This article is derived from the book 500 Questions and Answers for Women, which is based on the fatwas of the scholars of the Haramain. The translation has been done by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.
The purpose of this race was likely to fulfill Allah’s command to treat women kindly and to strengthen the bond of love and affection between husband and wife. Therefore, this incident can only be used as evidence for such personal interactions between spouses.
Thus, it is permissible for a husband to engage in such activities with his wife, but only under the condition that it remains private and free from any form of fitnah (temptation or immorality).
However, public sports competitions—whether in stadiums, races, wrestling, or other physical contests—cannot be justified using this incident. Instead, such competitions should remain strictly limited to the private setting between husband and wife, as explained above.
[Fatwa by Sheikh Salih bin Fawzan bin Abdullah (حفظه الله)]
Question:
Can we derive the ruling on women competing in sports for exercise from the incident where the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) raced with Aisha (رضي الله عنها)? I seek clarification on this matter.Answer:
The race between the Prophet (ﷺ) and Aisha (رضي الله عنها) took place in a private setting. It appears that this occurred at night, when people were asleep, possibly at the outskirts of the town or near the city boundaries.The purpose of this race was likely to fulfill Allah’s command to treat women kindly and to strengthen the bond of love and affection between husband and wife. Therefore, this incident can only be used as evidence for such personal interactions between spouses.
Thus, it is permissible for a husband to engage in such activities with his wife, but only under the condition that it remains private and free from any form of fitnah (temptation or immorality).
However, public sports competitions—whether in stadiums, races, wrestling, or other physical contests—cannot be justified using this incident. Instead, such competitions should remain strictly limited to the private setting between husband and wife, as explained above.
[Fatwa by Sheikh Salih bin Fawzan bin Abdullah (حفظه الله)]