Fatwa ID: 09373
Answered by Mufti Abdurrahman Mohammad
Question:
I am a male and I have been training in a male only environment in martial arts for a number of years. Now I am moving to an area where there are not as many Muslims so their martial arts facilities cater to both men and women at the same time. Due to the nature of the sport however, there are more men than women and the ratio is something similar to 1 woman for every 10 men.
I would not touch or speak to the women and I would only train with the men if I was to attend but a few women would be in attendance at the same time in that location. There are also no male only facilities in this city. Would this be permissible?
Jazakallah
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Training in a mixed‑gender martial arts facility is only permissible if you are able to uphold the required Islamic values and duties such as lowering the gaze, limiting interaction, and avoiding temptation. You must be careful and avoid looking (nazar), physical contact (lams/touching), and speech and interaction.
Allah (ﷻ) says in the Quran:
˹O Prophet!˺ Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their chastity. That is purer for them. Surely Allah is All-Aware of what they do. (An-Nur 24:30)
A man must lower his gaze from non‑mahram women except for the face and hands when needed and without desire. [1] Anything that leads to temptation must be avoided. Touching a non-mahram woman is strictly prohibited. You may not train with the female students, and this includes training drills, grappling, pad holding, or any martial‑arts activity requiring touch. As long as you only train with men and avoid all forms of contact with women, your training is permissible.
Additionally, you must limit your contact and conversations with them. Speaking with non‑mahram women is permitted when it is public, without softening the voice, without flirtation or suggestive wording, and is limited to when needed. [2] You may respond briefly if a woman addresses you in training, remain professional, and avoid unnecessary conversation. Being present in a shared space with non‑mahram women should be avoided, but being alone with a non-mahram woman is impermissible.
Allah (ﷻ) says in the Quran:
Do not go near adultery. It is truly a shameful deed and an evil way. (Isrā’ 17:32)
The Prophet said:
No man should be alone with a woman, except that Shaytan is the third among them. (Mishkat al-Masabih 3118)
Islam prohibits seclusion (khalwah) between a non-mahram man and woman and sets clear boundaries because free mixing can lead to temptation and Zinā (adultery/fornication). It is better to find a men’s only martial arts class or drop it altogether, and it is necessary to do so if there is fear of Fitnah and temptation. However, if you can follow the commandments of Allah (ﷻ) and avoid Fitnah, then it would be permissible.
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Mufti Abdurrahman Mohammad
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1]
وَلَا يَحِلُّ النَّظَرُ إلَى بَطْنِهَا وَظَهْرِهَا وَإِلَى مَا بَيْنَ السُّرَّةِ وَالرُّكْبَةِ مِنْهَا وَمَسُّهَا لِعُمُومِ قَوْلِهِ ﵎ ﴿قُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ﴾ [النور: ٣٠] الْآيَةَ إلَّا أَنَّهُ ﷾ رَخَّصَ النَّظَرَ لِلْمَحَارِمِ إلَى مَوَاضِعِ الزِّينَةِ الظَّاهِرَةِ وَالْبَاطِنَةِ بِقَوْلِهِ عَزَّ شَأْنُهُ ﴿وَلا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَائِهِنَّ﴾ [النور: ٣١] الْآيَةَ فَبَقِيَ غَضُّ الْبَصَرِ عَمَّا وَرَاءَهَا مَأْمُورًا بِهِ.
وَإِذَا لَمْ يَحِلَّ النَّظَرُ فَالْمَسُّ أَوْلَى لِأَنَّهُ أَقْوَى وَلِأَنَّ رُخْصَةَ النَّظَرِ إلَى مَوَاضِعِ الزِّينَةِ لِلْحَاجَةِ الَّتِي ذَكَرْنَاهَا وَلَا حَاجَةَ إلَى النَّظَرِ إلَى مَا وَرَاءَهَا فَكَانَ النَّظَرُ إلَيْهَا بِحَقِّ الشَّهْوَةِ وَأَنَّهُ حَرَامٌ
Badāi’ Al-Sanāi’ Fī Tartīb Al-Sharāi’, vol. 5, pg. 121, Dār Al-Kutub Al-’Ilmiyyah.
[2]
وَلَا يَحِلُّ لِأَحَدٍ أَنْ يُشَافِهَ امْرَأَةً أَجْنَبِيَّةً لَا يَحِلُّ لَهُ نِكَاحُهَا لِلْحَالِ بِمِثْلِ هَذِهِ الْكَلِمَاتِ؛ لِأَنَّ بَعْضَهَا صَرِيحٌ فِي الْخِطْبَةِ وَبَعْضَهَا صَرِيحٌ فِي إظْهَارِ الرَّغْبَةِ فَلَا يَجُوزُ شَيْءٌ مِنْ ذَلِكَ
Badāi’ Al-Sanāi’ Fī Tartīb Al-Sharāi’, vol. 3, pg. 204, Dār Al-Kutub Al-’Ilmiyyah.