Studies have shown that very few Muslim women participate in sports compared to the other faith groups. According to Sports England’s latest participation figures, less than one in five Muslim females exercise at least once a week – lower than any other faith group. This makes me wonder why. Especially when according to the Sunnah of our Rasoolallah (saw), Muslims should be leading in these figures.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle was the Sunnah of our Rasoolallah (saw) and healthy lifestyle was encouraged for both men and women. Then why is it that very few Muslim female participants are there in competitive sports events, compared to other faith groups.
Does this mean that sports should not be encouraged for Muslim women?
The fact is, sports was the Sunnah of our Rasoolallah (saw) and he encouraged it for both men and women.
It is easier for Muslim men to go out and be active participants in any kind of sport or a fitness routine. Unfortunately, it is not the same scenario for Muslim women.
There could be many reasons for Muslim women failing to become a part of a larger healthier group.
Some of the reasons which are most likely to discourage Muslim Women to be active participants in any kind of sports are highlighted below :
Lack Of Proper Knowledge About Islam
Proper knowledge and understanding of our Deen and the Sunnah of our Prophet (saw) has all the answers in it. It is because of lack of proper knowledge and understanding of our Deen that it is commonly believed that Islam doesn’t permit women to participate in sports.
Proper awareness must be created by educating our family and friends about the Sunnah of Rasoolallah (saw) which stressed great importance on leading a healthy life for all.
Since Rasoolallah (saw) encouraged a healthy lifestyle for both men and women, we have more reasons to include the ‘Importance of Health and Fitness in Islam’ as an important topic when it comes to the discussion of our Deen. Specially when our health has a direct effect on our Ibaadah ie. the worship of Allah (swt) too.
Our discussions must include some of the following examples to support this fact :
– Rasoolallah (saw) used to race with his wife
– Rasoolallah encouraged and himself engaged in sports like archery, horse riding, swimming, running and wrestling
– Muslim women actively engaged themselves during wars and other military expeditions by bringing water to thirsty combatants, treating the wounded, carrying them to safety and sometimes engaging in warfare
– Muslim women have enjoyed certain rights long before women in the West including the right to inherit property, the right to a name, the right to vote and the right to participate in physical activity.
– Regarding health and fitness, the Prophet (saw) is reported to have said: “A strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer” (Sahih Muslim)
– With reference to the protection and promotion of health the Prophet (saw) has further said: “Our bodies have rights upon us, our eyes have rights upon us, so give everyone it’s due right” Ibid, Hadith No. 186, 188, 193.
– At another occasion He (saw) has stated that, “Taking proper care of one’s health is the right of the body” (Bukhari).
– About the health and fitness of the holy Prophet (saw) Tabrani and Tirmidhi report “His stomach and chest were in line.” It reflects fit health and ideal posture of Him (saw).
There can be no better reference than The Quran and The Hadith to prove the above facts relating to a healthy lifestyle for a believer. This is the only way to believe that a healthy lifestyle was encouraged for both men and women and we must do all we can to follow this Sunnah or our Prophet (saw). All those who think participating in sports is not for women must go back to the facts mentioned above.
More Restrictions on females than males
No doubt, in Islam male and female have got equal rights, and it has been proven by the Sunnah of our Prophet (saw) that participation in sports for women is not against the spirit of Islam. However, there are more restrictions for female with reference to her participation in sports as compared to a male. According to Sharia – the Islamic code of life, the following principles must be paid attention to by women while engaging in sports :
Dress Code : Modesty plays an important role in Islam so maintaining Hijab during sports is vital. This demands Muslim women to be properly covered while participating in any kind of sport. Covering of the hair and all the other obligatory body parts is a must. Wearing hijab for sports has been a discouraging factor for many Muslim women to be active participants in sports. Somehow it makes them conscious about how they look and feeling uncomfortable while training. The Hijab material not being breathable could also add to the heat and make one sweaty. There has also been safety issues as pins are being used to keep the Hijab in place.
However, there has been marked improvements in the number of Muslim females participating in sports because of the introduction of Sports Hijabs specially designed for different sports. No doubt sports Hijab have made a positive impact on Muslim females. We also have many examples of female sport personalities supporting and promoting such products making them role models for other Muslim women to take up sports without any hesitation.
Bahrain’s Roqaya Al-Gassra won the women’s 200m final at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, making her the first Bahraini-born athlete to win a major international athletics gold medal. Hijood (hijab combined with a sports hood), a costume was specially designed for her by an Australian sports clothing company. She said, ‘I hope that my wearing the Hijood sports top will inspire other women to see that modesty or religious beliefs don’t have to be a barrier to participating in competitive sports.’
Introduction of sports hijab has driven the attention of many women in professional sports to promote these products in order to encourage sports for Muslim women. Apparel companies on the other hand are investing in breathable head coverings and gear designed to remove religious restrictions garb with athletic functionality. Recently, House of Fraser has also started including sports hijab in their stores.
New sportswear designed for women who want to cover up, and some important changes to the rules, are inspiring Muslim girls to take up sport and compete internationally.
Participation of Muslim women in sports was hindered for some time by sports organization bans on the use of headscarves marking them as unsafe for sports. Because of the introduction of Sports Hijab, attire regulations within organizations like the International Basketball Federation are growing steadily less restrictive. It wasn’t until 2012 that international soccer governing body FIFA decided to lift its five year ban on headscarves. Another major sports organization, the International Olympic Committee officials, gave in to the demands of headscarf-wearing competitors to be allowed to participate during the 2012 Olympics. Muslim countries such as Brunei and Qatar also sent women to the Olympics for the first time in 2012,
No doubt the introduction of sports hijab have had positive impact for Muslim women participating in sports. Such comfortable, modest and safe sports clothing can play an important role in encouraging more and more Muslim women to participate in fitness activities and creating opportunities for those willing to take up sports as their profession.
No Mixed Gender Sports
According to this principle, mixing of male and female during any sport is prohibited primarily to avoid ‘skin to skin’ contact between the two. It is understood that females are not allowed to participate with males in any type of sport. This principle however is still questioned whether it prohibits women from performing in the presence of male spectators or other male participants.
It is interesting to note that Muslim nations who have always been reluctant to send their female sport participants to represent their country in the international sport competitions, have now agreed to do the same.
At present, we see Muslim women participating in various sport events including Athletics, Cricket, Basket Ball, Badminton, Boxing, Fencing, Foot Ball, Karate, Mountaineering, Swimming, Table Tennis, Volley Ball, Weight-Lifting and so on. They have been able to surpass numerous constraints and obstacles and have won Gold Medals for their countries in different international sports events such as the Olympic Games, World championship, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games etc.
Let’s look at some of the Muslim Women in International Sports who have fought their way up by overcoming political, social, religious, ethical and sporting obstacles to fulfil their dreams. At every step towards their success they are continuing to inspire other Muslim women in sports.
Meet Kulsoom Abdullah, 39, a Pakistani-American who has been weightlifting at both national and international level since 2010. In 2010 even after being qualified she declined to participate in the U.S. national weightlifting championship in 2010 because they would not let her compete in Hijab. But after a legal battle Abdullah got the ruling overturned and went on to become both the first woman weightlifter to represent Pakistan and the first to compete internationally in Hijab at the World Championships in 2011. By winning the right to compete in modest clothing Kulsoom Abdullah helped to throw open the doors for Muslim women in the international weightlifting arena.
This year in Brazil, fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad will become the first American to compete in the Olympics while wearing a Hijab. The 30-yr-old is also the first Muslim woman to join the US Olympic fencing team. Obama gave her a personal shoutout in February when he visited a Maryland mosque. “Bring home the gold,” he said. “But no pressure.” For some like Ibtihaj Muhammad first female Muslim fencer in the U.S. who never thought of her Hijab as an obstacle. She was actually drawn to fencing because of the jacket, long pants and socks. Hijab in a way actually brought her to the sport she loved but never would have discovered otherwise.
Sarah Attar, competed in the 800-meter heat in London, prompting a standing ovation from the crowd and making headlines around the world. She was the first woman from Saudi Arabia to compete in track and field at the Olympics. She said “For women in Saudi Arabia, I think this can really spark something to get more involved in sports, to become more athletic. Maybe in the next Olympics, we can have a very strong team to come.”
Zahra Lari, 17-year-old not only became the first figure skater from the Gulf to compete in an international competition but the first to do so wearing the hijab, an Islamic headscarf. Named as ‘Ice Princess in the Hijab’ by the media, Zahra aims to make it to compete at the 2018 Olympics. She said, “I want to qualify and participate in the Olympics because I want to prove that not only can a Muslim covered female, but also someone coming from the desert, participate in a Winter sport at the Winter Olympics. I think that would be an amazing thing for me to do since the UAE has never participated in the Winter Olympics.”
Maryam Tousi is an Iranian Sprinter. She won a Gold Medal in 2012 Asian Indoor Games. This picture clearly proves that you can still be the best even after being fully covered.
The Iran Women’s National Football Team was banned by FIFA from an Olympic qualifier in 2011 for wearing Hijabs. It they did not want to play without their specially-designed head and neck-covering scarves. The team put up a protest against this ban and demanded every opportunity to show their genius in full Muslim dress. FIFA ultimately had to lift the ban and at the same time confirmed that Hijabs can be worn for sports and is Safe.
Muslim women today in Hijab as doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, administrators, lawyers, pilots, cabin crews etc. are working in the same environment as men. When Muslim women can interact with men in their different professional fields, it can be argued that there should not be a problem for them to participate in different sports in the same sports environment as men, as long as they can maintain their Hijab in the form of both proper covering and of maintaining a good behaviour.
However, the principle of ‘No Mixed Gender Sports’ will always remain controversial and this question will always be raised – Should Nations encourage Muslim women to compete internationally?
Lack of support from the community as a whole
Just as the right clothing is important for Muslim women to take up sports, creating the right cultural conditions within a community is equally important to ensure access to the correct facilities.
Many Muslim women are discouraged to enrol themselves at fitness centres and gyms either because there are very few ‘Only Women Health Organisations and Clubs’ or many of those existing do not hold Women-Only Sessions.
‘Only women gyms’ and similar organisations must be supported and must be well funded and affordable for women with all the necessary facilities.
Following facilities must be given importance in order to encourage Muslim Women to follow fitness programmes at their local health clubs.
- Health Organisations must arrange special Women-Only Coaching Sessions.
- There must be Childcare services at these clubs so that the mothers can use their sessions without worrying about the kids who need constant adult supervision.
- They must allow a wide range of clothing choices, for example, in swimming women may wish to wear more than what conventional swimming costumes may allow.
- They must ensure that female staffs are on duty only and female lifeguards etc. are provided
- They must ensure that male participants or coaches can’t attend or accidentally walk in.
- They must make sure that the changing rooms, showering and WC facilities are safe, private environments which cannot be overlooked.
- Advertisements in places such as playgroups, schools and doctors surgeries must be put up to attract Muslim women with children who may not otherwise hear about sessions.
- Employment opportunities in this field must be provided to Muslim Women so that they can get educated in the field of Health and Fitness and further share their knowledge and experience with others.
These steps will bring more women to come forward to be active. It will provide women with a space of their own, where they are able to improve not only their physical health but also reap the psychological benefits which come along with having a healthy body. All this on the whole will encourage Muslim women to become an integral part of athletic institutions and events.
Where gym facilities are not available or in many cases not affordable,
there is no reason why being active in the fresh air and sunlight
cannot be permissible for women as long as they maintain their Hijab
both in terms of clothing and in maintaining good behaviour.
Outdoor scenery can provide a motivating boost not found indoors.
With regards to Muslim women wishing to participate in sports at National and International levels there should be organisations which would be able to provide training facilities for such groups within a safe as well as a culturally and religiously appropriate environment. This will help more Muslim women to get involved in sports and compete at elite level. Such organisations will be able to provide opportunities to creating individuals to represent their community.
One such organisation is Muslim Women’s Sports Foundation (MWSP) established in London which provides opportunities in coaching, education and training for Muslim women in various sports fields supporting them in representing Britain at various national and international tournaments.
More such sports organisations are needed to work together at a larger level with the goal of bringing equality to Muslim women in all forms of sport so that they can access mainstream opportunities and become role models for aspiring Muslim women athletes.
Benefits of sports for a Muslimah on an individual level
Physical activities and sports make a profound and positive impact on individuals.
- Healthy Body stays in good shape
Women are the integral part of any family. Every woman plays a very important role in raising a family, fulfilling every duty of the household, working round the clock. Taking care of their body, eating healthy, getting proper rest and engaging in sports and exercise becomes crucial for her.
Heart diseases, hypertension, depression, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, diabetes, obesity are most common in women. A healthy lifestyle not only lowers the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes etc it also reduces anxiety, depression, helps control weight and handle stress. It also helps you sleep better and look and feel better.
There comes a phase in every women’s life when they are most likely to gain weight – Motherhood. If they are used to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, it would become easier for them to control their weight at any point of their life specially after child birth when it is most needed. A healthy body not only makes you will feel and look good but you will also be fulfilling the Sunnah of remaining in shape and stay attractive and beautiful for your spouses.
Not to forget being a part of regular physical activity can save thousands in healthcare costs too.
- Being Healthy Builds Self Confidence
A healthy person is confident and can only inspire other people to stay healthy. A good health brings in not only the physical benefits but also the emotional benefits with it. Think of how many young boys and girls are becoming victims of bullying in schools and other places because of being over-weight. Obese kids are more vulnerable to bullies and are teased mercilessly. This takes an emotional toll on these kids and in many cases they dread going to school where bullying is most common. They lose their friends and self-esteem and are left depressed and yes suicidal too. It’s a heart breaking sight for parents.
Parents of young girls are worried about their daughters not getting marriage proposals because of their weight which adds to the depression for these young girls.
- Healthy Body Provides Self-Protection
Muslim women and girls in Hijab are visible Muslims, more than Most Muslim men. Being healthy plays a very important role here where Anti Muslim attacks on Muslim women are on the rise. Muslim women must be able to protect themselves from any such attacks whatsoever because help in most of these cases don’t reach on time. Being healthy helps one tackle such types of risks on the streets or other public places.
- Being Healthy helps you become Positive Role Models for your kids
Who can be better role models for their children than their mothers. Our children are the future of this Ummah and we can help them become a part of a healthy nation by following a healthy lifestyle ourselves. We don’t want our kids to grow up seeing us getting fat day by day and being submerged in pain due to all kinds of ailments associated with weight gain. That would not be a very pleasant experience as a child.
As parents we must participate in sports activities with our children. Apart from enjoying health benefits, this will also give us the opportunity to share quality time with them. We must engage in sports such as swimming, tennis, hiking, walks and runs together. This common hobby not only keeps them away from wasting time watching tv or using internet or playing video games but it also strengths the bond between a child and parent.
We can be the reason to introduce our kids to a healthy environment right from a very young age showing them the right way to live and enjoying life. There can be no bigger delight for parents to be the reason for their child’s happiness.
Not to forget being healthy improves our Ibadah, our worship and brings us closer to Allah (swt). A healthy lifestyle helps us enjoy this world and prepares a beautiful Aakhirah for us, which is our final destination. Who would not want to have this permanent happiness.
Benefits of sports for a Muslimah on an international level.
- Fulfil one’s Athletic Dream
Each one of us has a drive towards the talent gifted by Allah and this must be encouraged in the most acceptable way. Being good in different types of sports is just among the other talents Allah has blessed us with. This talent, like any other must be developed, specially when it comes with positive changes in our society.
- Hijab becomes an Inspiration
Being able to fulfil one’s athletic dream while wearing a Hijab will only go a long way to encourage others to wear Hijab knowing that Hijab can be worn in sports as well. This will inspire Muslim women to believe in their athletic dreams.
- Promotes Religious Tolerance
When Muslim women become professional athletes, this not only validates the power of Hijab, it also promotes religious tolerance and ends discrimination against Muslim women. It protects the basic right of a Muslim woman to wear a Hijab as her religious garment. It breaks social barriers and provides equal rights for Muslim women to represent their country and compete in international sports events. Hijab removes the misconception of it being a barrier for women to choose Sports as their profession.
- Muslim Women in sports become Role Models for the entire society
Hijab is a way of life and should not be allowed to become a reason to stop anyone from going out and living their dream or become what they want to become. Muslim women in sports become role models for others to stay strong, healthier and happier. They become role models for other Muslim women within and beyond the sports industry to prove their abilities. To be accepted in international sports one needs to be mentally and physically strong, courageous, consistent and committed to the core. Sports is a symbol of power and strength. Muslim women in Hijab have fought their way up to the level of international sports and are continuing to prove themselves there, thus making Hijab the symbol of Power and Strength. They have replaced the ‘Unsafe for Sports’ label given to Hijab by the eminent Sports associations to as ‘Safe for Sports’. If Muslim women can prove themselves in this field, they can do it anywhere. This paves the way for Muslim women in Hijab to be accepted in other professions too.
Encouraging sports for Muslim women at an individual level as well as at an international level is like encouraging the present and the future Ummah to lead a life full of health and prosperity. It sends out the positive message about our religion and brings forward a very important element of Islam – Staying healthy. This will go a long way to building a healthier lifestyle for individuals and a Healthier Islamic Society. In Shaa Allah.
References :
Washington Times Communities
Dailymail.co.uk
Identities.Mic
cbsnews.com
The National UAE
Muslim Women’s Sports Foundation UK
International journal of Humanities and Social Science Vol. 4, No. 10(1); August 2014
arynews.tv
Please subscribe to this website for instant access to new blogs and videos In Shaa Allah 🙂
If you benefited from this Blog, ‘Muslim Women and Sports’ then please share it with family and friends. Also please leave a comment in the Comments Section below. I would love to hear from you.
Thank you 🙂
