May a woman swim in a place specific to women?
Short answer
Shaykh 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn Baz, may Allah have mercy on him, mentioned that there is no harm in women swimming in a place specific to them where men do not see them and they do not mix with them, as long as there is no other Shari'ah objection.
Evidence and explanation
The source distinguishes between sport specific to women without mixing or men looking on, and what involves mixing or a Shari'ah objection.
Scholar referenced
This editorial summary is based on the original source linked below and is not presented as a verbatim quotation from the scholar.
From the text of the answer (Arabic, with an English translation)
Original answer — Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn Baz
حكم ممارسة النساء للرياضة — فتوى ٧٠٠١- Question
«أخت لنا من العراق محافظة البصرة تقول المؤمنة: (م. ع. د) أختنا رسالتها مطولة بعض الشيء، ملخصها السؤال عن الرياضة بالنسبة للفتيات؟»
English translation (unreviewed): A sister of ours from Iraq, Basra governorate, the believing woman (M. 'A. D.) — our sister's letter is somewhat long; its gist is the question about sport for girls?
- From the text of the answer
«الرياضة تختلف كلمة مجملة، فالرياضة بين البنات في أشياء لا تخالف الشرع المطهر بمشي كثير في محل خاص بهن لا يخالطهن فيه الرجال، ولا يطلع عليه الرجال، أو بسباحة عندهن في بيتهن أو في مدرستهن خاصة لا يراها الرجال ولا يتصل بها الرجال، لا يضر ذلك. أما رياضة يحصل بها الاختلاط بين الرجال والنساء أو يراها الرجال أو تسبب شرًا على المسلمين فلا تجوز، فلابد من التفصيل.»
English translation (unreviewed): Sport varies; the word is general. Sport among girls in things that do not violate the pure Shari'ah, such as plenty of walking in a place specific to them where men do not mix with them and do not look on, or swimming among them at home or in their school specifically where men do not see them and have no contact with them, does no harm. But sport in which mixing between men and women occurs, or men see it, or it causes evil for the Muslims, is not permissible; so detail is necessary.
The Arabic excerpts matched the original page word for word by an automated check and have not had human scholarly review. The English translations are unreviewed translations made for this site; they are not an approved Shari‘ah translation. Rely on the Arabic original.
Source
Ruling on women practising sport
Title of the original page (Arabic): حكم ممارسة النساء للرياضة
Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn Baz, may Allah have mercy on him