Sports for girls.
Q: As Salaamu Alaikum,
I’m interested in joining my 2 year old daughter in a toddler Gymnastics class but someone said to me to find out the Islamic view on it since it may stretch the hymen. So I did research online and found out that it may or may not stretch hymen and it’s in same category as a girl doing a lot of physical activity(not necessarily stretching), horseback riding(I assume fast with both legs on either side) or riding a bike(I assume fast).
So does that mean girls in general shouldn’t be so active? Also is stretching of the hymen haraam? Since it’s not like they intentionally doing activities for that purpose and its easy as even climbing a tree can burst hymen. And then Kung Fu/Martial Arts etc., what would be the ruling? Because I intended to join her ASAP in those but the squats and all that would be stretching hymen?
A: Wa Alaikum As Salaam,
Stretching of the hymen is not haram. It’s just a matter of it being a sign of one’s virginity (for some men), and this is what women are concerned about. So, once the environment is not against the laws of Shariah for doing activities, exercise etc., it will be permissible to do. Hence, your 2 year old toddler can go the classes.
And Allah Knows best.
Mufti Waseem Khan.
13/05/15.