How to recite the naat of a woman in a loud voice?

Verifier: Maulana Naveed Chishti Madani, Zaid Majdahu

Endorser: Mufti Qasim Sahib, Madzillahul Aali

Fatwa Number: Pin-4008

Date of Issuance: 03 Dhul-Qa'dah 1436 AH / 19 August 2015 CE

Darul Ifta Ahl-e-Sunnat

(Dawat-e-Islami)

---

Question:

What do religious scholars and Shariah jurists say about the Milad (Prophet ﷺ) gatherings where only women participate? Can women recite the Holy Qur’an, the Naat (of the Prophet ﷺ), and give speech in such a loud voice that it reaches non-mahram (unrelated)  the gathering, or should they not? Please provide an explanation.

---

Answer:

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

The answer is given by the Grace of the Sovereign, the Bestower of Gifts. May Allah grant guidance towards the truth and righteousness.

First of all, it should be noted that celebrating the Milad of the Noble Prophet ﷺ is a source of many blessings and good deeds. Its virtues and blessings are clearly evident from the Holy Qur'an, where Allah Almighty has commanded us to rejoice over His mercy and grace.

Allah Almighty says:

"Say: In Allah’s grace and mercy, in that let them rejoice. It is better than all that they accumulate."
(Surah Yunus, Ayah 58)

In this verse, Allah commands us to rejoice over His mercy, and without any doubt, the Holy Prophet ﷺ is a great mercy from Allah, sent as a blessing for all worlds, and His mission was presented as a favor from Allah. Regarding the Prophet ﷺ being a mercy for all the worlds, Allah the Almighty says:

"And We have not sent you but as a mercy for all the worlds."
(Surah Al-Anbiya, Ayah 107)

In another place, Allah says:

"Indeed, Allah conferred a great favor on the believers when He sent among them a Messenger from among themselves."
(Surah Aal-Imran, Ayah 164)

The first verse mentions the Prophet ﷺ as a mercy, and the second describes him as a blessing. Since the Prophet ﷺ is a great mercy and blessing from Allah, celebrating His birth, holding gatherings to praise His virtues, and expressing gratitude for this blessing is fulfilling the command of Allah, as He says in the Qur'an:

"And as for the blessings of your Lord, proclaim them."
(Surah Ad-Duha, Ayah 11)

Celebrating the Milad of the Prophet ﷺ is such a great and virtuous act that its blessings extend even to disbelievers. As stated in Sahih Bukhari: “Thuwaiba, the slave of Abu Lahab, was freed by him, and she nursed the Prophet ﷺ. After Abu Lahab’s death, he was seen in a bad state in a dream, and he was asked, ‘What have you found?’ He replied, ‘I have found no goodness since parting from you except that I am given water in this finger because I freed Thuwaiba.’”
(Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 2, p. 270)

Commenting on this, Sheikh Abdul Haq Muhaddith Dehlvi (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
"This hadith serves as proof for those who celebrate the Milad. Despite being a disbeliever, and having been condemned in the Qur'an, Abu Lahab was rewarded for expressing joy at the birth of the Prophet ﷺ by freeing his slave."

(Madarijun Nubuwah, Vol. 2, p. 34)

---

Regarding Women Reciting in Milad Gatherings:

It is permissible for women to hold Milad and other religious gatherings and recite naats, give speeches, and read the Qur'an, but they should ensure that their voices do not reach non-mahram men. If a woman’s voice is so loud that it reaches non-mahrams, then it becomes impermissible and sinful, regardless of whether she is reciting in a street, an open room, or any other place where non-mahram men can hear her. A woman’s melodious voice, when heard by unrelated men, can lead to temptation, and hence it is prohibited. As stated by the revered scholar Imam Ahmad Raza Khan (may Allah have mercy on him):

"It is impermissible, as a woman’s voice is part of her modesty (awrah), and her melodious voice, when heard by non-mahrams, becomes a source of temptation and is, therefore, forbidden."
(Fatawa Razawiyyah, Vol. 22, p. 240)

In another place, Imam Ahmad Raza Khan says:

"For a woman to recite aloud in a melodious voice such that non-mahram men hear her is forbidden. In Nawaazil, it is stated:
'A woman’s melodious voice is part of her modesty (awrah).'
In the book Kafi by Imam Abu Barkat Nasafi, it is stated:
'A woman should not recite the Talbiyah (during Hajj) aloud because her voice is part of her modesty (awrah).'"
(Fatawa Razawiyyah, Vol. 22, p. 242)

---

Closing Remarks:

Allah knows best, and His Messenger ﷺ knows best.