236. The Voice Of A Woman Is Not Awrah In And Of Itself

By Asma bint Shameem 

The voice of a woman is not awrah in and of itself. 

But if a woman softens her voice or beautifies it or makes it flirtatious, or laughs etc., that’s when it becomes awrah. 

So when a woman talks to a nonmahram, it’s allowed to do so. 

However, she should not do that unnecessarily; she should keep her voice straight and firm yet polite, and not laugh or make her voice soft.

Proof

Allaah says to the wives of the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam:

“O wives of the Prophet! 

You are not like any other women. If you keep your duty (to Allaah), then be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy, or evil desire for adultery) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honorable manner”

[al-Ahzaab 33:32]

Subhaan Allaah!

If that’s what Allaah says to the most  pious and righteous women, then what about ordinary people like me and you?!

Who could be more fearing of Allaah than the wives of the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam, the Mothers of the Believers?

They were the best, yet Allaah tells them not to soften their voices. 

The scholars of the Standing Committee said:

“The woman’s voice is not ‘awrah in principle, for women used to complain to the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam and ask him about Islaamic matters. 

They also did that with the Rightly-Guided Khaleefahs (may Allaah be pleased with them) and the rulers after them. 

And they would greet non-mahram men with salaams and return greetings, and none of the Imaams of Islaam denounced them for that. 

But it is not permissible for a woman to speak in a soft or alluring voice, because Allaah says:

“O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women. If you keep your duty (to Allaah), then be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy, or evil desire for adultery) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honorable manner”

[al-Ahzaab 33:32]because men may be tempted by that, as is indicated by this aayah. And Allaah is the source of strength.” 

(Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah li’l-Buhooth al-‘Ilmiyyah wa’l-Iftaa, 6/83). 

The scholars said about the above Aayah:

“Every Muslim reads and hears in the Book of Allaah a verse in which Allaah warned the purest of women and the most chaste of wives, and urged them to adhere to virtue, proper etiquette and chastity, and He says, guiding them: 

“O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women. If you keep your duty (to Allaah), then be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy, or evil desire for adultery) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honorable manner”

[al-Ahzaab 33:32]

Allaah wanted to teach them the means of removing impurity and the means of purification, even though they were members of the Prophet’s household and were the purest women ever known on earth. 

Other women are in greater need of these means than those who lived in the household of the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam.

So He started by telling them of their high status and lofty position, and said “You are not like any other women”. 

This applies to every woman of honor and dignity who insists on (strives towards) reaching the status and position that was attained by the wives of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam.

When she hears the prohibition of addressing strange men in a soft voice, she understands that Allaah has great wisdom in all that He commands and forbids, and that He is the One Who has created men and women and He knows that the soft voice of a woman may provoke desire and stir up fitnah. 

This is part of man’s nature and there is no way of attaining purity and modesty except by keeping away from means of provocation altogether. 

*Sharee’ah, which is based on wisdom, closes the door to all kinds of fitnah or temptation, even if that temptation may have little influence on the individual level, but its influence on the society on the whole and in the long term is apparent and clear. Although it may be hidden from some people, it is not hidden from Allaah, may He be glorified, the Lord of all people, and He is the one who has commanded Muslim women to speak in a serious manner.”*

(Islamqa Fatwa # 103439)

In order to avoid this ‘fitnah’, the scholars say that it’s much better for a woman to avoid even reciting the Qur’aan in front of nonmahrams because she beautifies her voice with the recitation if the Qur’aan.

 Kamaal al-Deen al-Siyoowaasi said:

“It is clearly stated in al-Nawaazil that the voice of a woman with a *“tune”*is ‘awrah. 

Based on that, for a woman to learn Qur’aan from a woman is better in my opinion than her learning Qur’aan from a BLIND man, because her voice with a tune is ‘awrah. 

Therefore the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said: 

“Tasbeeh is for men and clapping is for women.” It is not right for a man to hear her.” [Sharh Fath al-Qadeer (1/260)]

If this is the position for someone who’s reciting the Book of Allaah, then imagine how bad it is when women laugh out loud, joke and talk flirtatiously with the opposite gender!

But if she’s talking in a straight voice without any softness in it when she’s dealing with nonmahrams, there’s nothing wrong with that.

Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan said:

“If a woman speaks to the owner of the shop according to necessity and in a manner in which there is no fitnah, there is nothing wrong with that. 

Women used to speak to men about ordinary needs and matters in which there is no fitnah and within the bounds of necessity. 

But if it is accompanied by laughter or chitchat or an alluring tone, then this is haraam and is not permissible.” 

(Al-Muntaqa min Fataawa al-Shaykh al-Fawzaan)

And Allaah knows best