian professor advised Muslims to stop practicing yoga as it could cause them to deviate from their faith.
"Doing yoga, even just the physical movements is a step towards an erosion of one's faith in the religion, hence Muslims should avoid it," agrees Abdul Shukor.
The fatwa is not legally binding but Muslim Malays, who comprise about 60 percent of the country's 26 million population, usually abide by religious edicts.
"Malaysia is not the only country which declares yoga as haram in Islam," maintains Abdul Shukor.
"Singapore and Egypt have come out with the same edict as well."
Islamic Alternative
The Fatwa Council, one of Malaysia's highest Islamic bodies, made it clear that the fatwa does not apply to non-Muslims in the Southeast Asian country. "For us, yoga can destroy a Muslim's faith. But this is not a matter for the non-Muslims to be concerned about because it's not imposed on them," clarified Abdul Shukor."We are looking out for the Muslim community."
Ethnic Chinese and Indians - most of them Buddhists, Hindus and Christians - make up about 35 percent of Malaysia's populace.The Fatwa Council advised Muslims to seek other practices rather than yoga.
"There are many other forms of exercise that Muslims can partake especially when the religion promotes healthy living and lifestyle," insists Abdul Shukor.
"You can go cycling, swimming and eat less fatty food," he gave as a few examples.
"Performing prayers for example is a good form of exercise."
2. From http://www.islamweb.net/ver2/Fatwa/ShowFatwa.php?lang=E&Id=85297&Option=FatwaId
Yoga is not simply a physical exercise, it is rather a form of worship to the sun instead of Allaah. Collins defines yoga as: 'A Hindu system of philosophy aiming at the mystical union of the self with the Supreme Being:- a state of complete awareness and tranquility through certain physical and mental exercises'. It is widespread and well known in India since early ages. The original name of this sport in Sanskrit is (Sastanga Soria Namaskar) which means "prostrating for the sun on eight places of the body". This sport has 10 known states among which the fifth stage where the person lays face down on earth touching the ground with his: both hands, the nose, the chest, both knees and the toes. By this one realizes prostrating for the sun on eight organs of the body.
The yoga exercises start with the first state which constitutes a bowing to th
I think they're overanalysing a simple routine that can help improve life.That's what happen when you overthinking situation.Always looking at the negative and ignored the positive.
ReplyDeleteBut anyway,I'm envious of your getaway.I would love to back to Batam for a spa
i guess they are takin a very critical stance, but seems like the sultans are not too pleased with the way the council is metting out tis edict & the mufti of perlis also not so favourable of such. *shrugs*
ReplyDeletea Batam getaway would be nice babe, maybe u could tag cassie or mr trueness for company (or should i suggest emm the Sexy Priest?)! i'd recommend Salon Christopher at Nagoya Hill Mall for cheap but awesome array of services (hair spa, massage,foot reflexology etc.) or the lovely lovely Harris Resort for a wholesome indulgence in a cosy semi-outdoor spa hut equipped with bathtub/jacuzzi! Shiok!
Aiyoh....too tempting!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHere are the pics, courtesy of Linda! Happy viewin!
ReplyDeleteHeHeHe!
ReplyDeleteGot a fwd-ed email... Maybe this will help...
ReplyDeleteAssalamualaikum wr wb
In The Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His
Messenger.
Thank you for your query. We commend your effort to seek clarifications in
matters concerning Islam.
Yoga originates from Hindu philosophy, that is to seek the knowledge of God
or perfect self-knowledge through such practise, wit he ultimate goal of
liberating the spirit from matter. Encyclopedia Encarta listed the 8 stages
of true yoga:
1) Self-control (yama) involves truthfulness, abstinence, avoidance of
theft, refusal of gifts, and not doing injury to living things.
2) Religious observance (niyama) embraces austerity, poverty, contentment,
purification rites, recital of the Vedic hymns, and devoted reliance on the
Supreme Being.
3) Postures (asana), of which there are a great many, are regarded as basic
to all the stages that follow.
4) Regulation of the breath (pranayama) includes altering its depth and
rhythm, breathing through either nostril at will, and the virtual
suspension of breath.
5) Restraint of the senses (pratyahara) means their withdrawal from
external objects and the consequent turning of the mind upon itself.
6) Steadying of the mind (dharana) narrows attention to some one part of
the body, such as the navel, the tip of the nose, or the middle of the
brow, and in that way renders the practitioner insensitive to outside
disturbance.
7) Meditation (dhyana) fixes the mind on the object of knowledge,
especially Brahma, to the exclusion of all other thoughts.
8) Profound contemplation (samadhi) is the perfect absorption of thought in
the object of knowledge, its union and identification with that object.
If Yoga is performed with all those 8 stages, then Yoga is Haram. However,
if the Yoga practise only involved stages 3 to 6, then it is not Haram
since there is no religious significance in it. Instead, all those 4 stages
are purely physical in nature.
We hope that this reply answers your question. Please continue to seek
religious knowledge at mosques or by reading authentic materials. A good
book that you can rely on is The Reliance of the Traveller by Nuh H Mim
Keller. This book can be found in many Muslim bookstores, especially Darul
Arqam and Pergas.
And Allah knows best.
Habibah Binte Mohamad Saleh | Executive | Office Of Mufti | DID: 6359 1443|
Fax: 6259 1735 | Email: habibah@muis.gov.sg
Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) | 1 Lorong 6, Toa Payoh
Singapore 319376| Website: www.muis.gov.sg
Alhamdulillah! Thank u for the clarification!
ReplyDeleteTis puts way much relief to whatever confusion the whole fatwa issue caused
Fresh from ChannelNewsAsia:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.channelnewsasia.com/cna/cgi-bin/search/search_7days.pl?status=&search=yoga&id=392943
MUIS says Muslims can practise yoga for health, physical benefits
Channel NewsAsia - Saturday, November 29
SINGAPORE : The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) has said Muslims can continue to practise yoga solely for its health and physical benefits, while ensuring that their Islamic faith is properly observed.
MUIS issued this statement to clarify its stand on yoga in response to media queries.
MUIS said the Fatwa Committee had issued a religious ruling in 1984 which explained that Muslims are not allowed to practise yoga if it contains elements of rituals and beliefs of other faiths, such as recitations, as these practices are non—Islamic and are no longer a physical exercise per se.
MUIS reiterated that Muslims should be well informed and conscious of all aspects of any form of mental or physical exercise, so as to distinguish between its physical and religious expressions.
MUIS said such an approach is applicable to all aspects of Muslims’ religious life, where it allows them to practise their faith comfortably and confidently.
It added that Muslims are encouraged to put in effort to preserve their mental and physical health at all times. — CNA/ms