Archive · 30 Oct 2025
Teacher Suspended in India for Allegedly Teaching Islamic Prayers as Yoga Poses
A teacher in India was suspended because some parents said he was teaching Muslim prayers to Hindu kids during yoga class.
The teacher said he was just teaching a yoga pose called Shashankasana, or Rabbit Pose.
This pose looks a bit like a Muslim prayer called 'Sajda'.
But experts say the yoga pose and the prayer are different.
In the prayer, people put their forehead on the ground and keep their elbows up.
In the yoga pose, people bend forward with their arms straight until their forehead and arms touch the ground.
This isn't the first time something like this has happened, and some people think it's not just a mistake but a way to hide religious teaching in schools.
An investigation is now happening to figure out what really happened.
A government school teacher in Madhya Pradesh, India, was suspended for allegedly teaching Hindu students Islamic prayer postures during yoga class.
The teacher, Jabur Ahmad, claimed he was teaching Shashankasana (Rabbit Pose), a common yoga posture.
Critics argue that Shashankasana is physically distinct from the Islamic prayer posture known as 'Sajda', particularly in arm and elbow positioning.
This incident is part of a pattern of similar accusations against teachers in various parts of India.
An inquiry has been launched to investigate the allegations against the teacher.
- Who
- Government school teacher Jabur Ahmad
- What
- Accused of teaching Islamic prayer postures to Hindu students during yoga sessions
- When
- Recently
- Where
- Deohari village, Burhanpur district, Madhya Pradesh, India
- Why
- Allegedly to introduce Islamic rituals under the guise of yoga
Accusation
Defense
Nature of the posture
Accusation
The posture taught to Hindu students was an Islamic prayer posture ('Sajda').
Defense
The posture taught was Shashankasana (Rabbit Pose), a distinct yogic asana.
Intent
Accusation
The actions suggest a deliberate attempt to impose Islamic practices on students under the guise of yoga.
Defense
The similarity between the poses is coincidental or a misunderstanding, not a deliberate imposition.
Physical differences
Accusation
The physical configuration and procedural sequence of Shashankasana are fundamentally different from Sajda.
Defense
While similar, Shashankasana is a yogic pose and not intended as a religious practice.
- Location
- Deohari village, Burhanpur district, Madhya Pradesh, India
- Accused
- Jabur Ahmad, government school teacher
- Allegation
- Teaching Islamic prayer postures to Hindu students during yoga and Surya Namaskar sessions
- Teacher's Defense
- Teaching Shashankasana (Rabbit Pose), a yogic asana
- Action Taken
- Teacher suspended, inquiry initiated