Women Practicing Sport

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.
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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.