Is It Permissible for My Teenage Daughter to Learn Martial Arts with a Male?
Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad
Question
My 14-year-old daughter is learning martial arts from a male instructor in a group class with other young students at school. She is doing this as she has weak muscles and very poor fitness. She wears modest clothing, and there is no touching involved at all. Is this permitted?
Answer
Thank you for your question. May Allah reward you for wanting your daughter to be strong and for seeking not to displease Allah Most High.
Strength
Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) reported the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “The strong believer is more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, but there is goodness in both of them. Be eager for what benefits you, seek help from Allah, and do not be frustrated. If something befalls you, then do not say: If only I had done something else. Rather say: Allah has decreed what he wills. Verily, the phrase ‘if only’ opens the way for the work of Satan.” [Muslim]
Keeping this in mind, you should be avid in helping your daughter become healthy, strong, and energetic. This is important to teach our children so the next generation can be able to take care of themselves and others while fulfilling their obligations.
Male Teacher
Learning martial arts is very beneficial, and I commend you for choosing a sport that will strengthen her and that she can use as self-defense, which I pray she never needs. I ask you to pray istikhara on this matter and consult the religious ladies around you. One generally considers the ‘urf (customary practice) in matters like this and then chooses to err on the side of caution. You might look at what other forms of fitness are available to her and then weigh the effectiveness and appropriateness of each.
Please see these links as well:
- Is It Permissible for a Female To Exercise or Play Sports in Public?
- Is it permissible to engage in martial arts that have remnants of Buddhist culture/religion?
- Can One Bow During Any Martial Arts Training?
- Common Understanding and Practice (‘Urf)
May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.
