What Should Muslim Men Wear While Swimming?
For a lot of Muslim men, swimming brings up a question that doesn't get talked about enough: what should you actually wear? Regular swim shorts might be the immediate answer, but they do not meet the Islamic requirements. On the other hand, some modest alternatives might feel uncomfortable and impractical for a swimming activity.
Is Swimming Encouraged in Islam?
Yes! Taking care of your body and staying active is something Islam generally encouraged. In particular, learning to swim is one of four activities praised in a Hadith (Hadith on swimming).
This hadith encourages men to learn how to swim, because of the benefits that result from learning that. This could be improving fitness or being able to save a drowning person for instance.
What to Keep in Mind While Swimming
However, for swimming to be permissible, or any other activities, it should not open the door to sins. For example, if swimming leads you to neglecting your prayers, then it will become impermissible for you.
A few practical things to keep in mind:
- Prayer time: if you're spending an extended time at the pool or beach, plan around prayer times the same way you would for any other activity.
- Awrah coverage: your swimwear should fully cover your Awrah - the area between the navel and the knee, including during movement (for example, while swimming).
- Mixed environments: it's worth being mindful of where you swim.
A Quick Refresher: What Is the Awrah for a Man?
If you're not sure exactly what covering the Awrah means in practical terms, we covered this in detail in a separate article: What Is the Awrah for a Man?
In short: for men, the Awrah - sometimes spelled Awra - refers to the area from the navel to the knee. Keeping this covered applies in everyday life, and swimming is no exception.
What Are Your Swimwear Options?
Once you know what needs to be covered, the next question is practical: what can you actually wear in the water? Here's a breakdown of the three most common approaches.
Regular Swim Shorts
Standard swim shorts: they are the most commonly available option, but they typically sit above the knee and don't cover the awrah. Swimming in such shorts is not permissible from an Islamic point of view.
Oversized Swim Shorts + T-Shirt
This is a common workaround, and it's a reasonable attempt, but it comes with two practical issues:
- Movement: oversized shorts might seem like they cover your knees when standing, but tend to go up above the knee as soon as you start swimming or bending your knees, which defeats the purpose.
- Transparent: depending on the t-shirt fabric, it might become see-through when wet, which isn't ideal either.
Long trousers and thick t-shirt
This other alternative typically checks the modesty requirements. Trousers are long enough so that they don’t go above the knee even during movement, and thick fabric means the t-shirt is unlikely to be transparent with water.
However, they come with a serious issue, they are not made for swimming. You risk feeling heavy, uncomfortable and the visual aspect can also be unflattering.
Long swim shorts and swimming t-shirt
Similar to the above alternative, but made with a fabric optimised for swimming. The long swim shorts should also have elastic bands to prevent it from going above the knee during movement.
The swimming t-shirt is made with a fabric that stays non-transparent even when wet.
This is great option to enjoy the beach or the pool, while staying fully modest. The only drawback is that it will not allow you to fully bathe in the sun and tan, if this matters to you.
Awrah Cover Swim Shorts
The Awrah Shorts are built specifically to address the problem: designed to stay below the knee during movement, made from quick-dry fabric suited for swimming, and built to cover the Awrah without needing to add a t-shirt on top.
It's the most direct answer to the original question: swimwear that's made for both modesty and an active lifestyle.
This is the best option to cover your Awrah while still enjoying a tan and a swim.
Quick Comparison
Final Thoughts
Staying active and staying true to your values don't have to be two separate goals. Once you know what covering your Awrah actually means in practice, choosing the right swimwear becomes a lot simpler. It's less about compromise and more about finding options that are exactly built for what you need.
If you're looking for swimwear designed with this in mind, take a look at mawwj's swimwear options, designed to keep you covered during your beach or pool days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does wearing a t-shirt in the water count as covering the awrah?
A dry t-shirt can help with upper-body coverage, but most t-shirts become thin and see-through once wet, which limits how effective they are. This is one of the main reasons swimwear designed specifically for coverage, like The Swim Tee, tends to work better than layering regular clothing.
What's the actual difference between modest swimwear and regular swim shorts?
The main differences are length (covering down to the knee, even during movement) and fabric (designed to stay opaque and functional when wet). Regular swim shorts are built for general swimming performance without these considerations in mind.
Is showing the chest permissible?
The chest is not part of the Awrah for a man. As to whether it is permissible or not to reveal it, there are some differences of opinions, and we would advise consulting a scholar for a better answer.
Our Awrah Shorts fully cover the Awrah while leaving room for tanning. For those who prefer extra coverage, you can pair them with our Swim Tee.