Kuwaiti Friday sermon slams yoga, deems it ‘call for atheism’

The unified sermon for Friday prayer in Kuwait last week stirred controversy for linking moral decay to granting women freedom and for slamming yoga and physical activity, deeming them reflective of atheism, Kuwaiti newspaper al-Jarida reported.

The sermon, which is distributed by the Ministry of Awqaf, said atheists have “sanctified the human mind” and think that by practicing yoga, they will possess “God-like energy”.

“They’ve called this cosmic energy or attraction laws or yoga or physical activity among other terms which do not fool the faithful and only deceive those who are ignorant of their religion,” the sermon added.

The sermon also criticized yoga as an act which atheists promote.

Many voiced surprise of the sermon’s content and voiced fear that these remarks on yoga may incite extremists in society to attack licensed institutes which offer yoga classes.

The sermon also slammed calls to grant women freedom and said such calls aim to make women abandon chastity and modesty and adopt “atheist habits” resulting in moral decay.

The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Awqaf tried to deny addressing women’s affairs as such; however, the sermon, which is available online, clearly linked granting women’s freedom to atheist habits.

Member of Parliament, Ahmad Al-Fadhl, voiced his discontent with the sermon.

“These sermons take us backwards tens of years. The minister must investigate this matter and know who is responsible for sending this sermon,” Fadhl said, adding that isolating people and restraining thought are acts of “intellectual terrorism.”