Question:
Selam wa aleykum ve rahmatullah Mevlana.
I was talking about music and read the article about the music, I showed it to some brothers and one sister asked me the following question. The disciples of Imam Shafi’i said that sama is not permissible to listen to a woman who can be married, but as disciples of Imam Maliki, Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Ahmad? What they said about it? And that even Imam Shafi’i said about the music and married women singing?
Allah Razi Olsun Mevlana
Answer:
wa `alaykum salam,
Muslim women are not allowed to sing in public because their voices are sweet and tempting.
According to the preferred opinion in the Hanafi School, woman’s voice is not considered to be part of her nakedness (`awra). However, if there is a fear of Fitna then, the female should not raise her voice and the male should avoid listening to it. One of the great Hanafi scholars Ibn Humam (Allah have mercy on him) says in his “Fath al-Qadir”, quoting from “an-Nawazil“:
The melodious voice of a female and her singing will be considered as `Awra. This is the reason why it is better for her to learn the Qur’an from a female teacher rather than a male who is blind, as her recitation in tune is `Awra. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “The reciting of Tasbih is for men and clapping is for women.” (meaning if the Imam makes a mistake in Salat , the males will invite his attention by reciting SubhanAllah and women, by clapping their hands). (Fath al-Qadir, 1/260)
Imam Ibn `Abidin, after quoting the same from an-Nawazil writes in Radd al-Muhtar “It is permissible for women to converse with non-mahram men at the time of need (and visa versa). However, what is not permissible is that they stretch, soften and raise their voice in a melodious way.” (Radd al-Muhtar, 1/406)
Imam Senad Agic
American Islamic Center – Chicago
Majlis #1 Head Imam (IABNA)
www.aicchicago.com
www.imamsenadagic.com
www.iabna.org
