Women Attending Gyms And Fitness Classes

It is generally acceptable for women to engage in exercise, as it promotes good health and well-being. However, it is not permissible for women to attend fitness classes, even if they are female-only, because a woman is only allowed to leave her home to meet basic needs and necessities. This also only applies when there are no Mahram males available to fulfill these needs, leaving her with no choice but to go out. If a woman wishes to exercise, she can do so within the privacy of her home, where she remains in a safe and secure environment that non-Mahram men cannot access. Many people have home gyms or equipment that allows for effective workouts, similar to those done in a public gym.

Women are required to fully conceal themselves in the presence of non-Mahram men, and the mere possibility of strange men seeing them on the way to, or from a female-only fitness class; makes such classes impermissible. Moreover, even at home, it is essential that women wear modest clothing, ensuring that it is not see-through and does not reveal the body’s shape. Since exercise often involves movements like lying down or other postures that might expose parts of the body, it is not permissible to perform exercises that result in revealing the chest or legs, even in front of Mahrams. A woman can only reveal what is customarily seen in front of her Mahrams, such as the head, face, neck, arms, and feet.

Additionally, a woman’s ‘Awrah’ (the area that must remain covered) must be maintained even in the presence of other women. The awrah between women is from the stomach to the knee, so it is not permissible for a woman to expose her thigh in front of other women, even close relatives like her mother or sister.

لا ينظر الرجل إلى عورة الرجل، ولا المرأة إلى عورة المرأة، ‏

(‏رواه مسلم‏)‏‏‏‏

So, its prescription in Shariah is continuous (at the time of calamity) and this is the Qunoot that the Sahabah Radiallahu Anhum used to recite after the demise of Nabi Sallallahu Alyhi Wa Sallam and this is the position of our Mazhab and the position of the majority.

Imam Nawawi Rahimahullah has explained in his commentary on Sahih Muslim:

“This hadith makes it clear that it is prohibited for a man to look at the Awrah of another man and for a woman to look at the Awrah of another woman. There is unanimous scholarly agreement on this matter.”

For a learned woman teaching Tafsir, endorsing public fitness classes is not appropriate. While exercise is beneficial for health, religious principles should never be compromised. One of the core aspects of Islamic teachings is that women should remain within their homes unless there is a pressing need, as this safeguards against potential issues and social fitnah. Senior and respected women in the community shouldn’t be the ones to promote fitness and well-being; rather, they are workers for Deen. More importantly, they should encourage ladies to remain within the privacy of the home. From people of this calibre a comment or two, spaced far apart regarding health, is good enough. They have a different priority altogether and that is to promote Deen and modesty.