Females playing soccer
Question:-
Is it advisable for parents to encourage girls to play soccer for a girls only team? Sometimes a male coach attends training sessions to improve their skills.
Answer:-
There is no doubt that we as Muslims should keep fit and healthy. Preserving our health in encouraged in Deen and necessary. There are several sports that are not only permitted in Shariah but categorized as Sunnah such as swimming, archery, horse riding, wrestling, etc. However, most of these are confined to men as it requires leaving the confines of the home and exposing oneself before the public generally. Females may swim within the confines of their homes ensuring that they are dressed appropriately so that the shapes and figure of their bodies are not visible to others. Similarly, there is no harm in them walking and exercising in the backyard of the house if it is concealed from the public and neighbours by means of a high fence, or even within the home. Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam raced with Aisha Radiallahu Anha on two occasions in seclusion, hence having a race with one’s spouse in a secluded area (free from public interference) is also Sunnah.
However, fulfilling one’s household chores and duties such as cleaning, sweeping, mopping, etc. is also an excellent form of exercise yet overlooked by many. Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam entrusted the external chores and duties of the home to Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu and the internal chores to Hadrat Fatima Radiallahu Anha. She would carry the water bag, grind the wheat, attend to the cleanliness of the house, etc. This resulted in blisters on her hand and left marks on her back. Looking at her condition Hadrat Ali Radiallahu Anhu informed her that some captives had come to Madinah as part of the spoils of war, so she could request Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam for a slave to assist her in fulfilling her household chores, but Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam turned her attention to the remembrance of Allah Ta’ala by teaching her the Tasbeeh-e-Fatimi which she then chose over an assistant. Nevertheless, attending to the household chores was the way of Hadrat Fatimah Radiallahu Anha who is the queen of Jannah.
Now coming to your query, soccer is a sport invented by the Kuffar and comprises of various wrongs such as exposing the Satr, training and playing for lengthy durations due to which Salaah is neglected, interacting and enjoying the company of non-Muslim players at times, leaving the home without necessity, being trained by males or even competing against males at times, games being videoed and even broadcasted, players being photographed, etc. which are all against the teachings of the Quraan and Sunnah. These sporting events are the starting point of illicit relationships and a number of other wrongs. When playing soccer is not permitted for males due to the abovementioned wrongs, how can it ever be permissible for females?
Allah Ta’ala states in the Quraan-e-Kareem,
وَلاَ تَرْكَنُواْ إِلَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ فَتَمَسَّكُمُ النَّارُ
And do not incline (do not associate with and imitate) those who do wrong (the Kuffar) for then the fire will reach you ….
There are numerous occasions in the life of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam where he commanded us to contradict the disbelievers by fasting on the 9th and 10th of Muharram or 10th and 11th of Muharram instead of fasting only on the 10th of Muharram as this was the practice of the Jews. The Ahle Kitaab (Jews) would delay in making Iftaar to the extent that the stars would be visible, so we have been commanded to hasten with our Iftaar and not imitate the Jews. Similarly, they never used to partake of Sehri and we have encouraged to partake of Sehri. There are many such instances where we have been commanded to oppose and contradict the ways of the disbelievers.
In conclusion, it is not permissible for females to play soccer even if it is to develop one’s skills as it comprises of various impermissible acts in Shariah.
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 10 Rajab 1445 / 22 January 2024