Can Muslim women be lifeguards?

Saving a life is a huge reward

The Quran describes saving one life as if you saved all of humanity:

A trained lifeguard does exactly that. Nothing in Islam stops a woman from learning first aid, CPR and water rescue, and these skills are valuable for her family and community too.

The uniform question

Standard lifeguard kit is a swimsuit or shorts and a vest, which doesn't meet hijab rules in public. Many pools and beach services in the UK, Europe and the USA now allow modest alternatives:

• A full-length swimsuit (often called a burkini) in the service colours.
• Leggings and a long-sleeved rash guard on poolside duty.
• A sports hijab or swim cap with neck cover.

Ask before you apply; employers in many countries must consider religious dress requests. See How do I wear hijab for sports?

Mixed pools and rescues

Most pools and beaches are mixed, so you'll see people in swimwear. Lowering the gaze applies here as it does at any public pool, and you're there to watch for danger, not to look at people. See Can I still go swimming at a public pool as a Muslim?

During a real emergency, touching someone of the opposite sex to save their life is allowed. Scholars agree that necessity makes permissible what is normally avoided, just as a doctor treats a patient. The concern is only about unnecessary touch.

Workplaces that fit best

• Women-only swim sessions at leisure centres, which often struggle to find female lifeguards.
• Women's gyms and spas with their own pools.
• Schools running girls' swimming lessons.
• Teaching swimming to children and women, often alongside lifeguarding.

Some sisters choose to work only these sessions; others work mixed shifts in modest kit. Both are reasonable choices, and scholars differ on how strict to be about mixed workplaces.