In the Name of Allāh, the Ever Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy
The scholars have differed regarding the ruling on a woman’s voice: is it considered ʿawrah (something that must be concealed), or not? The more correct of the two scholarly opinions is that a woman’s voice is not, in and of itself, ʿawrah under any circumstances. This view aligns with the general body of evidence. However, a woman is prohibited from raising her voice in the presence of non-mahram men without a valid need, and she is strictly forbidden from doing so in a soft, affectionate, melodious, coquettish, drawn-out, or broken manner in speech, or in a way that involves flirtation, excessive friendliness, or a mix with laughter and joking, or in any manner that might lead to temptation because of her voice.
It’s stated in al-Mawsūʿah al-Fiqhiyyah:
If it is the voice of a woman, and the listener derives pleasure from it or fears temptation for himself because of it, then it is forbidden for him to listen to it. Otherwise, it is not forbidden. The Companions (may Allāh be pleased with them) hearing the voices of women during their conversations is understood in this light.
A woman is not permitted to soften her voice, make it melodic, or gentle in a way that stirs temptation. This is due to the saying of the Most High:
“Do not be soft in speech [to men], lest he in whose heart is disease (of hypocrisy, or evil desire for adultery, etc.) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honourable manner.” Sūrat al-Aḥzāb (33:32)
So Allāh, the Exalted, forbade them from being soft in speech to prevent temptation and out of fear that the people of corruption, desires, and diseased hearts might covet them.
Reference: al-Mawsūʿah al-Fiqhiyyah al-Kuwaytiyyah, volume 4, p. 91.
The members of the Permanent Committee for Iftāʾ in Saudi Arabia were asked:
Question:
What is the ruling on girls reciting the Qurʾān melodiously in the presence of men?
Answer:
The Committee responded: Girls’ recitation of the Qurʾān in a melodious manner in the presence of men is not permissible due to the fear of temptation. The Sharīʿah has come to block the means that lead to the unlawful.
Reference: Fatwas of al-Lajna ad-Dāʾima lil-Buḥūṯ al-ʿIlmiyya wal-Iftāʾ, no. 5413
Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymīn (may Allāh have mercy on him), was asked:
Question:
What is the ruling on female students beautifying their voices when reciting the Qurʾān to a male teacher in college when they are not required to do so?
Answer:
Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymīn: I do not see it as permissible for her to beautify her voice because Allāh the Exalted says: “Do not be soft in speech [to men], lest he in whose heart is disease (of hypocrisy, or evil desire for adultery, etc.) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honourable manner” (al-Aḥzāb: 32). So, if the student recites the Qurʾān with a nasal tone and beautifies her voice, it is feared that this could cause temptation. It is sufficient for her to recite the Qurʾān in a normal, straightforward manner.
This is alongside the principle that the origin of this matter is that a woman should teach members of her own gender, and likewise a man should teach members of his own gender except in cases of necessity, and then only with adherence to the Sharīʿah. The same principle applies in medical treatment and healthcare.
Reference: Fatāwā al-Liqāʿ al-Shahri, no. 42.
Our respected scholar, the muḥaddith Shaykh Muḥammad Nāṣir al-Dīn al-Albānī (may Allāh have mercy on him), stated:
If the Qurʾān teacher is teaching women via telephone, and they read and let him hear their voices, then the ruling is the same as if he heard their voices from behind a curtain without seeing their bodies. Temptation is possible in both scenarios, whether hearing their voices through the airwaves without cables or through cables. The voice is still the woman’s voice.
A woman’s voice is not ʿawrah, contrary to what is popularly believed. However, it is required that her voice be natural.
But when she recites with ghunnah, iqlāb, idh-har, etc., including all the rules of tajwīd such as mad tabīʿi, mad muttasil, and mad munfasil, then this constitutes tajwīd.
And the statement of the Messenger (ﷺ), “Whoever does not recite the Qurʾān in a nice voice is not one of us” (Bukhārī, 7527), indicates that she should recite the Qurʾān melodically. However, this should never be done in front of men at all, whether by radio or telephone.
Reference: Fatāwa Jeddah, no. 20.
Shaykh Ṣāliḥ ibn Fawzān al-Fawzān (may Allāh preserve him) was asked:
Question:
Regarding a woman’s voice, there are some programs involving Qurʾān recitation in which among the participants are women who recite the Qurʾān via telephone. Is there any issue in that?
Answer:
Shaykh Ṣāliḥ ibn Fawzān al-Fawzān: You mean on the radio?
Moderator: That’s what seems apparent, Shaykh…
Shaykh Ṣāliḥ ibn Fawzān al-Fawzān: This is not permissible. It is not permissible for a woman to make her voice heard to men, and for people to hear her through the radio. This is not allowed. This is an innovation, and it does not exist even in all the radio stations of the world! Nowhere is it found that women recite on the radio.
This is something they have newly introduced now in our Qurʾān radio station as well as the general broadcast program… It was introduced by ignorant people. This is absolutely impermissible. They must be informed, and it must be said to them: this is not permissible. Yes. My brother, none of the Arab countries’ radio stations have women reciting. And this radio station, of all others, is the one most deserving of adhering to the Sunnah and avoiding innovation in matters for which there is no precedent in the Sharīʿah.
Reference: Dars al-Muntaqā min Akhbār Sayyid al-Mursalīn (6/4/1434 AH).
— Translated by Abū Dilāra Naief al-ʿAydarūs.
