Sports hijab

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Hijab in Sports
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Can Muslim women play sports?

• There have been detailed occurrences that proved
  women had been physically active throughout the
  history of Islam, especially during the time of
  Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). There were many such
  instances, for example, where Prophet Muhammad
  (pbuh) would have races with his wife Aisha
  while they travelled she had won some of these
  races against her husband. Then there was
  Safiyyah, Prophet Muhammads aunt, who actively
  participated in the battlefield with other
  soldiers.

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• These womens physical and mental agility,
  prowess and endurance demonstrated that they must
  have routinely exercised or trained. Their
  participation in physically-demanding activities
  proved that Islam has never placed any
  restrictions against women from doing sports on
  the contrary, it shows that Islam places strong
  emphasis towards the importance of healthy body
  and mind.

4

• While the accomplishments of female Muslim
  Olympians like Majlinda Kelmendi, Sri Wahyuni
  Agustiani and Ibtihaj Muhammad have been
  astounding, they are hardly the first few Muslim
  women competing in the Olympics. In the 1984
  Summer Olympic Games, Nawal El Moutawakel became
  the first Muslim and African female Olympic
  champion when she medalled gold in the inaugural
  womens 400m hurdles event.

5

• For the longest time, the participation of women
  has been overlooked - this is especially true for
  those who are from paternalistic cultures, which
  often have rigid definitions of masculinity and
  femininity. This existing social construct views
  sport as the last option when it comes to
  interests and a possible career that should be
  pursued by women and girls.

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Female athletes in hijab - whats the big deal?

• Among the many female Muslims competed at this
  years Summer Olympic Games, hijab-wearing women
  received the most media attention. While their
  accomplishments have been highlighted and
  applauded, the media loves focusing on the fact
  that these athletes chose to compete in the
  hijab many have been positive but there is a
  small community who still thinks that the hijab
  and full Islamic sportswear are symbols of
  oppression.

7

• While there are no restrictions towards womens
  participation in sport, there is a guideline that
  needs to be observed in order to create a balance
  between womens involvement in sports and the
  importance of keeping their modesty.

8

• In the debate between hijab vs. non-hijab
  sporting attire, many people fail to see the big
  deal. Sportswear matters because it improves the
  experience of the athlete. Therefore, when their
  choice of competitive attire has a direct impact
  on their ability to compete, many Muslim women
  often fall into a dilemma should she leave her
  hijab behind to pursue her career in sport or
  should she abandon her passion for pleasing her
  Creator?

9

• The issue of the hijab has long been debated by
  many governing sports bodies. For example, a ban
  on religious head coverings, the hijab included,
  have long been practised by the Internationale de
  Football Association (FIFA) and the International
  Basketball Federation (FIBA). It was not
  until 2014 that FIFA lifted this ban the same
  cannot be said for FIBA, which continues to bad
  the hijab and other religious accessories.

10

• While the main justification for these
  restrictions is often safety concerns, it is
  not a convincing argument. Many female Muslim
  athletes have been wearing the hijab as part of
  the sporting uniform long before they decide to
  go pro. For them, these restrictive attire
  makes them more comfortable competing in front of
  many audiences---competing is stressful enough
  without the worry about a possible embarrassing
  wardrobe malfunction.

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Sports Hijabs

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