Qiraat Jalsas for females
Question:-
What is the status of the current day Qiraat Jalsas held for women? Can the ladies weekly Tablighi gatherings be used as a proof to approve of these Jalsas? Is this a new Fitnah? Please comment!
Answer:-
The new trend of hosting Quraan and Qiraat Jalsas for ladies, and thereby driving women out of their homes, is totally foreign to our Deen and therefore, impermissible. These types of programmes were never held in the era of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam, nor in the era of the Sahaabah Radiallahu Anhum, Tabi’een, Tabe-e-Ta’bieen, Fuqaha (jurists), Muhadditheen (scholars of Hadith), and neither were such programmes hosted by any of our pious predecessors.
The weekly ladies Taleem programme (commonly known as the ladies Tablighi programme) is held in various parts of the world and is sanctioned and approved by many of the senior Muftis, however, with a number of conditions attached to it. These conditions may be perused in the various Kitaabs of Fatawa such as, “Ahsanul Fataawa” of Mufti Rasheed Saheb Ludhyanwi Rahimahullah and, “Fataawa Mahmoodiyyah” of Mufti Mahmood Hassan Saheb Gangohi Rahimahullah. The reason cited by them (for its permissibility) is that women should be educated in matters of Deen too. There is a great deal of ignorance and laxity in fundamental aspects of Deen hence, by attending these programmes, they will be encouraged to practice upon Deen themselves, as well as bringing their families onto Deen. In fact, Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam had reserved one day in the week for educating and addressing the females, but never will we find in any of the books of Hadith that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam instructed the females to gather for recitation of the Quraan Sharif, or a Qiraat Jalsa, hence, such a practice is a Bid’ah (innovation). Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam had warned with regard to such innovations, “And beware of innovations, for every innovation is misguidance and every misguidance leads to the fire of Jahannam.”
What is the need for females to recite before others except to show their talent? Any action carried out for “show” holds no value whatsoever in the sight of Allah Ta’ala. In fact, amongst the first people to be cast into the fire of Jahannam, will be a Qaari that recited to attain the praises of the people. Yes, listening to the Quraan Sharif being recited by Qurrah for males is proven from the following Hadith of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam:
عَنْ أَبِى سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِىِّ قَالَ جَلَسْتُ فِى عِصَابَةٍ مِنْ ضُعَفَاءِ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَإِنَّ بَعْضَهُمْ لَيَسْتَتِرُ بِبَعْضٍ مِنَ الْعُرْىِ وَقَارِئٌ يَقْرَأُ عَلَيْنَا إِذْ جَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ –صلى الله عليه وسلم- فَقَامَ عَلَيْنَا فَلَمَّا قَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ –صلى الله عليه وسلم- سَكَتَ الْقَارِئُ فَسَلَّمَ ثُمَّ قَالَ « مَا كُنْتُمْ تَصْنَعُونَ ». قُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ كَانَ قَارِئٌ لَنَا يَقْرَأُ عَلَيْنَا فَكُنَّا نَسْتَمِعُ إِلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ. قَالَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ –صلى الله عليه وسلم- « الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِى جَعَلَ مِنْ أُمَّتِى مَنْ أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَصْبِرَ نَفْسِى مَعَهُمْ ». قَالَ فَجَلَسَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ –صلى الله عليه وسلم- وَسَطَنَا لِيَعْدِلَ بِنَفْسِهِ فِينَا ثُمَّ قَالَ بِيَدِهِ هَكَذَا فَتَحَلَّقُوا وَبَرَزَتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ لَهُ – قَالَ – فَمَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ –صلى الله عليه وسلم- عَرَفَ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا غَيْرِى. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ –صلى الله عليه وسلم- « أَبْشِرُوا يَا مَعْشَرَ صَعَالِيكِ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ بِالنُّورِ التَّامِّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ تَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ قَبْلَ أَغْنِيَاءِ النَّاسِ بِنِصْفِ يَوْمٍ وَذَاكَ خَمْسُمِائَةِ سَنَةٍ » (رواه ابو داود)
Also, it serves as an encouragement for other male youth to memorize the Quraan Sharif, which can then becomes a means of them furthering their studies and becoming Ulama. Imaams, to lead the congregational Salaah, teach in our Makaatib, serve at the Darul Ulooms, and engage in the various departments of Deen, are always required, whereas this is definitely not the case with women.
When females are not permitted in Shariah to leave their homes to perform the Jumuah Salaah, Eid Salaah, the five daily Salaah, Janaazah Salaah etc. which is obligatory, how then can they be permitted to leave their homes for a Qiraat programme which is not even sanctioned in the Shariah? A female is not permitted to call out the Adhaan, lead the congregational Salaah, be appointed as a judge, or assume any position of leadership. When she is to remain indoors and only emerge due to necessity (and that too, only what Shariah recognizes as a necessity), then how can she emerge for a Qiraat Jalsa? Hadrat Mufti Mahmood Gangohi Rahimahullah has stated in Fataawa Mahmoodiyyah that, when the weekly ladies Tablighi programme takes place, then the female that is addressing other females is not permitted to utilize a microphone or speaker, as it is possible that her voice will reach some male. We cannot fathom a Qiraat Jalsa without an amplified speaker system which is well-tuned so that the recitation sounds enjoyable. If the speaker system was not used, then perhaps many wouldn’t even attend, as the enjoyment of an amplified speaker system wouldn’t be attained.
The Fuqaha were so cautious in matters of Deen that they never left any gap for Fitna to creep into Deen. It is recorded in the Kitaabs that a boy that reaches maturity qualifies to lead the congregational Salaah but, if he is beardless as his beard is not growing, then due to fear of Fitnah, he shouldn’t lead the Salaah until his beard grows. However, if he reaches twenty years of age and his beard hasn’t yet grown, then he may be permitted to lead the Salaah. Unfortunately we, on the other hand, are exploiting avenues upon avenues for Fitnahs to crop into Deen, and Shaytaan has deceived us into thinking that we are involved in acts of virtue by arranging such programmes.
How many marriage counsellors receive complaints that females are at the forefront with their studying, teaching etc. yet, they lack in fulfilling the rights of their spouses and families, resulting in the breakdown of many marriages. The Fitnah never remains at the same level, instead it always escalates to the next level. Females now want to have their own Taraweeh congregations; and a time might come when they would perhaps want to attend conferences and seminars with the Ulama. Hence, this is the steppingstone towards opening avenues of Fitnah.
Lastly, this is an era of photography and video-recording. Perhaps there isn’t a gathering where a Haraam photo or video is not taken, to the extent that even the Haramain are not free of these evils. How many ‘proud family members’ may have secretly taken photos and voice recordings of their beloved ones to boast of their achievements. These are all impermissible acts taking place in the name of Deen. May Allah Ta’ala guide the Ummah towards the correct understanding of Deen. Ameen!
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:-
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 05 Muharram 1444 / 04 August 2022