Going to mixed gym

[SeekingHeaven]

Salam, i have been going to the gym for quite a while now and as you know the gyms here in the us are mixed and i cant help but every time i go there i can't stop thinking and worrying if im disobeying Allah swt by going because it is mixed, but on one hand i tend to over eat a lot and end up gaining weight when i stop going to the gym to lift and break my diet but one the other hand exercising and lifting is one of the few things i have to do in my spare time and keeps me occupied and healthy and in the gym are also hijabi girls and women that go and then im disturbed to see what they wear (tight clothes that is) and not really care, so through all that i find it also hard to focus while worrying about all this... please I need some guidance on this issue

[SeekingHeaven]

Also I don't go there with the intention of looking at girls or socializing with them in fact i just focus on what im doing and ignore them

i had sent this as a question to my marja sayed sistani and he said that its not permissible to go to mixed gyms so I stopped going ( this was a few months ago) but then I emailed a local sheikh in my area and he said "if he doesn't put himself in a risky temptation situation no problem, but better to choose time the gym is safer!" So I began going again until now, i also read the threads on sc about this and I thought it was fine to go 

sorry for the long post but its just been on my mind for too long!

[AmirAlmuminin Lover]

22 minutes ago, SeekingHeaven said:

Also I don't go there with the intention of looking at girls or socializing with them in fact i just focus on what im doing and ignore them

i had sent this as a question to my marja sayed sistani and he said that its not permissible to go to mixed gyms so I stopped going ( this was a few months ago) but then I emailed a local sheikh in my area and he said "if he doesn't put himself in a risky temptation situation no problem, but better to choose time the gym is safer!" So I began going again until now, i also read the threads on sc about this and I thought it was fine to go 

sorry for the long post but its just been on my mind for too long!

Salaam Alaykum

Mashaallah on your practice. I also used to go to the gym, and I have same concern as you. I don't want to see women in shorts or Muslim women in tight clothes like leggings. I have medical problem in moving my shoulder and I need to go to gym, but because of this I don't know what to do.

 

Your post made me stronger to exercise at home. You can do normal exercises like Yoga, stretching, and these things at home, and for running you can go out. You can also do push-ups at home.

[SeekingHeaven]

4 minutes ago, AmirAlmuminin Lover said:

Salaam Alaykum

Mashaallah on your practice. I also used to go to the gym, and I have same concern as you. I don't want to see women in shorts or Muslim women in tight clothes like leggings. I have medical problem in moving my shoulder and I need to go to gym, but because of this I don't know what to do.

 

Your post made me stronger to exercise at home. You can do normal exercises like Yoga, stretching, and these things at home, and for running you can go out. You can also do push-ups at home.

Wa alaykom salam, i am very confused about this issue because even though they are wearing such things in the gym they are wearing the same and even worse in public and I thought about working out at home but stretching and all that is really nothing like lifting and even if i were to buy dumbbells they are so expensive 

[SeekingHeaven]

Any advice, thoughts

[Sumerian]

Question: Is it haram for me to go to to a gym ( a training center for body builders) where women and men both can sign up for training there? It is nearly impossible to find a gym that is only restricted for men, here in Scandinavia (Denmark). How should I act?

Answer: It is not allowed.

 

https://www.sistani.org/english/qa/01215/

[Smiles786]

1 hour ago, SeekingHeaven said:

Wa alaykom salam, i am very confused about this issue because even though they are wearing such things in the gym they are wearing the same and even worse in public and I thought about working out at home but stretching and all that is really nothing like lifting and even if i were to buy dumbbells they are so expensive 

Salaam.

Go on certain days/ times when there are less girls or people you find unattractive.  Also about over eating. I hear you bro. Same problem here. I got an app on my phone to track food: calculates fat protein carbs etc...

Get your diet in check. You'll feel better.

Put headphones on.  I listen to dua when I workout, but I also can't stand music. 

I go to a women's gym.  People have different levels of shame. No gym is safe

[Smiles786]

6 minutes ago, Sumerian said:

Question: Is it haram for me to go to to a gym ( a training center for body builders) where women and men both can sign up for training there? It is nearly impossible to find a gym that is only restricted for men, here in Scandinavia (Denmark). How should I act?

Answer: It is not allowed.

 

https://www.sistani.org/english/qa/01215/

They wear the same things walking around everyday. Not much of a difference 

[Sumerian]

34 minutes ago, Smiles786 said:

They wear the same things walking around everyday. Not much of a difference 

You can send that enquiry of yours to Sistani's office.

[SeekingHeaven]

45 minutes ago, Smiles786 said:

Salaam.

Go on certain days/ times when there are less girls or people you find unattractive.  Also about over eating. I hear you bro. Same problem here. I got an app on my phone to track food: calculates fat protein carbs etc...

Get your diet in check. You'll feel better.

Put headphones on.  I listen to dua when I workout, but I also can't stand music. 

I go to a women's gym.  People have different levels of shame. No gym is safe

Whats funny to me is that i wake up early in the morning around 8 i go there and they are still there although I would say that in the whole gym only like 30 or 40 percent are women which isn't much but still distracting and i just need to make sure i am not sinning 

[SeekingHeaven]

54 minutes ago, Sumerian said:

Question: Is it haram for me to go to to a gym ( a training center for body builders) where women and men both can sign up for training there? It is nearly impossible to find a gym that is only restricted for men, here in Scandinavia (Denmark). How should I act?

Answer: It is not allowed.

 

https://www.sistani.org/english/qa/01215/

But brother I already know that but I really think that he doesn't know the exact situation that we are in, like the fact that women dress like that in public as well and even the women that jog on the sidewalks dress like that so what am I meant to do, well i try to lower my gaze as much in the gym as i do in public 

[AmirAlmuminin Lover]

1 hour ago, Sumerian said:

Question: Is it haram for me to go to to a gym ( a training center for body builders) where women and men both can sign up for training there? It is nearly impossible to find a gym that is only restricted for men, here in Scandinavia (Denmark). How should I act?

Answer: It is not allowed.

 

https://www.sistani.org/english/qa/01215/

Thanks. I don't go anymore

[SeekingHeaven]

7 minutes ago, AmirAlmuminin Lover said:

Thanks. I don't go anymore

So what did you find as a good replacement for the gym then bro?

[LadyNadine]

Salam,

I really don’t see a problem with mix gym unless your going there to pick up girls. Ideally you can’t avoid the opposite genders. You have to coexist some how. You can try going at certain times, but this isn’t ideal. 

Just go in there as a intention of working out and getting out. When I go to the gym I have a mean face. No one approaches me. [Lol].

Edited September 18, 2020 by Hameedeh
[edit]

[SeekingHeaven]

On 11/27/2017 at 9:28 PM, LadyNadine said:

Salam,

I really don’t see a problem with mix gym unless your going there to pick up girls. Ideally you can’t avoid the opposite genders. You have to coexist some how. You can try going at certain times, but this isn’t ideal. 

Just go in there as a intention of working out and getting out. When I go to the gym I have a mean face. No one approaches me. [Lol].

ws, i was thinking the same thing and im not going there to talk to any girls but I think ultimately there should be a marja that is completely aware of the conditions we are facing here, this being one of them, and how to deal with them because sayed sistani doesn't allow it but at the same time you see just as much if not more immodestly dressed women in public places such as schools even at work, so im just left confused and lost at this point..... 

Edited September 18, 2020 by Hameedeh
[edit] in the quote

[Ibn Al-Shahid]

1 hour ago, Smiles786 said:

They wear the same things walking around everyday. Not much of a difference 

Yes but they aren't squatting in the streets mate.

[Ashvazdanghe]

hi i think if you cant go to the gym you can use some virtual sports such as kinekt  if you can afford its price (exchanging gym fee instead of this gadgets)

[notme]

18 hours ago, SeekingHeaven said:

Whats funny to me is that i wake up early in the morning around 8 i go there and they are still there although I would say that in the whole gym only like 30 or 40 percent are women which isn't much but still distracting and i just need to make sure i am not sinning 

8 in the morning is not early. In fact, a lot of people like to start their day with a workout. 

You can work on lowering your gaze, think about other things not the people you see, or try going during times that nobody else is there. Ask the management of the gym for slow times. 

I know there are all women places to work out. Are there all men places? If not, maybe that's a business idea for someone. 

[AmirAlmuminin Lover]

17 hours ago, SeekingHeaven said:

So what did you find as a good replacement for the gym then bro?

There is a lagoon near my apt. I went there and worked out. No body was there, so I'm planning to go there mornings.

[LadyNadine]

17 hours ago, SeekingHeaven said:

ws, i was thinking the same thing and im not going there to talk to any girls but I think ultimately there should be a marja that is completely aware of the conditions we are facing here, this being one of them, and how to deal with them because sayed sistani doesn't allow it but at the same time you see just as much if not more immodestly dressed women in public places such as schools even at work, so im just left confused and lost at this point..... 

Your right. But you live in a area where mix genders mingle. It nearly impossible. You're not doing any haram to yourself. You'r going to the gym to help your mental state and physical state to be healthier and better. 

I'm not sure what marja would say, but I do believe they probably disagree with it. Again you have to consider where you live. It is nearly impossible not to be mix with them.

[LadyNadine]

4 minutes ago, notme said:

8 in the morning is not early. In fact, a lot of people like to start their day with a workout. 

You can work on lowering your gaze, think about other things not the people you see, or try going during times that nobody else is there. Ask the management of the gym for slow times. 

I know there are all women places to work out. Are there all men places? If not, maybe that's a business idea for someone. 

There used to be one in Dearborn where I lived. They closed it. 8 in the morning isn't early enough. I wake up at 6 to work out.

[Smiles786]

20 hours ago, Ibn Al-Shahid said:

Yes but they aren't squatting in the streets mate.

Lol true but face the other direction or use a diff part of the gym

[hasanhh]

These problems have been discussed where l am.

l always said, "Form a women's club". Make it based, chartered, as part of the religion (for legal reasons in the US). Get 501 Non-profit status.

Then all the Muslima's will have a place to go for workout, coffee, socializing, brunch and so on. Proceeds going into the operating fund. The most 'awkward' thing to set up will be child care --all children  including bassinettes--    supervised in another area. With girls, which age will they able to access the women's areas. Boys, what age of 'no admittance' (8 can stay home alone is usual, 5,6 & 7 year-olds won't want to go at all; so a secluded boys area [soccer ).

Though an lsIamic based organization, l do know there are Chr!stian and Jewesses that will want to apply for the same reasons. That will boost membership and financial stability.

Added: You can attach this to a daycare facility for a real improvement in Convenience.

Edited November 29, 2017 by hasanhh

[Guest Account Ali]

7 hours ago, LadyNadine said:

Your right. But you live in a area where mix genders mingle. It nearly impossible. You're not doing any haram to yourself. You'r going to the gym to help your mental state and physical state to be healthier and better. 

I'm not sure what marja would say, but I do believe they probably disagree with it. Again you have to consider where you live. It is nearly impossible not to be mix with them.

Well, unless one's life is literally in danger if he or she does not workout in a mixed gym then the consensus opinions of our higher scholars is more important. Thus, muslim men must make do and find alternate methods and not simply say things like "I have pure intentions" and then proceed to walk into a haram environment. That is just like saying that my boss wants me to socialize with him in a bar, and you walk into said bar with "pure intentions". In both Shia and Sunni Islam, there is no difference between the environment of sinful behavior and doing the sinful behavior, since putting oneself in a sinful environment will in 90% of cases lead to sins. Even if you are that 10% that does not sin, you do not abrogate the rule.

 

Also having been born and still living in the west I can say that I understand girls will dress worse in public sometimes, and I believe other users here have quoted what our higher scholars say men should do in these situations. But understand that even in public sinful environments scholars say muslim men must lower their gaze and focus on their daily obligations (work, groceries, etc.) and not "hang around" or loiter in public as it were. And obviously scholars cannot disallow muslim men from entering into the public arena since that can quite literally mean you could die of starvation among other things (even in this day and age of online shopping and Amazon.com). Therefore the public arena is VASTLY different from gyms, because one you absolutely have to go into otherwise you are risking the life of you and others and the other one is at most good but not completely imperative to one's health (especially since you can workout at home), unless an MD or DO has mandated that the workout you need is not achievable at home and you have to go to a gym. But the majority of us, I can imagine, do not have strictly defined medical conditions that require working out in a gym. 

[SeekingHeaven]

6 hours ago, Guest Account Ali said:

Well, unless one's life is literally in danger if he or she does not workout in a mixed gym then the consensus opinions of our higher scholars is more important. Thus, muslim men must make do and find alternate methods and not simply say things like "I have pure intentions" and then proceed to walk into a haram environment. That is just like saying that my boss wants me to socialize with him in a bar, and you walk into said bar with "pure intentions". In both Shia and Sunni Islam, there is no difference between the environment of sinful behavior and doing the sinful behavior, since putting oneself in a sinful environment will in 90% of cases lead to sins. Even if you are that 10% that does not sin, you do not abrogate the rule.

 

Also having been born and still living in the west I can say that I understand girls will dress worse in public sometimes, and I believe other users here have quoted what our higher scholars say men should do in these situations. But understand that even in public sinful environments scholars say muslim men must lower their gaze and focus on their daily obligations (work, groceries, etc.) and not "hang around" or loiter in public as it were. And obviously scholars cannot disallow muslim men from entering into the public arena since that can quite literally mean you could die of starvation among other things (even in this day and age of online shopping and Amazon.com). Therefore the public arena is VASTLY different from gyms, because one you absolutely have to go into otherwise you are risking the life of you and others and the other one is at most good but not completely imperative to one's health (especially since you can workout at home), unless an MD or DO has mandated that the workout you need is not achievable at home and you have to go to a gym. But the majority of us, I can imagine, do not have strictly defined medical conditions that require working out in a gym. 

Salam, I understand that the higher scholars in places like iraq might have not allowed going to mixed gyms but why has a local alim sheikh said it is allowed like I mentioned in my first post?

I was thinking that maybe because he knows and is familiar with the situation here more than someone who has still not lived here.

[notme]

19 minutes ago, SeekingHeaven said:

Salam, I understand that the higher scholars in places like iraq might have not allowed going to mixed gyms but why has a local alim sheikh said it is allowed like I mentioned in my first post?

I was thinking that maybe because he knows and is familiar with the situation here more than someone who has still not lived here.

Have you asked the marja yourself? They only can answer based on the information given in the question, and they are fallible human beings. Instead of relying on someone else's answer, which might not have the exact details of your question, ask for yourself. Be sure to include that there are no all male exercise facilities available in your area. Also, watch for the phrase "if there is fear of falling into sin" or similar in the response. It's a very important caveat. 

[Sumerian]

11 minutes ago, notme said:

Have you asked the marja yourself? They only can answer based on the information given in the question, and they are fallible human beings. Instead of relying on someone else's answer, which might not have the exact details of your question, ask for yourself. Be sure to include that there are no all male exercise facilities available in your area. Also, watch for the phrase "if there is fear of falling into sin" or similar in the response. It's a very important caveat.

I checked Sayyed Al-Sistani's Arabic website, and the only difference is that going to these places such as mixed gyms and beaches is not allowed as per obligatory precaution even if there is no fear of falling into sin. And if there is fear, it is not allowed at all - with no mention of obligatory precaution.

So basically, @O.P you can't go, even if you are a great mu'min. Unless you follow someone other than Sayyed Al-Sistani or you refer to another marja.

[Islandsandmirrors]

I don’t understand why people view gyms as a haram environment. It’s no different than eating at a restaurant full of people. It’s not a club, with drinks and drugs, just people working out.

You do your workouts, and go home. 

[notme]

21 minutes ago, Islandsandmirrors said:

I don’t understand why people view gyms as a haram environment. It’s no different than eating at a restaurant full of people. It’s not a club, with drinks and drugs, just people working out.

You do your workouts, and go home. 

You and I don't get it because we're women. Women are trained from a young age to avert their gaze and be modest in thought and practice. When a little boy leers, everyone thinks it's hilarious. Men aren't taught to control their thoughts like women are. 

[SeekingHeaven]

2 hours ago, notme said:

Have you asked the marja yourself? They only can answer based on the information given in the question, and they are fallible human beings. Instead of relying on someone else's answer, which might not have the exact details of your question, ask for yourself. Be sure to include that there are no all male exercise facilities available in your area. Also, watch for the phrase "if there is fear of falling into sin" or similar in the response. It's a very important caveat. 

Yes this was what i sent him a while back

 

 

In the Name of God, the Most High

 

It is not permissible to go such a gym where women are also present. 

 

May Allah grant you success.

www.sistani.org

Istifta Section - Office of His Eminence Al-Sayyid Ali Al-Sistani

 

From: 
Sent: Saturday, August 19, 2017 11:34 PM
To: Istifta Section - Office of His Eminence Al-Sayyid Ali Al-Husseini Al-Sistani
Subject: Fitness

 

 

Question: Salam i am 19 years old
I live in the united states in a city with a high muslim population
i have been going to a gym. The gym i go to is well known and is a mixed
women and men gym and also there is music playing through out the gym. But
most of the people that attend the gym are men and many are muslim i would
say. Most people work out seperately and at the times that i do go it is not
very crouded and there are very few women sometimes. My intention for going
to the gym is to exercise and get a better and healthier body not to commit
any type of haram. Because there is music playing i always have headphones
in listening to islamic lectures and ignore the music and avoid women there.
I just need to make sure that i am not committing any haram and i want to
know if i am allowed to go to this gym also considering that I couldn't find
any gym that is only for men. Also I don't eat as excessive as i used to
because of working out. Wassalam 

Prefered response language: English

Time (Local): 15:1 (-4:0)       Time (Najaf): 22:03       ip: 172.56.21.212

 

Then, this is what i sent a local sheikh:

 

Salam, what is the ruling on a man going to a mixed gym with the intention of just working out to better his body and not wanting to look at the women there who might be dressed in revealing or skin tight clothes, halal or haram?

Answer was: 

ws

if he doesn't put himself in a risky temptation situation no problem, but better to choose time the gym is safer!

what do you think cause this left me kinda confused 

[hasanhh]

48 minutes ago, Islandsandmirrors said:

I don’t understand why people view gyms as a haram environment. It’s no different than eating at a restaurant full of people. It’s not a club, with drinks and drugs, just people working out.

You do your workouts, and go home. 

You do dress differently? And there is not a lot of "bouncing" in restaurants.

[Islandsandmirrors]

1 hour ago, hasanhh said:

You do dress differently? And there is not a lot of "bouncing" in restaurants.

I dress like anyone would—jackets over my workout shirts and workout pants. 

In the US, no one stares at you while you workout. That’s mostly in uncultured middle eastern places. 

Edited November 29, 2017 by Islandsandmirrors

[Laayla]

Bismehe Ta3ala,

Assalam Alikum 

Our marja3s gave the answer of being impermissible to go in mixed gyms.  Where do these people draw a red line?  Mixed beaches, mixed pools, mixed spas, mixed beauty shops.  

We now have individuals here who are more learned then the marja3s and arguing what is the problem. Go figure.

Then the same individuals call for the return of Imam Mahdi. Baffling!

M3 Salamah, FE AMIN Allah 

Edited November 29, 2017 by Laayla

[notme]

@SeekingHeaven if you've asked your local aalim and you've asked your marja, I'd advise following the advice of the marja.  It's not a sin to not follow a marja, but it is a sin to disobey the regulations of islam.  Our marjas have spent their entire lives studying the law and its application.  They know far more than any of us.  If you follow in good faith and he was mistaken, you've lost nothing, but if you disregard his wisdom you might find yourself in sin.  The Quran says take guidance from those who are most knowledgeable.  So just do it.

Maybe you can get a group of Muslim men together to equip a home gym for use only by men who are part of your group.

[Guest Account Ali]

6 hours ago, SeekingHeaven said:

Salam, I understand that the higher scholars in places like iraq might have not allowed going to mixed gyms but why has a local alim sheikh said it is allowed like I mentioned in my first post?

I was thinking that maybe because he knows and is familiar with the situation here more than someone who has still not lived here.

Higher schools are familiar with contexts in the west. So a lower scholars opinion is not applicable to you unless an MD or DO has said that you must attend a public gym, mixed or not, in order to achieve your workout. That is typically the rule. Unless one has a medical condition, we follow the rules of our higher scholars in all regards.