QUESTION:
As Salaamu Alaikum
What is the ruling on girls doing horse riding?
ANSWER:
Wa Alaikum As Salaam,
Generally, scholars have allowed women to ride horses when there is a valid need to do so like going for Hajj, Umrah or participating in holy battles etc, and even using those animals as their mounts and modes of transport when this is a necessity, especially when it is the custom of the people.
In these cases, Muslim women are required to follow the guidelines of the Sacred Shariah that are connected to them with respect to dressing according to the laws of Islam, avoiding the mixing and mingling with males, and refraining from revealing themselves to males. With respect to the present trend of ‘horse riding and horseback riding’ where girls go to ride horses for fun or sport, the scholars have written that Muslim women and girls must refrain from this, since it involves the following prohibitions: –
- The open mixing with the opposite sex which is totally prohibited in Islam.
- Muslim women/girls are normally not properly dressed in accordance to the laws of the Shariah.
- In doing ‘horseback riding’, females tend to imitate males in the way they ride horses, and this is not permissible for Muslim women. They are also clearly seen/watched by men, and also interact freely with them.
While writing on this topic, the great Faqeeh (Jurist expert), Allama Ibn Nujaim (AR) has stated, ‘A Muslim woman must not ride on a saddle because of the narration of the Prophet (S.A.S) which states that Allah Has cursed women who ride on saddles. Ibn Nujaim explains this and says, ‘This is when she rides the saddle, enthusiastic/excited, or adorned, to expose herself to men. However, if she rides it for a need like going for Holy battles and Hajj, then there is no harm in her riding the saddles (of horses etc.). (Al Bahr Ar Ra’iq – Vol. 8 page 189 Maktaba Rasheediya)
The great 6th century Jurist, Imam Burhanadeen Mohammed bin Sadr As Shari’ah Al Bukhari (AR) has also written the following on this topic: –
‘A Muslim woman must not ride on a saddle because of the clear meaning of the narration which prohibits women from riding on saddles. On account of this, we say that this prohibition is in full conformity to the statement of the Prophet (S.A.S) who said that Allah’s curse is upon women who ride saddles. The meaning of this prohibition is twofold. One is that this is an imitation to men and women are prohibited from that, and the second is that a woman elevates herself and exposes herself to men, while they (the women) have been instructed in Islam to be veiled and concealed’.
The Scholars have said, ‘This is regarding the female who is young and she rides (the saddle of an animal) to display herself and to be admired. If however, she is an old woman, or she is young but rides with her husband for a valid reason like that of holy wars when there is the need for them to participate in such, or for Hajj or Umrah, then there is no harm/objection in this when she is veiled and covered. It is evident that the Muhajireen women used to ride horses and used to go out for Jihad and were not prohibited by the Prophet (S.A.S) although he saw them. It is also evident that the daughters of Khalid bin Waleed (RA) used to ride animals and go out for Jihad. They used to give water to the fighters, and looked after the wounded.’ (Al Muheet Al Burhani Vol. 8 page. 101 – Idarah Quran Karachi 2004).
And Allah Knows best
Mufti Waseem Khan
10/06/2025