Women Practicing Sport

By Dr. `Ali Muhyy Ed-Deen Al-Qara Daghi**

It is an undeniable fact that woman's practicing sport is, in

principle, Islamically accepted. However, there are many
conditions to be met in this respect:

1. Women must not adorn themselves for the purpose of being seen
by men.

2. They must not unveil any of their private parts that Islam orders
them to cover.

3. They must not intermingle with men in any way that brings them
physically close together.

It is reported that when the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon

him) had a race with `A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), he
made sure that men were in the front and `A'ishah in the back. This
has two significances: First, the permissibility of woman's
practicing sport, and second, the requirements to be met in this
respect.

Thereby, it is clear that Muslim women's practicing sport is

governed by restrictions relating to Islamic observances that must
be followed.

Dr. `Ali Muhyy Ed-Deen Al-Qara Daghi is the head of the

Department of Islamic Jurisprudence and Its Principles at the
Faculty of Shari`ah, Qatar University.