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Fatwa CenterCompulsory swimming class for girls in school where men may see them
Question
Assalaamu alaykum. I have a question. I am 14 years old. I am attending a school where there is a swimming class. I have asked my mother to buy a swimming suit that covers the 'Awrah (what should be covered of the body). The school does not use a separated swimming pool, but they differentiate the time. So we do not go to swimming together. However, I cannot say that it is entirely safe becuase it is not specialised for women. I fear Allaah and wish that I did not have to swim, but sometimes my parents disagree with me. Although I wear the hijab now, I shed so many tears because my mother disagreed at first. And just to inform you, I do not think that I can skip the class. There are so many bad things that will happen to me if I do. I just do not know what to do anymore. I fear Allaah, but I think that it would be hard for me if I were to skip class. However, I pray that when I grow up, I will avoid and even stop swimming. Please give me some good advice. What is the best solution for me? May Allaah bless you.
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.
First of all, we thank you for your keenness on adhering to the Sharee'ah, wearing the hijab, and on preserving your virtuousness. May Allaah reward you, increase you in guidance and righteousness, and make you always firm in following the right path.
If the swimming pool is free of mixing, and men seeing the female students is just an assumption, then you should not pay any attention to this. However, if you believe that men mostly likely see the female students in the pool, then if you can talk to the school administration to avoid this, then do so. You may seek the help of some righteous classmates or teachers so that the school management may take the necessary precautions regarding this. If this can be done, then praise be to Allaah.
However, if this cannot be done and you cannot continue your education in this school except by participating in swimming classes while committing these violations of the Sharee'ah, then you should look for another school that respects the teachings of Islam and try to persuade your parents to allow you to leave that school and move to another. For more benefit, please refer to fatwa 90143.
Allaah knows best.
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