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Sports and uniform

Submitted by Ginny Lee on Mon, 03/22/2010 - 18:06
Islamic Answers Theme: 
Education

Health and fitness are an important aspect of life for everyone. Muslims are taught that the body is a gift and ‘a trust’ that is given to us to look after and we need to actively take care of it.

Taking exercise and participating in sports is therefore very important and the Prophet (pbuh) encouraged people to learn swimming, horse riding, wrestling and archery as essential skills and active pursuits of his society. The Prophet (pbuh) was an active man and it is known that at times he would race with his wife, Aisha. This also shows how, perhaps contrary to some ideas, women were also very active and indeed physically strong. In fact some women participated in battle as soldiers.

Aside from the physical benefit, of course, sports can help us to relax and bring enjoyment. The Prophet is reported to have said, "Entertain your hearts; for hearts become blind when they are tired". Islam views the person as a whole and Muslims are encouraged to have sound body, mind and spirit.

- Dilwar Hussain

 

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Sports and uniform Q&A

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As a part of the school curriculum, I have to take part in sports which can sometimes be mixed - boys and girls. Is this allowed?

Answered by: Dr Usama Hasan

You can take part as long as you're comfortable with it, and a lot of sports in schools are segregated anyway, but you have to be careful. I think this is a grey area, as inappropriate contact between men and women, such as touching, is forbidden, and it can lead to other things that are incompatible with Islam.

Answered by: Shaykh Haytham Tamim

It depends on the age. If we're talking about a nine year old participating where other pupils are the same age, then it's fine. If we are talking about pupils who have already entered puberty, then we need to be more conservative, not to a huge extent, but we need to observe some etiquette, that is not showing too much of the body. After puberty there needs to be a broader understanding of this etiquette perhaps through parents or teachers.

Answered by: Dr Musharraf Hussain

I think up to primary school age is fine - around the age of 10 to 11 years old - but certainly not in secondary school. I think it has been normal for quite a while to have separate sports for girls and boys and I don't think there is anything wrong with that.