A CONTROVERSIAL edict by Malaysia's top Islamic body, that banned yoga for Muslims, may splinter into different interpretations in different Malaysian states.
Religion in Malaysia is under the purview of its individual states. So, it will be up to the state religious authorities, and ultimately the state sultans, to accept, reject or modify the National Fatwa Council's fatwa.
This means a Muslim could actually drive from one state to another to "legitimately" practise yoga, or a "purified" version.
The council had felt that elements of Hinduism could not be extricated from the physical aspects of yoga exercise.
The director-general of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia, DatukWan Mohamad Sheikh Abd Aziz, said the council's fatwa would be discussed in the state fatwa committees, whose members were appointed by the respective rulers.
"After being agreed upon by the committees, the matter will be presented to the state religious councils before it is taken to the sultans for consent," he said.
The Mufti of Perlis, Dr Asri Zainal Abidin, has spoken out against the fatwa, saying yoga with the non-Muslim elements removed should be allowed.
Meanwhile, the Sultan of Selangor said it could not be implemented as the state fatwa committee had not yet discussed the matter.
Perak Religious Department director Jamry Sury, who earlier said the state would abide by the fatwa, retracted his statement a day later, noting that it had not been discussed by the state fatwa committee.
Other states were set to go ahead with the implementation.
Mr Wan Mohamad said the public debate meant that "we can now take the opportunity to explain the beauty of Islam to non-Muslims".
