Sports & Muslim women

[Lala]

I wonder what sports are acceptible to highly observant muslim women. (excluding things you do in a gym) Mountain climbing might be a good one ... you don't reveal the body, you can be out of doors ...

(I had an algerian friend in france who left because she found it difficult to train (running shorts were a problem) but there is another runner, an algerian world class athlete who has stayed there. I don't have enuf details to know why my freind had to leave and the other runner found that she could stay and remain competitive)

I'd be interested in Monikha's feedback on this ...

[Bilal]

Islam encouraged sports for women also most of scholars today agree with that. In middle ages they used to build large palaces only for women, so they can swim and play what they need without problem.

[muawiyah]

Bilal which Scholar stated so, I Demand you bring prooF in order to enable your claim to hold water!

[Khawlah]

salaam alaikum,

Lala, we can go to women only gyms and women only swimming sessions. But it is highly unacceptable for us to run around outside in running shorts. Amongst women, in a women only environment, we can participate in sports.

[Lala]

Hi Khawla,

What about the cool weather outdoor sports? Like hiking, mountian climbing? This might be a nice alternative for women who live in non-muslim countries where there are probably a lot less single sex facilities. Also, its nice to be outdoors (In fact, I have a friend, I may ask her if she'd like to go when the weather gets cooler...)

(river canoeing, cross country skiing -- quite a workout there are lots more, I'm sure. Usually when people think sports they think that team stuff, played in sunny summer fields. Just wondering if some of these alternative for enjoying the outdoors & getting some excerise had occured to anyone)

[Khawlah]

I guess if it's not going against quran and sunnah then it's fine. I like to walk a lot myself alhamdulillah. Mountain climbing (I mean walking up mountains) sounds good but I'd have to travel to the North of England or to Wales to do that.