Teaching Quran to Young Girls: Islamic Guidelines for Male Scholars

Can a Male Scholar Teach Quran to Young Girls Face-to-Face?

Question: If 12, 13, or 14-year-old girls are memorizing the Quran, is it permissible for a male scholar or Hafiz to teach them face-to-face? The girls wear the niqab, but their faces are uncovered—can a male scholar or Hafiz teach them in this manner according to Shariah?

Answer: The general principle for teaching between men and women is that women should ideally learn from women, and men from men. However, in cases of necessity, men can teach women and women can learn from men, provided it is within the boundaries of Shariah. If due to necessity, a male scholar or Hafiz teaches girls Quran memorization, there is no harm, but it is essential that the girls are behind a screen or partition, so the teacher and students cannot see each other. Additionally, the male scholar should teach a group of girls, not just one, to avoid any form of seclusion (khalwa). Furthermore, all other safety precautions should be observed.

In the scenario mentioned in the question, where the girls’ faces are uncovered while learning from a male scholar, this is not permissible. The correct method is to teach with a screen or barrier in place.

Respondent: Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi Hafizahullah 

Jeddah Dawah Center, Saudi Arabia  

Interpreter: Hasan Fuzail