Yet, communal swimming when men and women use a beach or a swimming pool at the same time, wearing only swimming costumes, is forbidden. But when men and women use the swimming pool separately and they observe Islamic values, there is nothing wrong with their swimming. Allah has not made it so in order that people do not find it too difficult to implement. No one will try to pull this religion toward rigidity without being defeated. When you examine religious duties and requirements you are bound to conclude that ease is the very characteristic of this faith.
Rigidity is alien to it.
Nevertheless, people continue to impose too many restrictions on themselves and their families, oblivious of the fact that rigidity is more likely to be counter-productive. I knew a very good person who was studying in Europe, and who had two young daughters, aged eight and six. Wherever they went, his daughters were wearing the full Islamic dress required of adult Muslim women. I spoke to him about this and suggested that the young girls may find their dress too much of a burden. He explained that he wanted them to get used to dress in Islamic way.