Female greeting a female in the presence of men
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
Fatawa SA is an independent, read-only index of fatawa already published by Darul Ifta Ibn Masood. It is not a fatwa service. For your own situation, ask the issuing Darul Ifta directly.