Is It Permissible to Attend Judo or BJJ Classes With a Woman in the Group?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

Is it permissible to attend judo or BJJ classes where there is a woman in the group, as long as I avoid sparring with her, touching her, or looking at her?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

Thank you for your concern in adhering to the Sharia. It is impermissible to attend a mixed judo or BJJ group, even if you avoid sparring, touching, or looking, because a lawful alternative is available to you: male-only classes.

Allah Most High says, “Tell believing men, they lower and restrain of their looks, and keep well chaste their private parts: That is purer for their spiritual growth; Verily Allah is well aware of all they work.” [Quran 24:30; Keller, The Quran Beheld]

Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Every religion has a character, and the character of Islam is modesty.” [Ibn Maja]

The scholars hold that “what is necessary to avoid in order to keep clear of the unlawful is itself mandatory to avoid.” [Ibn Nujaym, Sharh al-Ashbah wa’l-Nazair] One may not place oneself in a setting that leads to the unlawful when a sound alternative exists.

Mindfulness (taqwa) here means seeking out male-only groups and avoiding mixed sessions. Keep looking for them — that is the best course.

Allah knows best

[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

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Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.