How do we decide what is acceptable sports for public participation? Key is modesty

My post mentions tafseer, but I must make it clear that although I study Islam I do not claim to be a scholar who can say what is Islamic and what isn't. What I express below is my own opinion, observations of Muslim society, and my beliefs. This is of course, only a point for discussion.

I've recently come across statements against hijabi athletes participating in public. I've mentioned before how I've identified this attitude as one of the greatest barriers preventing women and girls from taking up sport for fun or as a career.

Some see it as undignified for women to run and jump in public view. So therefore such activities should be done out of sight of the public view, maybe behind closed doors.

Quoting the hadith of the Nabi(SAW) and young Hazrat Aish (RA), racing in the desert, saying no one was around when this race too place.

I've posted my discussion on this hadith here. But this hadith does not set out clear well-defined prohibitions against women doing sports in public.

I understand how some may consider running and jumping in public "undignified" behaviour for women. Though what constitutes "dignified" behaviour will vary from country to country and from culture to culture. Women who come from a culture where physical activity is limited or even repressed, will find even cycling a threat to their dignity and modesty. Some people view riding a scooter, in a normal sitting-but-upright position, unacceptable for women.

Yet, in other cultures, where women may be more physically active, may find it perfectly okay and do not feel "undignified" with the same activities. It may even be applauded.

Tafseer, is a learned human being's interpretation of Quran. Learned, but nonetheless tainted by their human qualities such as background, cultural beliefs. Which is why there are vast differences between the many interpretations, yet all are deemed correct. No tafseer is free from error. Humble tafseers always seek forgiveness from any errors it contains. Perfection belongs to Allah alone. Which is why we always seek guidance in everything we do, and ask forgiveness too for the errors we are bound to have made.

With this in mind, I feel that most of the existing tafseer have been made by those of a more conservative culture or background. And not conservative to Islam, but conservative to their culture. There's a difference.

Islam should overshadow culture where culture restricts unnecessarily.

So the limits are actually not well-defined. Who defines what is acceptable forms of sport or exercise in public? walking and cycling is okay, some may agree. Yet others may say cycling is not okay. When I watch women's football, only when I see ponytails swinging can I see that it is women and not men. They wear the same loose shirt and shorts as men. When they move their forms are not exposed in such a way that I can tell the shape of their hips from that of a man. If I cannot tell the difference on tv, then that means their bodies are not exposed. And as for the undignified way of running and jumping in public, that is very much subjective and will differ from person to person.

Dignity is being worthy of honour and respect. While some see rigourous body movements as undignifying to women, others see it as strength, agility and respect that. Again, it is subjective.

Again, I do not think the limits are that WELL-defined. That would mean an express prohibition of public participation of sports for women. I have not come across it.

What I have come across is: a requirement for modesty in all that you do. THe dress code is well-defined. Behaviour is defined in terms of good manners. Beyond that, if one feels public participation of sports is not suitable for women, then it is okay for them to do as they please. If another feels that they want to be a professional footballer in hijab, then it is okay for her to do as she pleases. To say Islam is against it, is open to discussion.

In Southern Africa, where I live, a Muslim woman in hijab riding a scooter (not a motorbike but a rather ladylike scooter) is unusual. It's not a common sight. In fact, I've never seen one. Here, such a thing may be undignified for women. Whether it is for Islamic reasons or not, I'm not sure. Probably it's because the scooter is seen as an inferior form of transport as opposed to a car, or they feel safer in a car than on a scooter due to high accident and crime rates here. Though sometimes some bring Islam into it and say that it is not acceptable for Muslim women to ride a scooter.

Yet, in the far east, women in hijab on a scooter is a common sight. It is not unusual. It is perfectly acceptable.

It is more likely for people in Africa to interpret Islamic modesty to say that scooters are unIslamic for women than it is for those in the far east, where it is culturally acceptable.

This is how culture plays a role in tafseer and interpretations of Islamic text.

For me, if one can cover appropriately, shows up to compete and prove skills in a certain sport that does not reveal their bodies, Islamically it is acceptable. This would be in line with the codes of modesty.
If one cannot cover appropriately due to the clothing requirements of the sport such as belly-dancing, gymnastics etc then perhaps this should be done in female-only environment. That said, I did see one figure skater from UAE who could make me change my mind.

I recall a tafseer that interpreted the phrase "except what is apparent thereof" from one of the verses of modesty. It mentioned that modesty does not include where the body is revealed due to natural movement or due to the elements such as when the wind blows the clothing against your body. (Personally I do not like getting to such a detailed level, it feels like splitting-hairs and being petty). Kicking a ball, swinging a racket, pushing forward with a fencing saber, falls under natural movement for me since it is hardly sensual. Hip gyrations as in belly dancing is sensual and compromises modesty for both men and women who do it.

How do we decide which is acceptable sports for public participation, since there is no clear definition?
My humble answer is, if you cannot cover appropriately, then it cannot be in public view.
However, I feel that this is one of those topics that is going to be very subjective due to the lack of definition. Just like some women cover their faces and others don't, while both are deemed correct - then some will see football as okay for public participation and others will not.

I'll be happy to agree to disagree, whilst maintaining harmony and unity within the Ummah.

Insha Allah may we be guided.



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