Exercising to the sound of music

Reference: Sharh ‘Umdatil-Fiqh – Tape 1, Question No.28

Question: In our country, women get together in a sports gym and dance to the sound of drums, claiming this is for physical exercise. Is this activity permissible?

Response: Sport is permissible. [Engaging in] sport in which there is benefit to the body is permissible, with the condition [the women are] suitably covered and no men are watching them. As for what goes beyond that [doing so] with the sound of drums and music, then this is impermissible, because [music] is from that entertainment which is prohibited.

He is a graduate of the Islaamic University of Madeenah, having graduated from the Institute of Arabic Language, and later the Faculty of Sharee'ah in 2004. He currently resides in Birmingham, UK.