The voice of the women is not a “ ^Awrah” or unlawful to occur in front of men, as some people claim. If the women was reciting Qur’an out loud in front of men, or was giving an Islamic lecture or the like, there is no harm in such an act.
Al-Bukhariy related from ^a’isha (Prophet’s Wife - may Allah be pleased with her) that she was at home once, and she had with her 2 females who were chanting. Their chants were pretty loud that the person in the other room could hear. The Prophet (May peace be upon him) came to the house. He went and laid down on the couch facing the other side, so he won’t be looking at them. He didn’t not ask ^a’isha (may Allah be pleased with her) to stop them from chanting! He did not say it is a ^awra, or ‘nakedness’ or anything.
Abou bakr, came later on, and asked ^a’isha to stop them, but the Prophet, may Peace be upon him, told him that it’s ok.
We all know that the Prophets do not ignore it, they say it’s wrong. If the voice of the women is 3awra, the Prophet Muhamad (May peace be upon him) would’ve asked the females to stop chanting.
Simply, we conclude that if the voice of the women was a ^awrah, than the Prophet would have told the women that would talk to him, and ask him or talked to the Sahabah in front of him, not to do that. And certainly the Sahabah spoke to women infront of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
Those who misunderstood al-Qur’an, came with such opinion. However, their opinion is not accepted based on the teachings of the Prophet. sallallahu alayhi wa sallam
The ^Awrah of the of the free (that excludes the slave) woman is all her body except the face and her hands.
So, the face of the women is not considered a ^awrah, and she is free to uncover her face and hands. She may cover it however, as an optional act in following the doings of the wives of the Prophet (Sallallahu ^Alayhi Wa Sallam).
Ahmad G, jazakallah for your information but could you verify where that information came from?
There is a hadith that clearly says, that the women is 'awrah, and when she goes out the shaitaan gets his hopes up.
hope the following text would be of some help to you as well.
Question #26304: Is a woman’s voice ‘awrah?
Praise be to Allaah.
**The woman’s voice is not ‘awrah in principle**, for women used to complain to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and ask him about Islamic 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 imams of Islam denounced them for that. **But it is not permissible for a woman to speak in a soft or alluring voice, because Allaah says** (interpretation of the meaning):
*“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 honourable 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.
From Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah li’l-Buhooth al-‘Ilmiyyah wa’l-Iftaa, 6/83.
Please also refer to Question no. [1121](http://63.175.194.25/index.php?search_text_box_dsn4=1121&lv=browse&submit.x=48&submit.y=12&formtrans=dgn%3D4%7C&ln=eng&ds=qa&sensitivity=2&searchquestions=1&searchtitles=1&searchanswers=1&searchsources=1&pg=result&offset=0&msubmit=1), where you will find limits and guidelines on speaking to non-mahram women. This is an important topic.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid (www.islam-qa.com)