Despite the All India Muslim Personal Law Board’s opposition to yoga, the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has decided to introduce a doctoral thesis in ‘Yoga and Spirituality’ at the university’s psychology department.
Earlier this year, the AIMPLB had campaigned against making yoga and surya namaskar compulsory in schools, calling the move “un-Islamic”.
Hafiz Mohammad Ilyas, chairman of the psychology department, reportedly took the initiative to introduce the thesis. Ilyas, who studied in a madrasa and went on to become an Islamic scholar and a Hafiz-e-Quran, is also a member of the AMU executive council, the university’s apex body.
“Let us avoid religious controversies, but yoga and spirituality is a new trend and needs further research. We will conduct PhD-level research in the subject in our department,” Ilyas told The Indian Express.
Asked whether it could lead to backlash from Muslim bodies, Ilyas said he is not concerned. “I am not saying that it has something to do with Islam. We are not giving religious fervour to it. It provides physical fitness and keeps you mentally alert. What is the harm if we do research on this?” he said.
As a precursor to the thesis, Ilyas had organised a two-day national-level seminar on yoga and spirituality on November 7-8 in AMU.
“I learnt from the seminar that yoga needs further research scientifically. Several eminent personalities attended the seminar. Soon, we will organise an international-level seminar,” he said.
At the seminar, AMU vice-chancellor Lt Gen (retd) Zameeruddin Shah said, “Yoga and spirituality are not the monopoly of any religion. I have myself practised it for the last 43 years. It is a complete solution to attain spiritual bliss and well being.”
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/aligarh-muslim-university-plans-phd-in-yoga-and-spirituality/