Fatwa ID: 08162

Answered by: Maulana Yusuf Badshah

Question:

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,

I have a question regarding the permissibility of certain natural speech patterns. I am a Muslim who experiences same-sex attraction (that I do not act upon) and also struggle with waswas (intrusive doubts) regarding my speech. Sometimes, I worry that my voice has effeminate intonations (such as a softer tone or more pitch variation), but I am uncertain if this is actually the case or if it is just my overthinking.

I do not deliberately try to imitate women, nor do I consciously exaggerate my speech in an artificial way. However, due to my waswas, I keep questioning whether my voice is considered inappropriate in an Islamic sense.

My questions are:

Am I obligated to change my voice to make it sound deeper or more “masculine” in speech?

Does having naturally effeminate intonations (if they even exist) fall under the prohibition of tashabbuh (imitating women), or is this ruling only for deliberate imitation?

If I am unsure whether my voice even has these traits, should I just ignore these thoughts as waswas, or should I take action to adjust my speech?

I would greatly appreciate your guidance on this matter based on the Hanafi school of thought.

Jazakum Allahu Khayran.

Answer:

Wa alaykum assalaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

It is disliked for men to imitate women [1]. This covers clothing and actions, but also covers other aspects such as speech, although this will vary in some respects between different countries, languages and cultures. Thus, if one’s voice is such that it could be mistaken for a woman’s voice amongst the people of his locality and it would not cost him great effort to speak in a more masculine tone, then it would be better for him to do so. Otherwise, as long as effort has been made and such intonations are not intentional, one will be excused [2].

And only Allah s.w.t knows best.

Written by: Maulana Yusuf Badshah
Checked and approved by: Mufti Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham

[1] Sunan Abi Dawud 4097:
حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ لَعَنَ الْمُتَشَبِّهَاتِ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ بِالرِّجَالِ وَالْمُتَشَبِّهِينَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ بِالنِّسَاءِ

[2] Surah Al-Baqarah 286:
{ لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا … }