Mixed gender Swimming at primary school

[Sunnisister]

Within a mixed primary school. The year 5 (9 years old)children go swimming.A few muslim parents have raised the issue of not liking their daughters to swim in a mixed pool. The school say it is a legal requirement and they can't opt out.( that they have to do a course of swimming in keystage 2) The compromise we reached was to bring the year group below to go instead. As they will not be hitting puberty. My questions are: what is the significance of puberty? Can girls and boys swim together? Some parents have objected to their girls showing their necks, what is the significance of this? If any?
what are you to do if you attend a mixed school in GB, it is not always possible for them to bend rules. Also the year 4 children have male teachers, will they be considered in locus parentis and therefore not gher mehram? When do boys become gher mehram? to girls?

[Imam]

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

Wa'alaykum 'Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu


All Praise be to Allah who is the Lord of the Worlds, and may Endless Blessings be showered upon His Most Beloved, and Final Messenger of Islam, Hadrat Muhammad Mustafa Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam


Jazak'allah for your question. The significance of puberty in relation to boys and girls not being allowed to swim in a mixed pool is the concept of 'pardah'. It is obligatory [fard] for a girl or a woman who reaches the age of puberty to cover herself, not undress herself, and certainly not divulge into mixed gender activities, which involves being half naked. Allah the Almighty says in the Qur'an al Kareem ;

'wallati ya' tinal fa-hishata min nisa' ikum
fastash hidu alayhinna arba-atam minkum'
(Surah an-Nisa :15)

This verse of the Qur'an relates to those women who commit obscenity and the laws relating to it.


It is clear that the Qur'an does not allow any form of obscenity (male or female) which would also be applicable for those who reveal themselves to others, when they go swimming. This is certainly the case for when both genders are mixed in such a place where there is no partition, nor veil which separates them from one another.


In another verse of the Qur'an al kareem, it is clearly stated that :

'ya ahhu hanNabiyu qul li azwajika wa
banatika wa nisa il muminina yudnina
alayhinna min jalabibihinna'

'Oh' Prophet tell your wives and daughters
and muslim women that they should keep
their headgear over their faces'

This verse clearly states that veiling was obligatory upon the wives and daughters, and upon the general muslim women. To unveil and undress, and reveal any part of the body whether it is the neck or leg, is clearly contrary to this verse of the Qur'an al kareem.


Today in the West, there is the need to understand the religion of Islam and its basic requirements. Once these have been understood, will the authorities review their decision of allowing any keystage 2 pupils who adhere to their religion in allowing them to take part in activities which involve mixed genders. Unless they are told by learned people who understand the Qur'an and Sunnah, and by those who can explain what Islam clearly requires, they will continue to make such decisions and unfortunately our daughters and sisters will have to face the torment of being asked in front of the opposite sexes.


If the Year 4 pupils have male teachers they will be classed as 'ghayr mahram'. Islam does not allow for a 'ghayr mahram' to accompany its sisters and daughters. The concept of 'locus parentis' does not apply in the Islamic sense, because Islam has classified who is a 'mahram' and who is not.


For example, the brother, father, uncle of a young girl can be classed as a 'mahram' and can accompany the young girl, whereas everyone else will be regarded as a 'ghayr mahram'. So boys become 'ghayr mahram' when they are not related as brothers, uncles or as fathers.


May Allah the Almighty give us all the towfiq of understanding the concept of veiling, covering onself up, and may He prevent us from revealing ourselves to a nation, who does not adhere to the religion of Islam.


Wallahu A'lamu Biththawaab



M. Waseem Ashrafi