Answered by Shaykh Yūsuf Badāt
Question:
I have been diagnosed with varicose veins and my doctor referred me to a personal trainer to help tackle the veins issues. The trainer first wants me to check my muscle definition and for that I need to wear tight leggings and tops, as well as go braless, and without underwear. My question is, am I allowed to do as they instructed since they are helping me with a medical problem?
Answer:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Jazāk Allāh Khayr/ Thank you for contacting Mathabah Institute.
I pray for your quick recovery.
Islamicaly, there is a very easy solution to your dilemma, wherein you can fulfill the requirements of both the medical trainer, as well as Islamic apparel obligations. Wear the prescribed tight clothing thereafter put on a loose abayā dress on top.
It is only [islamicaly] allowed to expose one’s ‘awrah (nudity) in very pressing situations, such as for a required medical surgery. – (See: Al-Mabsūṭ, Vol 10, Page 157, Dar Al-Ma’rifah)[1]
“Tell the believing men to lower their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allāh is Acquainted with what they do. Tell the believing women to lower their gazes and also guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their head-covers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons, their husbands’ sons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons, their sisters’ sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. Let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. Turn to Allāh in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.” – (Qurʾān 24:31)[2]
The Prophet Muḥammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The dwellers of hellfire [also include] those who are clothed yet naked [due to their garments being tight, exposing their body shape].” – (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2128)[3]
Only Allāh knows best.
[1] وَإِنْ لَمْ يَجِدُوا امْرَأَةً تُدَاوِي تِلْكَ الْقُرْحَةَ وَلَمْ يَقْدِرُوا عَلَى امْرَأَةٍ تَعْلَمُ ذَلِكَ إذَا عُلِّمَتْ وَخَافُوا أَنْ تَهْلِكَ أَوْ يُصِيبَهَا بَلَاءٌ أَوْ وَجَعٌ لَا تَحْتَمِلُهُ فَلَا بَأْسَ أَنْ يَسْتُرُوا مِنْهَا كُلَّ شَيْءٍ إلَّا مَوْضِعَ تِلْكَ الْقُرْحَةِ ثُمَّ يُدَاوِيهَا رَجُلٌ وَيَغُضُّ بَصَرَهُ مَا اسْتَطَاعَ إلَّا عَنْ ذَلِكَ الْمَوْضِعِ لِأَنَّ نَظَرَ الْجِنْسِ إلَى غَيْرِ الْجِنْسِ أَغْلَظُ فَيُعْتَبَرُ فِيهِ تَحَقُّقُ الضَّرُورَةِ وَذَلِكَ لِخَوْفِ الْهَلَاكِ عَلَيْهَا وَعِنْدَ ذَلِكَ لَا يُبَاحُ إلَّا بِقَدْرِ مَا تَرْتَفِعُ الضَّرُورَةُ بِهِ وَذَوَاتُ الْمَحَارِمِ وَغَيْرُهُمْ فِي هَذَا سَوَاءٌ لِأَنَّ النَّظَرَ إلَى مَوْضِعِ الْعَوْرَةِ لَا يَحِلُّ بِسَبَبِ الْمَحْرَمِيَّةِ فَكَانَ الْمَحْرَمُ وَغَيْرُ الْمَحْرَمِ فِيهِ سَوَاءٌ – كتاب المبسوط للسرخسي ج١٠ / ص١٥٧ دار المعرفة
[2] قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَزْكَىٰ لَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا ۖ وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِهِنَّ ۖ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَائِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَائِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي أَخَوَاتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسَائِهِنَّ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُنَّ أَوِ التَّابِعِينَ غَيْرِ أُولِي الْإِرْبَةِ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ أَوِ الطِّفْلِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوا عَلَىٰ عَوْرَاتِ النِّسَاءِ ۖ وَلَا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِن زِينَتِهِنَّ ۚ وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ – النور ٣٠ و٣١
[3] صِنفانِ مِن أهلِ النَّارِ لم أرَهما: قَومٌ معهم سِياطٌ كأذنابِ البَقَرِ يَضرِبونَ بها النَّاسَ، ونِساءٌ كاسِياتٌ عارياتٌ، مُميلاتٌ مائِلاتٌ، رُؤوسُهنَّ كأسنِمةِ البُختِ المائلةِ، لا يَدخُلْنَ الجنَّةَ، ولا يَجِدنَ ريحَها، وإنَّ ريحَها لَيُوجَدُ مِن مَسيرةِ كذا وكذا – أخرجه مُسْلِم ٢١٢٨