555. Can A Woman Teach A man In Person?

By Asma bint Shameem 

But if it’s online, and all the guidelines of Hijaab are followed, then the scholars say that it may be permissible for a person to teach the opposite gender if certain conditions are strictly followed. 

For example, there should be no khalwah or 

one-on-one interaction, no chance of fitnah (temptation), no unnecessary talking, joking or laughing etc. 

Also it’s not allowed for a female to read Qur’aan to a male teacher. 

That’s because although the voice of a woman itself is not awrah, the recitation would not be allowed because when she would recite the Qur’aan to him, she would beautify her voice and soften it. 

And that is not allowed. 

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.” 

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

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.

And that includes reading the Qur’aan in a melodious voice. 

So a woman may learn Qur’aan from a man if there’s no chance of fitnah and she’s not alone one on one with him and there are no female teachers available. 

However the scholars say that she can only “listen” to him and learn the rules, etc but she can not recite back the Qur’aan to him because that would be awrah. 

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)]

Therefore, it’s best for a woman to learn with a female teacher and for a man to learn with a male. 

And Allaah knows best