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Fatwa CenterConcerned about gender-mixed swimming classes
Question
I am worried about Muslim girls sport activities at schools. Especially swimming, which is obligation to know. For example, there are so many Muslim women unable to swim, because they do not know how and cause of this not able to save they drowning children in the water. So - I have a question now, does Islam tolerate this. In the schools are these swimming lectures obliged to follow, but most of the schools have mixed lectures. Most of the school are getting tired of excuses due to the religion and then the big demonstration exposes, that all Muslim girls shall change the schools, if they want to apply they religion... but the problem is, in Europe, where we as Muslims are more respected commonly, as in Arab countries, have no Islamic schools. Or could you advise to some source, which European countries have already Islamic schools?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
We have already issued Fatwa 86644 clarifying the ruling on women swimming, the kind of swimming that is forbidden and the conditions of its permissibility.
As regards your saying that it is an obligation to learn to swim, if you mean that the school obliges girls to attend these mixed swimming classes, then it is not permissible for these girls to attend these classes or to remain in these schools. They have to move to another school where religious prohibitions are respected. Otherwise, they have to remain at home as Allaah will hold them accountable for not wearing Hijab and for exposing themselves, and He will not hold them accountable for studies and swimming classes.
Saying that they have to attend these mixed classes because they need to learn to swim in order to save their children is not a valid excuse. Such an excuse does not permit them to commit such a forbidden act.
So we advise all the sisters to fear Allaah and to know that they will stand before Him in a Day equal to 50,000 years. It is only on that Day that you will know the evil consequences of learning to swim in mixed swimming classes.
As regards Islamic schools in Europe, all perfect praise be to Allaah, there are many in many European countries. Indeed, we know for sure that there are many Islamic schools in America, so there is no need for you to look for Islamic schools in Europe.
For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 86405 on the ruling of residing in a non-Muslim country, and Fataawa 84281 and 87469 on mixed studies, and Fatwa 84777 on the conditions of studying in a non-Muslim country.
Allaah Knows best.
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