<P> In early 11th century, the Persian scholar Al Biruni visited India, lived with Hindus for 16 years, and with their help translated several significant Sanskrit works into Arabic and Persian languages . One of these was Patanjali's Yogasutras . Al Biruni's translation preserved many of the core themes of Patañjali' s Yoga philosophy, but certain sutras and analytical commentaries were restated making it more consistent with Islamic monotheistic theology . Al Biruni's version of Yoga Sutras reached Persia and Arabian peninsula by about 1050 AD . Later, in the 16th century, the hath yoga text Amritakunda was translated into Arabic and then Persian . Yoga was, however, not accepted by mainstream Sunni and Shia Islam . Minority Islamic sects such as the mystic Sufi movement, particularly in South Asia, adopted Indian yoga practises, including postures and breath control . Muhammad Ghawth, a Shattari Sufi and one of the translators of yoga text in 16th century, drew controversy for his interest in yoga and was persecuted for his Sufi beliefs . </P> <P> Malaysia's top Islamic body in 2008 passed a fatwa, prohibiting Muslims from practicing yoga, saying it had elements of Hinduism and that its practice was blasphemy, therefore haraam . Some Muslims in Malaysia who had been practicing yoga for years, criticized the decision as "insulting ." Sisters in Islam, a women's rights group in Malaysia, also expressed disappointment and said yoga was just a form of exercise . This fatwa is legally enforceable . However, Malaysia's prime minister clarified that yoga as physical exercise is permissible, but the chanting of religious mantras is prohibited . </P> <P> In 2009, the Council of Ulemas, an Islamic body in Indonesia, passed a fatwa banning yoga on the grounds that it contains Hindu elements . These fatwas have, in turn, been criticized by Darul Uloom Deoband, a Deobandi Islamic seminary in India . Similar fatwas banning yoga, for its link to Hinduism, were issued by the Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa in Egypt in 2004, and by Islamic clerics in Singapore earlier . </P> <P> In Iran, as of May 2014, according to its Yoga Association, there were approximately 200 yoga centres in the country, a quarter of them in the capital Tehran, where groups can often be seen practising in parks . This has been met by opposition among conservatives . In May 2009, Turkey's head of the Directorate of Religious Affairs, Ali Bardakoğlu, discounted personal development techniques such as reiki and yoga as commercial ventures that could lead to extremism . His comments were made in the context of reiki and yoga possibly being a form of proselytization at the expense of Islam . </P>

Who is known as the father of yoga