Summary of the Issues

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. 2010. Training session for girls at the UAE Women’s Football Academy. Photo credit: Kamran Jebreili/AP Images.

Islam not only recommends sports as a source of enjoyment and recreation, but also advocates for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Prophet Mohammed recommended sports such as running, horseback riding, swimming, and archery. It has been reported in several Ahadeeth, sayings of the Prophet, that the Prophet raced with his wives and swam. ¹ Aisha, the Prophet wife’s, said: “I raced with the Prophet and beat him in the race. Later, when I had put on some weight, we raced again and he won. Then he said, ‘This cancels that,’ referring to the previous occasion.” ² There is no general provision in Islam that limits women’s participation in sports. Nonetheless, it is important to note that there are some common shared lived experiences within Muslim societies that hinder women’s participation in athletics.

Muslim women’s roles differ depending on country of origin, social class, religious orientation, culture, gender norms, and family support. All of these factors shape different attitudes and beliefs on athletics and physical education. For some, participating in sports comes without many obstacles, but for others there are many challenges. Muslim women face various hurdles in engaging in sports, including: dress codes; attitudes toward the body related to privacy and modesty; mixed-gender classes; exercise during the month of fasting, Ramadan; limited resources, and restrictions in extra-curricular activities due to cultural and religious reasons. ³ Likewise, in some countries sports is still seen as a male activity and women have to prove themselves and fight for equal access. For example, in Senegal Muslim women tackle taboos as many still believe that athletics are by definition masculine; but a new window of opportunity opened when the women on the University of Dakar basketball team brought successive medals from All Africa Club Champions.⁴

For some Muslim women, certain sports, such as skiing and martial arts, are easier to take part in as issues regarding dress code are more easily managed. Marjan Kalhor, an Iranian skier, was able to participate in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics with a uniform that covered her entire body. For many Muslim women in non-Muslim majority countries in can be difficult to accommodate to set practices. However there are other countries, such as England, where schools are trying to be more inclusive. For example, track suits are allowed to be worn instead of shorts, single-sex physical education training is increased, more privacy is given to changing and showering arrangements and accommodations are made for Ramadan.⁵

There are striking differences not only between countries in choosing more inclusive policies, but also among international sports organizations. In April 2010, the Federation of International Football Association, FIFA, made public that “a player’s equipment must not have any political, religious or personal statements.”⁶ This affected several Muslim women athletes wearing hijab, or hair covering. For example, the Iranian delegation of young female soccer players did not participate at the 2010 Singapore Inaugural Youth Olympics. In contrast, the International Boxing Association (IBA) allows women to observe religious dress requirements. Female boxers from Afghanistan will participate for the first time, and by wearing their hijabs these women challenge stereotypes.⁷ For many Muslim women athletes, particularly those women wearing hijab, sports is an opportunity for presenting an alternative image of Muslim women than what is most often portrayed in the western media.⁸

Muslim females continue to make strides in sports. Rugby, car racing, and boxing are some sports where Muslim women are starting to break ground. In some countries, women are encouraged and regarded as Muslim role models and champions. Nawal Al Moutawakkil, Moroccan hurdler who won the women’s 400 meter event at the 1984 Summer Olympics, earned an Olympic gold and is regarded as a national hero. Al Moutawakkil states: “The days when I competed in the early 80’s and now, it is day and night … the participation of Arab women, Muslim women in the arena of international sport is changing.”⁹

[1]Reported by Ahmad and Abu Daoud-Practicing Martial Art in accordance to Qur’aan and SunnahBy: Mu’allim Najee Hassan
[2] ibid.
[3] Dagkas, Symeon, and Tansin Benn. "Young Muslim women's experiences of Islam and physical education in Greece and Britain: a comparative study." Sport, Education & Society 11.1 (2006): 21-38. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 16 July 2010.
[4]Hewett, Heather. "Senegal women tackle taboos to play sports. (Cover story)." Christian Science Monitor. 16 July 1999: 1. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 16 July 2010.
[5]Dagkas, Symeon, and Tansin Benn. "Young Muslim women's experiences of Islam and physical education in Greece and Britain: a comparative study." Sport, Education & Society 11.1 (2006): 21-38. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 16 July 2010.
[6] Stephen de Tarczynski. "AUSTRALIA: HIJAB-WEARING SOCCER PLAYERS OPPOSE FIFA BAN." Global Information Network. 4 May 2010 Research Library, ProQuest. Web. 16 Jul. 2010.
[7]Marie Woolf. "Muslim women boxers to wear hijab at 2012 Olympics." Sunday Times. 4 Oct. 2009, ProQuest Newsstand, ProQuest. Web. 16 Jul. 2010.
[8]"Girl athletes use sports to educate and to honor Islam." New York Amsterdam News 96.41 (2005): 22. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 16 July 2010.
[9]The future belongs to Arab women." Gulf News. 10 Mar. 2010, ProQuest News stand, ProQuest. Web. 16 Jul. 2010.