Ibtihaj Muhammad. Hajar Abulfazl. Kulsoom Abdullah. Sarah Attar. These are some of the names of Muslim women who participate in sporting events on a national or international scale They are fencing, playing soccer, weightlifting, and running track and field, respectively. They all observe hijab by covering their hair and being fully-clothed while participating in their designated sport. Hijab is an Arabic word that translates to a barrier or a cover and generally describes the scarf that Muslim women use to cover their hair.
Ibtihaj Muhammad, a U.S. Olympic bronze-medalist in Fencing, was a catalyst in portraying herself as a sportswoman who veils in public. “She represents a strong and smart athlete who has commitment to her faith and culture …,” said Abdullah, the former captain of the National Women’s Football team in Afghanistan. Other Muslim women in a similar positions have followed suit in talking about their experiences as well. Their experiences have inspired many women around the world to participate in their local sports leagues or even play recreationally for the sake of being active. I am one of these women.
In Toronto, Canada, The Sisterhood Softball League began in 2016 as a space for Muslim women to play softball, enjoy some sisterly affection and team-building, and refresh themselves with some Islamic lessons through Qur’an recitation and motivational Islamic talks. Whether an amateur or experienced athlete, everyone was allowed to play Sunday mornings from June to September. There were eight teams, female umpires, coloured jerseys, captains, and rented baseball fields, much like any other softball league but with a Muslim touch.
I was a part of this league earlier this year and we won the championship. It ended well but what I got most out of it was the feeling of working together as a team and relying on each other as sisters. Our relationships transferred off the field and into our daily lives where we were quick to help each other and pray for each other through trials. Moreover, spectators passing by us in parks were surprised to see mainly hijab-clad women playing softball!
Lastly, those of us who were new to the sport speedily rose in the supportive environment; captains and teammates were not allowed to be harsh in any way, rather we were supposed to use positive speech and encourage each other as much as we could. The results of this environment were obvious - our skills improved dramatically. Many of us were playing a teamsport for the first time in our lives, despite being young or middle-aged women with children and/or demanding jobs. Such opportunities are hard to come around the globe, even in the Muslim world.
I believe it is important for Muslim women to be a part of team-based or individual sports. Team-based sports teach us how to make an effort towards a goal, work in a team, and solve problems. Individual sports help one to build resilience, have a growth mindset (with the right coach), and gain mental strength. We need to take inspiration from our national and international Muslim sportswomen in order to recreate local examples in ourselves - especially from those who observe hijab while playing or competing. We should be aware that hijab is not an impediment nor an obstacle for Muslim women who want to take part in recereational physical activities or team-based sports.
It would be great if we can take the initiative in our communities to make spaces for Muslim women to take part in these activities. In our local area, there is also a Hoops for Her program that allows Muslim women to play in a basketball league during the fall and winter months. They use a gymnasium at a mosque to play weekly games. The windows of the gym doors are even covered so that women are able to play without hijab if they wish. Many Muslim and non-Muslim countries can allow a similar opportunity for women in this manner as well. We just have to take the initiative first.
For more information about women athletes in hijab, read these articles.
Alvarez, Anya. “Hijab in Sports: How Muslim Women Athletes Are Fighting for Acceptance.”
Shahzad, Ramna. “Playing ball, breaking barriers: GTA Muslim women's softball league growing in popularity.”
Sumayya Khan is a homeschooling mom and elementary school teacher. She has taught at several Islamic schools and organizations in the last 10 years. She is currently teaching Language Arts at Dawanet’s E-School, studying the Qur’an through Al-Huda Institute, and homeschooling her two kids. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her family and friends, play sports, enjoy nature, and read books. She currently resides with her children, husband and his family in Toronto, Canada.
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