Most-asked question
Is yoga or meditation permissible?
36 fatawa in the archive answer questions on this, from 7 South African Darul Iftas (Ask Imaam, Mufti Online, Ibn Masood, MUBZ, MJC, Camperdown and others). Below, each Darul Ifta’s answer is quoted word for word from the opening of one of its fatawa.
Based on the fatawa linked below. Please read the sources and double-check with a Darul Ifta for your situation.
Consult a mufti for your situation. Fatawa SA is a read-only archive and issues no rulings of its own.
What the Darul Iftas say
“Reiki is a Japanese energy-healing practice that is associated with Yoga, Buddhism and includes other aspects of Kufr, hence, it is not permissible for us as Muslims to study Reiki. Similarly, we do not approve of “body-talk” due to the un-Islamic aspects found in it, hence, we advise abstention.”
“If the stretch exercises you refer to have nothing to do with yoga, then it is not yoga. We have stated that yoga is impermissible, not the stretch exercises you refer to.”
“The meridian cupping lines refer to pathways that connect acupuncture points and are understood in medical studies as channels through which energy flows within the body. These lines are based on medical and therapeutic theories, not on matters of religious belief.”
“Meditating means to reflect and ponder over something that can bring you close to Allah Ta`ala. So this can be done in many ways, like a person going to the qabrastan can meditate over life and the uncertain nature of life and the worthlessness of the material world and what happens to it.”
Quotes are the opening words of each answer as published; the full answer, its conditions and references are on the fatwa page. Answers depend on the exact details of each question.
Read the fatawa
- YogaCamperdown · 6 Aug 2026
- Cupping Using the Meridian Lines & AcupunctureMUBZ · 8 Apr 2026
- Aafiyah Healing, Bodytalk & ReikiMufti Online · 24 Dec 2024
- Yoga Exercises As TreatmentIbn Masood · 4 Sep 2024
- Is one allowed to meditate without chanting?Ask Imaam · 4 Nov 2023
- Is Yoga permissible in IslamJamiat KZN · 16 Feb 2015
- The Practice of ReikiMJC · 11 Jul 2025
- Ghusl of Deceased Wife – Body Talk – YogaMUBZ · 14 Jun 2024
- Meditation in IslamMufti Online · 27 Oct 2020
- Using Yoga as a treatment for polycystic ovariesIbn Masood · 14 Jun 2023
- Is Acupuncture permissible & does it nullify the Wudhu?Ask Imaam · 29 Nov 2022
- Ruling on YogaMJC · 13 Jul 2023
- YogaMufti Online · 10 Nov 2016
- Learning ‘Reiki’ and ‘Body-Talk’Ibn Masood · 12 Jul 2022
- Clarification on Yoga FatwaAsk Imaam · 15 Feb 2018
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