Q: Is bodybuilding and competing harem, in accordance with the laws of chastity and modesty? Are there any exceptions for men or women? And is going to bodybuilding competitions considered harem? “buff dude-or dudette’
Time: Sunday January 30, 2011 at 7:20 pm
1-can a muslim women be friends with a guy if no why?
2-can women in islam go to the gym to excess?
Time: Tuesday February 8, 2011 at 5:27 pm

Answers:

Part 1:

• A: Bodybuilding as part of a health recommended program for attaining better health would allow for it to be permissible. The attire worn must be appropriate. Men should seek male occupied gyms, woman should chose female occupied gyms.
• Bodybuilding as done by current bodybuilders prove unfavorable to the ‘normal’ average humans spiritual core. Aside from it being time consuming, it has often functioned as limiting to the spiritual core of humans, something all religions frown upon.
• The environment that people go to work out in is highly conducive of making wrongful moral judgments. If one must go to work out, it should be done at an hour wherein the gym remains least populated. To go during peak times would not be at all spiritually/morally recommended.
• We also advice that while the physical body is essential for optimal health and looks, so is attaining a spiritual mind and heart.

Part 2:

• Bodybuilding contests as they are in current times remain immodest. Flexing for the opposite gender is to assist in zina of the eyes, this would be incorrect.
• Making ‘faces’ while lifting weights is to resemble the worst of beasts. Allah (SWT) says: I have created humans in the best of shape. Bodybuilders seem to say, we will make our bodies the best, and then ruin our faces as we lift. This is not religiously compliant.
• Income earned from such would be forbidden for personal halal consumption. To attend such gatherings are of no benefit. What can be seen at these shows can also be attained from books and other forms of media, thus being in attendance of people that expose body parts would not be permissible.

Allah Certainly Knows Best

p.s. Friends with a guy, kindly go here and check any of these previous responses out.