Can a Woman Pray Loudly If She Is Alone?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam alaykum

Is it permissible for a woman to pray in such a manner that the voice is audible, being at home?

I usually pray in a loud voice so as to concentrate on what I am saying, but my family members argue that women shouldn’t pray loudly.

Answer: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,

The basis is that a woman prays quietly in all prayers as her worship generally revolves around concealment (satr). But at the same time, and like men, she should be actually reciting by pronouncing the letters with the tongue and lips.

However, if there are no unrelated men around, it would be fine for her to raise her voice slightly in the loud prayers if it helps her focus better; yet it would remain proper to avoid reciting louder than the point at which she can hear herself as this would fulfil the need.

Generally, you may recite aloud, with the aforementioned condition, when reciting the Qur’an outside of prayer. Within the prayer though, you should exercise some level of restraint as praying in such a manner is not from the sunna for women.

[Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah, with Tahtawi’s Gloss (1.346); Hamawi, Ghamz ‘Uyun al-Basa’ir Sharh al-Ashbah (3.75)]

Please also see: Reciting Aloud in Quiet Prayers and: What Is the Wisdom Behind Reciting Aloud in Some Prayers? and: Women’s Prayer: Praying in Congregation, Reciting Aloud, and Calling the Adhan and Iqama

And Allah Most High alone knows best.

wassalam,

[Ustadh] Tabraze Azam

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Tabraze Azam holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Leicester, where he also served as the President of the Islamic Society. He memorised the entire Qur’an in his hometown of Ipswich at the tender age of sixteen, and has since studied the Islamic Sciences in traditional settings in the UK, Jordan and Turkey. He is currently pursuing advanced studies in Jordan, where he is presently based with his family.