['Aalim Network QR] Clarification on Woman reciting Qur'an

["Akil M. Karim" <amk@io.org>]

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|       In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the All-Merciful       |\
|  Greeting of Allah be upon Muhammad and the pure members of his House |\
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Salamun 'Alaykum

The following question which was kindly answered by Shaykh Hasnain was
posted a couple of days ago. However as a result of an oversight, the
following statement indicating the name of the Marja', was accidentally
deleted from the question: 

"My request is that the `Aalim use the Arabic resalah of Ayatullah
Gulpaygani for the response. The English version contains no rulings on
this issue but I am told the Arabic one would." 

Fee Amanillah,

Akil Karim
Acting Moderator for ABDG-A

---------- Forwarded message ----------

In His name, the Beneficent, the Merciful.


QUESTION:

Is it permissable for a Muslim Sister to recite Qur'an in front of
na-Mahram men.  This is not done for the Sister to learn the proper
recitation, as Alhamdulillah, she recites better than most people I know. 

Technically, there is no real need for her to recite in this setting, but
she has been put into this spot unexpectedly, and was quite astonished
when she was asked to read infront of other men. 

I, being her husband have heard her recite Qur'an and she does recite in
a style which *I* feel others would be attracted to. 

Do the people who have asked her to read in a group setting (of men) have
any basis in the Shari'ah for asking her?  Is this act makruh or haram,
or would it be permitted? 

By the way, the men in the room are all baligh ((over 20)). 

Would the ruling of this issue hold the same if she was asked to deliver
a lecture in a hall with both men and women mixed??  If both men and
women have the same view of her (if she is standing on the podium in the
front) would this be allowed - considering that there are others who can
do this task, but she has been specifically singled out?? 

If she is in a separate section, where only women can see her, but men
can hear here, does the same rule apply?? 


ANSWER:

When marhum Ayatullah Sayyid Gulpayghani was asked whether a baligha can
read the Qur'an in the presence of a na-mahram man, he said she was not
permitted to do so. Since the response has a potential of being frowned
upon let me translate, to the best of my ability, both the question and
its answer in their entirety. 

Q. Can a man teach the Qur'an to a group of Muslim women and girls? Can
he (i.e. the teacher) read the Qur'an loudly when teaching the female
students? [Furthermore], can these female students repeat after the
teacher so that he can correct their mistakes, if any, regarding vowel
marks (i`raab) and the rules of recitation (tajweed)? Or is it
religiously inappropriate for these women and girls students to read the
Qur'an loudly? 

A. There is no problem in teaching the Glorious Qur'an if it does not
entail commiting a sin. However, the women and girl [students] should not
read the Qur'an loudly in the presence of a na-mahram man. And if
recitation of the Qur'an by a male causes lust (moojibe taladh-dhudh)
amongst the women then it also is a problemsome. It is better for women
to have a female teacher so that the fear of commiting sin is avoided. 
And commiting a sin in the name of teaching the Qur'an is another sin. 
                (taken from Majma`ul Masaa'il, vol. 2,  p.231, Qum, 1414)


My response to the original question is:

According to the fatwa of Ayatullah Gulpayghani it is not permissible for
the Muslim sister to read the Qur'an in front of na-mahram men. Nor is it
appropriate for the organizers to offer/request the sister to read the
Qur'an in a gathering of men. 

As for your question on a woman lecturing where men are present, it is
advisable to stay away from it. Ayatullah Gulpaygani was asked (same
reference as above, p.229) if it was all right for men to overhear women
reciting Majlis (Rawzah), or Nawhas etc. He replied that it was necessary
to take due precaution to maintain modesty. Therefore, although he does
not specifically mention lectures, I would advise that discretion of
avoiding it be used. 

God knows the best.

Hasnain Kassamali
Humble servant of the Ahlul Bayt (a)