Is a woman's voice an 'awrah (part of the body that must be covered)?

Question : The sister asks and says: Is a woman's voice an 'awrah (part of the body that must be covered)?

Answer : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. A woman's voice is not an 'awrah (part of the body that must be covered), as evidenced by the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He: The prohibition against speaking with softness indicates that speech which does not contain softness is permissible. For this reason, the women in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would come to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) and speak to him in the presence of the Companions, and no one objected to them. However, what is objectionable is for a woman to speak in a way that leads to fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) by using soft speech that attracts attachment to her. This is what is forbidden.