Is it permissible for a woman to recite the Qur'an without melody in front of men for the purpose of an examination?

The questioner : What is the ruling on women reciting the Qur'an in front of men with tajwid but without melody, for the sake of teaching or an examination?

The Shaykh : May Allah guide you. Clarify the question a bit. Is it in front of men? Say, in front of a man.

The questioner : No, because this is a requirement for us. In the final year of our studies, we must listen to tajwid in front of the principal and a group of shaykhs. Is this an oral recitation?

The Shaykh: Allahu Akbar.

The questioner : So we taught them that it is prohibited. You should tell him: This is not permissible. In fact, even in the Hanafi school of jurisprudence, it is not permissible.

The Shaykh : Of course, because the woman's voice is considered an 'awrah (part of the body that must be covered) with them, especially during recitation.

The questioner : So, they are excused in this requirement if it is without tajwid, meaning she did not beautify her voice, for example, she does not recite with the rules of tajwid in terms of elongation and...?

The Shaykh : By Allah, the truth is that the answer to this requires precision. I say that if the recitation is, as you say, without tajwid and without tartil (measured recitation), such that no fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) arises from her recitation, we might be lenient in this matter. But by Allah, I do not know, and they may know better.

The questioner : By Allah, you see that fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) arises from any characteristic.

The Shaykh : Yes, so it is prohibited.