Islamic scholars in India including those at the Darul Uloom Deoband say they do not object to Muslims practicing yoga, contrary to a recent decision by Malaysian clerics to ban yoga for Muslims, reported The Indian Express on Tuesday. The Indian scholars said chanting mantras like 'Om' that had religious connotation was not necessary for yoga and Muslims could replace them with verses from the Quran or references to God. "Yoga is a good form of exercise. If some words, which are supposed to be chanted while performing it, have religious connotations, then Muslims need not utter those. They can instead recite verses from the Quran, praise God or remain silent," Maulana Abdul Khaliq Madrasi, deputy vice-chancellor of the Darul Uloom, told The Indian Express. He said he had discussed the issue with yoga experts and they told him reciting 'Om' or any other mantra was not compulsory for practising yoga.