❀ A Woman’s Voice as a Form of Ḥijāb ❀
This fatwa is derived from the book “500 Questions and Answers for Women,” based on the rulings of the scholars of the Ḥaramayn, translated by Ḥāfiẓ ʿAbdullāh Salīm.
What is the Sharʿī ruling on a non-maḥram man listening to a woman’s voice via telephone or other means of communication?
According to the correct opinion, a non-maḥram man listening to a woman’s voice is considered part of the ḥijāb. For this reason, during prayer, if the imām makes a mistake, women do not say “Subḥān Allāh” as men do; rather, they clap. Similarly, a woman is not permitted to call the adhān, as it requires her to raise her voice. During iḥrām, she may recite the talbiyah only loud enough to be heard by a woman next to her.
However, some scholars have permitted necessary conversation between a woman and non-maḥram men within limits, provided:
✔ There is no softness or flirtation in speech.
✔ The environment is free from suspicion.
✔ There is no risk of arousing sexual desires.
The basis for this ruling is the following verse:
«فَلَا تَخْضَعْنَ بِالْقَوْلِ فَيَطْمَعَ الَّذِي فِي قَلْبِهِ مَرَضٌ»
“Do not speak in a soft tone, lest the one in whose heart is a disease should develop desire.”
[Sūrah al-Aḥzāb: 32]
This indicates that if a woman speaks gently or flirtatiously, resembling the tone used between spouses, it can excite unlawful desires.
Therefore, in a necessity, it is permissible for a woman to communicate via phone or other means, whether initiating the call or responding, as long as it remains within Sharʿī bounds.
(Fatwa by: Dār al-Iftāʾ Committee)
This fatwa is derived from the book “500 Questions and Answers for Women,” based on the rulings of the scholars of the Ḥaramayn, translated by Ḥāfiẓ ʿAbdullāh Salīm.
❖ Question:
What is the Sharʿī ruling on a non-maḥram man listening to a woman’s voice via telephone or other means of communication?
❖ Answer:
According to the correct opinion, a non-maḥram man listening to a woman’s voice is considered part of the ḥijāb. For this reason, during prayer, if the imām makes a mistake, women do not say “Subḥān Allāh” as men do; rather, they clap. Similarly, a woman is not permitted to call the adhān, as it requires her to raise her voice. During iḥrām, she may recite the talbiyah only loud enough to be heard by a woman next to her.
However, some scholars have permitted necessary conversation between a woman and non-maḥram men within limits, provided:
✔ There is no softness or flirtation in speech.
✔ The environment is free from suspicion.
✔ There is no risk of arousing sexual desires.
The basis for this ruling is the following verse:
«فَلَا تَخْضَعْنَ بِالْقَوْلِ فَيَطْمَعَ الَّذِي فِي قَلْبِهِ مَرَضٌ»
“Do not speak in a soft tone, lest the one in whose heart is a disease should develop desire.”
[Sūrah al-Aḥzāb: 32]
This indicates that if a woman speaks gently or flirtatiously, resembling the tone used between spouses, it can excite unlawful desires.
Therefore, in a necessity, it is permissible for a woman to communicate via phone or other means, whether initiating the call or responding, as long as it remains within Sharʿī bounds.
(Fatwa by: Dār al-Iftāʾ Committee)
