Female greeting a female in the presence of men

· 28 Muharram 1445 AH1 min readEnglish

Question

If a woman greets other woman, and there are men nearby, should we return the greeting verbally for her to hear, or should we reply via a gesture or other from of indication?

Answer

The Shariah has prohibited women from talking loudly, so that they are not heard by men. Yes, a woman is permitted to talk to a man at the time of necessity, but not in a sweet, alluring tone, as this could lead to Fitnah hence, it is prohibited. [Re: Fataawa Uthmaaniyya Vol.10 Pg. 83] If by replying to the Salaam of a female loudly, there exists a possibility of a male becoming inclined (which could easily happen in our times due to the corruption of hearts), then the female should reply in a manner where her voice is not heard at all. However, she should reply to the Salaam.

Answered by
Maulana Ahmed Saeed
Checked & approved by
Mufti Mohammed Desai Saheb
Questions about this ruling, answered only from the archive with sources.

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