No Music, Separate Timings, Dress Code: Kerala's 'Islam-Friendly Gym' Ignites Debate

Key points

• No Music, Separate Timings, Dress Code: Kerala's 'Islam-Friendly Gym' Ignites Debate Reported By, Last Updated: June 04, 2026, 14:04 IST A Kerala gym's plan to become an "Islam-friendly" fitness centre with separate timings, dress codes and no music has sparked widespread debate online.
• A representative photo of a Muslim woman at a gym (Social Media) A fitness centre at Puthunagaram in Kerala’s Palakkad has triggered a public debate after announcing that it would be converted into an ‘Islam-friendly gym’ functioning in accordance with Sharia-based guidelines.
• The announcement (now deleted), initially shared through the Instagram profile of ‘Nawaz Muthu T’, said the gym, which has been operating for the past 15 years, would undergo certain changes to introduce a new set of rules for its members.
• According to the announcement, the proposed changes include a complete ban on music inside the gym, separate workout timings for men and women, and a...