Is Swimming Permissible for Women in Islam?
Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa
Question
What is the ruling on swimming for women?
Answer
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, and his Family and Companions.
It is permissible for a Muslim woman to swim, provided that she adheres to the following Islamic guidelines:
Avoidance of Mixing with Men or Seclusion with Them
It is preferred that women swim in designated areas exclusively for women, ensuring that no men can see them. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“Let no man be alone with a woman who is not lawful for him, for the third among them is the devil unless there is a mahram (close male relative). Indeed, the devil is closer to one person, but he is farther from two.” [Ahmad]
Wearing Modest and Appropriate Attire
The clothing must not be tight, revealing the shape of the body, nor thin, exposing the skin beneath.
Ensuring Privacy and Security
The swimming area should be safeguarded from men’s direct or indirect viewing, including through hidden cameras.
Avoiding Public Changing Areas
It is better for a woman to avoid changing her clothes in public spaces unless they are private or rented exclusively. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:
“Any woman who removes her clothes outside her husband’s house has torn the veil between herself and her Lord.” [Ibid.]
Additionally:
The requirement for modest attire applies not only when men might see her but also in the presence of other women. A woman’s ‘awra (area that must remain covered) in front of other women extends from the navel to the knees.
While swimming may be permissible under these conditions, a married woman must seek her husband’s permission before leaving the house for such activities. The potential harms of neglecting this obligation are significant and numerous.
Finally, I conclude with the words of Allah (Most High):
“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their chastity, and not to reveal their adornments except what normally appears. Let them draw their veils over their chests, and not reveal their (hidden) adornments except to their husbands, their fathers…” [Quran, 24:31]
May Allah bless the Prophet Muhammad and give him peace, and his Family and Companions.
[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa
Shaykh Anas al-Musa, born in Hama, Syria, in 1974, is an erudite scholar of notable repute. He graduated from the Engineering Institute in Damascus, where he specialized in General Construction, and Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Usul al-Din, where he specialized in Hadith.
He studied under prominent scholars in Damascus, including Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri and Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, among others. Shaykh Anas has memorized the Quran and is proficient in the ten Mutawatir recitations, having studied under Shaykh Bakri al-Tarabishi and Shaykh Mowfaq ‘Ayun. He also graduated from the Iraqi Hadith School.
He has taught numerous Islamic subjects at Shari‘a institutes in Syria and Turkey. Shaykh Anas has served as an Imam and preacher for over 15 years and is a teacher of the Quran in its various readings and narrations.
Currently, he works as a teacher at SeekersGuidance and is responsible for academic guidance there. He has completed his Master’s degree in Hadith and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in the same field. Shaykh Anas al-Musa is married and resides in Istanbul.
