A woman examined by men

9-3-2011 | IslamWeb

Question:

I am a young woman. Allaah The Almighty has bestowed a great favor on me by enabling me to memorize the Quran at the hands of my female teacher in a center for memorizing the Quran. I decided to be a teacher of Quran for young girls. However, I have been told that I am required to pass an examination in order to assume this job and that the members of the examination committee would be men; one or two. I am a young woman and I believe that a woman’s voice is ‘Awrah (impermissible to be heard by non-Mahram, i.e., marriageable, men) and therefore she should not reveal it before non-Mahram men. Is it permissible to sit this examination? May Allaah reward you.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

 

According to the preponderant opinion, a woman’s voice is not ‘Awrah.

As for the examination under question, you are permitted to sit it and you are blameless even though the committee members are men, provided that you are not alone in private with a man.  There should be a screen between you and them; and if there is not, you are required to dress according to the dress code approved by the Sharee’ah (Islamic law).

Allaah Knows best.