New Delhi, June 21 -- Muslim cleric Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi on Saturday said that yoga should be encouraged in mosques and madrassas, but opposed 'Surya Namaskar', saying it is prohibited in Islam.

"I have supported yoga but opposed Surya Namaskar. Muslims cannot perform Surya Namaskar. Surya Namaskar is an act within yoga. Every man and woman should do yoga. Yoga should be done in madrasas and mosques too. But Surya Namaskar is bowing to the sun, worshipping the sun. Islam forbids all these things," said Razvi, president of the All India Muslim Jamaat.

According to a PTI report, Razvi took part in the celebrations of the International Day of Yoga at the Grand Mufti House near Dargah-e-Ala Hazrat in Bareilly. "Worshipping the sun is i...