What is the ruling on a blind man teaching women, and what is the ruling on a woman reciting the Qur'an with a beautiful voice in front of him?
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The questioner : Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : What is your opinion, O Shaykh, regarding the fact that there are shaykhs who are visually impaired, meaning they cannot see, who teach in secondary or middle schools for girls? So when a woman wants to read the Qur'an, she must recite it with a beautiful voice. What is your opinion about her beautifying her voice in front of a man?
The Shaykh : A blind man teaching women is permissible if he is trustworthy. However, if he is suspected of having improper intentions, it is not permissible for him to teach; rather, he must be prevented from teaching in any case.
And the question remains: if he teaches, is it permissible for the woman to look at him?
The answer is: Yes, it is permissible for her to look at him, provided that she does not do so out of desire. This is because a woman looking at men is not forbidden. The evidence for this is the hadith of Fatimah bint Qays, in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to her:Sunan Abi Dawud 2284Sahih (Al-Albani). Also, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) used to cover Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) while she was watching the Ethiopians playing in the mosque.
As for reciting the Qur'an in the presence of this blind man and the woman beautifying her voice in doing so, I fear that this may lead to fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). I think she should recite the Qur'an with a beautiful recitation without beautifying her voice, because beautifying the voice is dangerous for a woman, especially a young one. Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) said to the wives of His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family):[Al-Ahzab 33:32]. So she should recite, but with a normal voice without beautification, and she should not beautify her voice.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : What is your opinion, O Shaykh, regarding the fact that there are shaykhs who are visually impaired, meaning they cannot see, who teach in secondary or middle schools for girls? So when a woman wants to read the Qur'an, she must recite it with a beautiful voice. What is your opinion about her beautifying her voice in front of a man?
The Shaykh : A blind man teaching women is permissible if he is trustworthy. However, if he is suspected of having improper intentions, it is not permissible for him to teach; rather, he must be prevented from teaching in any case.
And the question remains: if he teaches, is it permissible for the woman to look at him?
The answer is: Yes, it is permissible for her to look at him, provided that she does not do so out of desire. This is because a woman looking at men is not forbidden. The evidence for this is the hadith of Fatimah bint Qays, in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to her:
Spend the waiting period in the house of Ibn Umm Maktum for he is blind and you can undress
اعتدي في بيت ابن أمِّ مكتوم، فإنه رجل أعمى تضعين ثيابك عندهAs for reciting the Qur'an in the presence of this blind man and the woman beautifying her voice in doing so, I fear that this may lead to fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). I think she should recite the Qur'an with a beautiful recitation without beautifying her voice, because beautifying the voice is dangerous for a woman, especially a young one. Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) said to the wives of His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family):