Why Going to a Mixed Gym is Not Haram in Islam With 8 Proofs
C.J Ahmed-01.05.2023
Going to a unisex gym is common nowadays and there are fatws against men and women mixing and this fatwa has been extended to gyms as well. If we carefully study the verses in the Quran and the authentic hadiths, wie can realize that men nd women mixing is not haram in Islam and going to a mixd gym is also not haram.
if you take a look at what the hadiths say about mixing of men and women you would not find a single direct evidence to prove that it is haram in Islam. This proves clearly that gender segregation is a myth. Men and women mixing is not haram in Islam. When we look at the time of the prophet (sal) and his companions we can understand that men and women were not segregated as argued by some scholars today. The arguments put forward by scholars who support gender segregation in countries like Saudi Arabia is that gender segregation is done to protect the sexes from falling in to fitnah.If that was the reason then how come the prophet (sal) did not forbid such a thing. The laws that are implemented in Saudi Arabia are based on the fatwas of the Salaf scholars but the problem here is does this fatwa hold any strong evidence from the Quran and the authentic Sunnah? My answer is, No.
1-Surah Ahzab Misquoted
Allah says in the Quran
"For anything you want, ask them from before a screen: that makes for greater purity for your hearts and for theirs"
(Al-Quran-33:53)
The above verse is been given by some to prove that men and women mixing is haram. When we look at the above verse it is very clear that the verse was sent down by Allah (swt) specifically to the wives of the prophet (sal) and not all the women in general. Allah says
the reason for the above verse been revealed was mentioned in the below hadith,
Anas bin Malik said: "The Prophet married Zaynab bint Jahsh with (a wedding feast of) meat and bread. I sent someone to invite people to the feast, and some people came and ate, then left. Then another group came and ate, and left. I invited people until there was no one left to invite. I said, `O Messenger of Allah, I cannot find anyone else to invite.' He said, ‘Take away the food’. There were three people left who were talking in the house. The Prophet went out until he came to the apartment of `Aa’ishah, May Allah is pleased with her, and he said,
May peace be upon you, members of the household, and the mercy and blessings of Allah’? She said, `And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah. How did you find your (new) wife, O Messenger of Allah May Allah bless you.' He went round to the apartments of all his wives, and spoke with them as he had spoken with `Aa’ishah and they spoke as `Aa’ishah had spoken. Then the Prophet came back, and those three people were still talking in the house. The Prophet was extremely shy, so he went out and headed towards `A'ishah's apartment. I do not know whether I told him or someone else told him when the people had left, so he came back, and when he was standing with one foot over the threshold and the other foot outside, he placed the curtain between me and him, and the Ayah of Hijab was revealed.''
"For anything ye want, ask them from before a screen: that makes for greater purity for your hearts and for theirs..."
(Bukhari)
Using the above verse proves nothing at all to say that men and women mixing is haram.
2 Women Leaving Before Men in the Mosque Has Nothing to Do With Gender Segregation
There is a hadith which has been wrongly quoted frequently to indoctrinate Muslims into believing that mixing of men and women is haram. This hadith has been used as a fatwa with personal interpretations.
Umm Salamah (Rali) Narrated,
"After Allah’s Messenger (Sal) said "as-Salamu ‘Alaykum wa Rahmatullah’ twice announcing the end of prayer, women would stand up and leave. He would stay for a while before leaving. Ibn Shihab said that he thought that the staying of the Prophet (Sal) was in order for the women to be able to leave before the men who wanted to depart."
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
The above hadith only tells how the prophet (sal) would stay for a while before leaving and the reason is not mentioned. Some scholars use this hadith to argue by assuming that the prophet (sal) stayed for a while because it was haram for men and women to mix. First of all an assumption cannot be taken as evidence to prove a point. And secondly, to base the assumption and drawing ones conclusions is totally erroneous. The phrase of Ibn Shihab is very clear. Ibn Shihab thought and was not sure and even if the prophet (sal) stayed because for the women to leave first, the reason is not mentioned and assuming that it was because of the prohibition of mixing between sexes is totally wrong because no clear evidence is available from the Quran or the Sunnah to prove that it is haram for men and women to mix.
3 Umar (rali) not entering the Door of Women Has Been Misquoted
There’s another hadith with a similar meaning and the hadith is as follows,
Ibn Umar (rali) narrated the prophet (sal) saying,
"If we left this door for women. Nafi' said: Ibn 'Umar did not enter (the door) until his death. The other except 'Abd al-Warith said: This was said by 'Umar (and not by Ibn 'Umar) and that is more correct".
(Sunan Abu Dawud-Sheikh Albani graded it Sahih)
The above hadith also has nothing to do with the prohibition of men and women mixing because there are authentic hadiths stating that men and women used to mix when taking ablution which is explained below in this article. This is only specific and not in general. People are coming up with many vague interpretations using this hadith. The above hadith has been taken out of context. Let me give you one simple example on how some preachers are trying to fool the general masses into believing firmly in a given issue. The example is the below hadith that has been used for centuries to prove that masturbation is haram. Allah (swt) says,
“And they who guard their private parts except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they will not be blamed but whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors”
(Al-Quran- 23:5-6-7)
In this verse the word “transgressors” is used as an interpretation to mean that masturbation is haram but what the other verses and the hadiths does not at all mention that masturbation is transgression. This is how Muslims have been fooled in to believing that something is haram which isn’t by bringing personal interpretations and assumptions.
4 The Hadith of Umar (rali) Forbidding Men to Enter through the Door of Women Is a Weak Hadith.
Apart from the many false interpretations on hadiths which do not mention clearly about mixing of men and women, there is another weak (daif) hadith narrated n Abu Dawud which was narrated by Nafi,
"Umar bin- al-Khattab used to prohibit (men) to enter through the door reserved for women.
This hadith was graded as daif by Sheikh Naseeruddin al Albani and cannot be taken as evidence. Even for the sake of argument if we agree that this hadith is authentic, we cannot say for sure why Umar (rali) forbade men from entering the the door reserved for women and we can only use our imagination to come up with conclusions which could differ from one person to another.
5-Men Can Talk With Women If There Is More Than One Person
The evidence to prove men and women mixing are many. Let me start with this hadith
Abdullah bin 'Amr bin. al-'As (rali) reported that some persons from Banu Hisham entered the house of Asma' daughter of 'Umais when Abu Bakr also entered (and she was at that time his wife). He (Abu Bakr) saw it and disapproved of it and he made a mention of that to Allah's Messenger (sal) and said:
"I did not see but good only (in my wife). Thereupon Allah's Messenger (sal) said:
“Verily Allah has made her immune from all this. Then Allah's Messenger (sal) stood on the pulpit and said: After this day no man should enter the house of another person in his absence, but only when he is accompanied by one person or two persons
(Sahih Muslim 2173 Book 39, Hadith 31)
The above hadith proves that a man can enter the house of a woman given that he is accompanied by one or two more persons. If men and women mixing is actually haram then the prophet (sal) wouldn't have said such a thing.
6 Men and Women Used to Take Ablution Together During The time Of the Prophet (sal)
The below hadith proves that during the time of the prophet (sal) men and women used to take ablution together.
Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar:
"During the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (sal) men and women used to perform ablution together."
(Sahih al-Bukhari)
If men and women were segregated during the prophet (sal)'s time as we see now, they wouldn't have taken ablution like this. The above hadith is proof that mixing is not haram.
7 A Woman Served Food to the Prophet (sal) and Women Helped The Wounded
The below hadith is an eye opener for Muslims who want to know the truth that men and women mixing is not haram.
Sahl Ibn Sa'd al-Sa'di (Rali) said,
"Abu Asid al-Sa'di invited the Prophet and his Companions to his wedding and it was Abu Asid's wife who prepared the food and served it to them herself"
(Recorded in the Sahih of Imam Bukhari and the Sahih of Imam Muslim. Bukhari included the hadith in a chapter entitled "A woman Serving Food to Men at Weddings").
The above hadith clearly proves that men and women mixing is not haram. If it was haram then the companion Abu Asid's wife would have been prevented from serving the male guests by the prophet (sal). The above hadith is clear proof for those who who use their intellect and seek the truth through evidence and not from the wrong fatwas of scholars who are themselves human that men and women mixing is not at all haram in Islam. Imam ibn Al Batal wrote in his commentary of sahih al bukhari stating
"It indicates that it is not obligatory to separate between men and women when they are in the same place or during direct interaction. This separation was restricted to the Prophet's wives as mentioned in the Quran,
When you ask his wives for something, do so from behind a screen. (Ahzab, 53) "
There is also ample evidence to prove that women used to helped injured men during war. If men and women mixing was haram then the prophet (sal) would have forbidden it. Narrated Rubai bint Mu'adh bin Afra (rali):
"We used to go for Military expeditions along with Allah's Apostle and
provide the people with water, serve them and bring the dead and the
wounded back to Medina"
(Bukhari)
8 Women Approached the Prophet (sal) And He Never Forbade Them
Let us look at another authentic hadith validating and proving once and for all that men and women can mix.
Narrated by Abu Sa'id al-Khudry (rali) who narrated that some women approached the Prophet and said, "The men have more access to you than we do so appoint a day for us." The Prophet then promised to set a day to instruct them on matters of religion [Recorded in the Sahih Bukhari and the (Sahih of Muslim)
If men and women were forbidden to gather together then the prophet (sal) would not have instructed these women in the first place.
Going to a unisex gym is common nowadays and there are fatws against men and women mixing and this fatwa has been extended to gyms as well. If we carefully study the verses in the Quran and the authentic hadiths, wie can realize that men nd women mixing is not haram in Islam and going to a mixd gym is also not haram.
if you take a look at what the hadiths say about mixing of men and women you would not find a single direct evidence to prove that it is haram in Islam. This proves clearly that gender segregation is a myth. Men and women mixing is not haram in Islam. When we look at the time of the prophet (sal) and his companions we can understand that men and women were not segregated as argued by some scholars today. The arguments put forward by scholars who support gender segregation in countries like Saudi Arabia is that gender segregation is done to protect the sexes from falling in to fitnah.If that was the reason then how come the prophet (sal) did not forbid such a thing. The laws that are implemented in Saudi Arabia are based on the fatwas of the Salaf scholars but the problem here is does this fatwa hold any strong evidence from the Quran and the authentic Sunnah? My answer is, No.
1-Surah Ahzab Misquoted
Allah says in the Quran
"For anything you want, ask them from before a screen: that makes for greater purity for your hearts and for theirs"
(Al-Quran-33:53)
The above verse is been given by some to prove that men and women mixing is haram. When we look at the above verse it is very clear that the verse was sent down by Allah (swt) specifically to the wives of the prophet (sal) and not all the women in general. Allah says
the reason for the above verse been revealed was mentioned in the below hadith,
Anas bin Malik said: "The Prophet married Zaynab bint Jahsh with (a wedding feast of) meat and bread. I sent someone to invite people to the feast, and some people came and ate, then left. Then another group came and ate, and left. I invited people until there was no one left to invite. I said, `O Messenger of Allah, I cannot find anyone else to invite.' He said, ‘Take away the food’. There were three people left who were talking in the house. The Prophet went out until he came to the apartment of `Aa’ishah, May Allah is pleased with her, and he said,
May peace be upon you, members of the household, and the mercy and blessings of Allah’? She said, `And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah. How did you find your (new) wife, O Messenger of Allah May Allah bless you.' He went round to the apartments of all his wives, and spoke with them as he had spoken with `Aa’ishah and they spoke as `Aa’ishah had spoken. Then the Prophet came back, and those three people were still talking in the house. The Prophet was extremely shy, so he went out and headed towards `A'ishah's apartment. I do not know whether I told him or someone else told him when the people had left, so he came back, and when he was standing with one foot over the threshold and the other foot outside, he placed the curtain between me and him, and the Ayah of Hijab was revealed.''
"For anything ye want, ask them from before a screen: that makes for greater purity for your hearts and for theirs..."
(Bukhari)
Using the above verse proves nothing at all to say that men and women mixing is haram.
2 Women Leaving Before Men in the Mosque Has Nothing to Do With Gender Segregation
There is a hadith which has been wrongly quoted frequently to indoctrinate Muslims into believing that mixing of men and women is haram. This hadith has been used as a fatwa with personal interpretations.
Umm Salamah (Rali) Narrated,
"After Allah’s Messenger (Sal) said "as-Salamu ‘Alaykum wa Rahmatullah’ twice announcing the end of prayer, women would stand up and leave. He would stay for a while before leaving. Ibn Shihab said that he thought that the staying of the Prophet (Sal) was in order for the women to be able to leave before the men who wanted to depart."
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
The above hadith only tells how the prophet (sal) would stay for a while before leaving and the reason is not mentioned. Some scholars use this hadith to argue by assuming that the prophet (sal) stayed for a while because it was haram for men and women to mix. First of all an assumption cannot be taken as evidence to prove a point. And secondly, to base the assumption and drawing ones conclusions is totally erroneous. The phrase of Ibn Shihab is very clear. Ibn Shihab thought and was not sure and even if the prophet (sal) stayed because for the women to leave first, the reason is not mentioned and assuming that it was because of the prohibition of mixing between sexes is totally wrong because no clear evidence is available from the Quran or the Sunnah to prove that it is haram for men and women to mix.
3 Umar (rali) not entering the Door of Women Has Been Misquoted
There’s another hadith with a similar meaning and the hadith is as follows,
Ibn Umar (rali) narrated the prophet (sal) saying,
"If we left this door for women. Nafi' said: Ibn 'Umar did not enter (the door) until his death. The other except 'Abd al-Warith said: This was said by 'Umar (and not by Ibn 'Umar) and that is more correct".
(Sunan Abu Dawud-Sheikh Albani graded it Sahih)
The above hadith also has nothing to do with the prohibition of men and women mixing because there are authentic hadiths stating that men and women used to mix when taking ablution which is explained below in this article. This is only specific and not in general. People are coming up with many vague interpretations using this hadith. The above hadith has been taken out of context. Let me give you one simple example on how some preachers are trying to fool the general masses into believing firmly in a given issue. The example is the below hadith that has been used for centuries to prove that masturbation is haram. Allah (swt) says,
“And they who guard their private parts except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they will not be blamed but whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors”
(Al-Quran- 23:5-6-7)
In this verse the word “transgressors” is used as an interpretation to mean that masturbation is haram but what the other verses and the hadiths does not at all mention that masturbation is transgression. This is how Muslims have been fooled in to believing that something is haram which isn’t by bringing personal interpretations and assumptions.
4 The Hadith of Umar (rali) Forbidding Men to Enter through the Door of Women Is a Weak Hadith.
Apart from the many false interpretations on hadiths which do not mention clearly about mixing of men and women, there is another weak (daif) hadith narrated n Abu Dawud which was narrated by Nafi,
"Umar bin- al-Khattab used to prohibit (men) to enter through the door reserved for women.
This hadith was graded as daif by Sheikh Naseeruddin al Albani and cannot be taken as evidence. Even for the sake of argument if we agree that this hadith is authentic, we cannot say for sure why Umar (rali) forbade men from entering the the door reserved for women and we can only use our imagination to come up with conclusions which could differ from one person to another.
5-Men Can Talk With Women If There Is More Than One Person
The evidence to prove men and women mixing are many. Let me start with this hadith
Abdullah bin 'Amr bin. al-'As (rali) reported that some persons from Banu Hisham entered the house of Asma' daughter of 'Umais when Abu Bakr also entered (and she was at that time his wife). He (Abu Bakr) saw it and disapproved of it and he made a mention of that to Allah's Messenger (sal) and said:
"I did not see but good only (in my wife). Thereupon Allah's Messenger (sal) said:
“Verily Allah has made her immune from all this. Then Allah's Messenger (sal) stood on the pulpit and said: After this day no man should enter the house of another person in his absence, but only when he is accompanied by one person or two persons
(Sahih Muslim 2173 Book 39, Hadith 31)
The above hadith proves that a man can enter the house of a woman given that he is accompanied by one or two more persons. If men and women mixing is actually haram then the prophet (sal) wouldn't have said such a thing.
6 Men and Women Used to Take Ablution Together During The time Of the Prophet (sal)
The below hadith proves that during the time of the prophet (sal) men and women used to take ablution together.
Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar:
"During the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (sal) men and women used to perform ablution together."
(Sahih al-Bukhari)
If men and women were segregated during the prophet (sal)'s time as we see now, they wouldn't have taken ablution like this. The above hadith is proof that mixing is not haram.
7 A Woman Served Food to the Prophet (sal) and Women Helped The Wounded
The below hadith is an eye opener for Muslims who want to know the truth that men and women mixing is not haram.
Sahl Ibn Sa'd al-Sa'di (Rali) said,
"Abu Asid al-Sa'di invited the Prophet and his Companions to his wedding and it was Abu Asid's wife who prepared the food and served it to them herself"
(Recorded in the Sahih of Imam Bukhari and the Sahih of Imam Muslim. Bukhari included the hadith in a chapter entitled "A woman Serving Food to Men at Weddings").
The above hadith clearly proves that men and women mixing is not haram. If it was haram then the companion Abu Asid's wife would have been prevented from serving the male guests by the prophet (sal). The above hadith is clear proof for those who who use their intellect and seek the truth through evidence and not from the wrong fatwas of scholars who are themselves human that men and women mixing is not at all haram in Islam. Imam ibn Al Batal wrote in his commentary of sahih al bukhari stating
"It indicates that it is not obligatory to separate between men and women when they are in the same place or during direct interaction. This separation was restricted to the Prophet's wives as mentioned in the Quran,
When you ask his wives for something, do so from behind a screen. (Ahzab, 53) "
There is also ample evidence to prove that women used to helped injured men during war. If men and women mixing was haram then the prophet (sal) would have forbidden it. Narrated Rubai bint Mu'adh bin Afra (rali):
"We used to go for Military expeditions along with Allah's Apostle and
provide the people with water, serve them and bring the dead and the
wounded back to Medina"
(Bukhari)
8 Women Approached the Prophet (sal) And He Never Forbade Them
Let us look at another authentic hadith validating and proving once and for all that men and women can mix.
Narrated by Abu Sa'id al-Khudry (rali) who narrated that some women approached the Prophet and said, "The men have more access to you than we do so appoint a day for us." The Prophet then promised to set a day to instruct them on matters of religion [Recorded in the Sahih Bukhari and the (Sahih of Muslim)
If men and women were forbidden to gather together then the prophet (sal) would not have instructed these women in the first place.