May I Take Swimming Lessons with a Female Instructor in a Mixed Public Pool?

Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick

Question

I am a Muslim woman, and I am interested in learning how to swim. Unfortunately, there are no facilities in my area that offer private swimming lessons in a women-only environment. I have found an opportunity to take swimming lessons with a female instructor; however, the lessons would take place in a public gym pool that is accessible to both men and women. Throughout the lessons, I would wear appropriate Islamic swimwear that is loose-fitting, modest, and fully covers my awra. The material ensures that my clothing remains modest when wet. Given these circumstances, I would like to inquire whether it would be Islamically permissible for me to take swimming lessons in this setting, particularly when a women-only alternative is not available.

Answer

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

May Allah reward you for asking before you begin, and keep you safe in the water.

Yes, in the Shafiʿi school you are permitted to take these lessons, as long as you look after three things: how you’re covered, where your eyes go, and when you swim. Learning to swim is a good thing in itself. The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) named teaching swimming among four pastimes that are not idle play. [Nasaʾi, al-Sunan al-Kubra]

Covering comes first, and that means your whole body. The face and hands aren’t awra in themselves, but the relied-upon position is that you must cover them in front of non-mahram men, to avoid temptation. [Baʿishn, Bushra al-Karim] In the section on prayer, the same book says clothing that hides the skin still counts as a covering even if it shows the body’s shape, though that’s disliked. [Ibid.] So go for something loose. If the fabric clings once it’s wet, put a longer top over it, and cover up again as you get out of the pool.

Then there’s your gaze. Allah Most High says, “And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their chastity.” [Quran 24:31; Khattab, The Clear Quran] The sounder view is that a woman may not look at a non-mahram man’s body, just as he may not look at hers. [Nawawi, Minhaj al-Talibin] Keep your eyes on your instructor and your own lane. If they land on someone by accident, look away at once. There’s no sin in that. [Muslim; Nawawi, Sharh Sahih Muslim]

Timing matters as well. Our scholars advised going to the public baths when they were empty, because seeing bodies uncovered carries a trace of immodesty. [Ramli, Nihayat al-Muhtaj] Find out from the gym whether there are women-only sessions, and what time of day it’s quietest; if you can get the end lane, take it. Change in a private cubicle where there is one. If it does get busy with men and you’re struggling to keep your eyes down, end the lesson early and come back another day.

May Allah make this easy for you, and make it a source of strength.

And Allah knows best.

Shaykh Irshaad Sedick

Related Answers

One. Is Swimming Permissible for Women in Islam? — Shaykh Anas al-Musa: Swimming is permitted for women in women-only settings, with modest dress and privacy when changing.

Two. Is It Permissible for Women to Work Out at a Mixed Gym? — Ustadha Shazia Ahmad: It depends on the gym; choose the most modest place and times, dress modestly, avoid music, and lower your gaze.

Three. Is a Mixed Gym Permissible If I Lower My Gaze? — Shaykh Irshaad Sedick: A gym is not impermissible in itself, if you can manage your gaze, dress, mixing, and music.

Four. Can I Take My Children to Swim Lessons Where No One Is Covered? — Ustadha Shazia Ahmad: Pools where people are uncovered are not a place to look on; private lessons are a better alternative.

Five. Sisters-Only Swimming: What is the Proper Swim Attire to Wear Around Others? — Ustadha Zaynab Ansari Abdul-Razacq: Among women, the Shafiʿi awra is navel to knee, but covering more is better, with a burkini or leggings.

«النصوص» · Source-Texts

[النسائي، السنن الكبرى]

«كُلُّ شَيْءٍ لَيْسَ فِيهِ ذِكْرُ اللهِ فَهُوَ لَهْوٌ وَلَعِبٌ، إِلَّا أَرْبَعَ: مُلَاعَبَةُ الرَّجُلِ امْرَأَتَهُ، وَتَأْدِيبُ الرَّجُلِ فَرَسَهُ، وَمَشْيُهُ بَيْنَ الْغَرَضَيْنِ، وَتَعْلِيمُ الرَّجُلِ السِّبَاحَةَ»

[سعيد باعشن، بشرى الكريم]

«وعورة الحرة … في صلاتها … وعند الأجانب ولو خارجها جميع بدنها … إلا الوجه والكفين … لأن المراد من الأول: ما يحرم نظره وإن لم يكن عورة، ومن الثاني: ما هو عورة حقيقية. وعليه: فيجب عليهما سترهما خوف الفتنة على المعتمد»

[المصدر نفسه]

«وشرطه الساتر ثلاثة … وكونه: ما أي: جرماً وكونه يمنع إدراك لون البشرة أي: في مجلس التخاطب لمعتدل بصر، ولو حكى الحجم، كسروال ضيق وإن كره»

[النووي، منهاج الطالبين]

«وجواز نظر المرأة إلى بدن أجنبي سوى ما بين سرته وركبته إن لم تخف فتنة، قلت: الأصح التحريم كهو إليها، والله أعلم»

[مسلم، الصحيح]

«سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ نَظَرِ الْفُجَاءَةِ فَأَمَرَنِي أَنْ أَصْرِفَ بَصَرِي»

[النووي، شرح صحيح مسلم]

«وَمَعْنَى نَظَرِ الْفَجْأَةِ أَنْ يَقَعَ بَصَرُهُ عَلَى الأجنبية من غير قصد فلا إثم عَلَيْهِ فِي أَوَّلِ ذَلِكَ وَيَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَصْرِفَ بَصَرَهُ فِي الْحَالِ فَإِنْ صَرَفَ فِي الْحَالِ فَلَا إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنِ اسْتَدَامَ النَّظَرَ أَثِمَ»

[الرملي، نهاية المحتاج]

«وَأَنْ يَدْخُلَ وَقْتَ الْخَلْوَةِ أَوْ يَتَكَلَّفَ إخْلَاءَ الْحَمَّامِ إنْ قَدَرَ عَلَيْهِ؛ لِأَنَّهُ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهِ إلَّا أَهْلُ الدِّينِ فَالنَّظَرُ إلَى الْأَبْدَانِ مَكْشُوفَةً فِيهِ شَوْبٌ مِنْ قِلَّةِ الْحَيَاءِ»