The Documentary Podcast Verses for women: Egypt’s Quran reciters
Jul 4, 2025
Yasmin Amin, a representative of the Orient Institute Beirut, shares her insights into the historical context of female Quran reciters in Egypt. Aya Mahmood, a contemporary Quran reciter and social media personality, discusses her journey in using her voice for faith. They explore the revival of women's public recitation after years of prohibition, highlighting influential figures like Sheikha Munira Abdou and the cultural significance of platforms like social media. The conversation celebrates the strength and healing power of women's voices in a traditionally male-dominated sphere.
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Aya Mahmood's Digital Revival
- Aya Mahmood started posting Quran recitations online at age 20 and now has 700,000 followers across platforms. - She was inspired by the history of Egyptian female Quran reciters before the ban and wants to revive the tradition.
Women Challenged Men on Radio
- Munira Abdu was a prominent female Quran reciter in early 20th century Egypt with a remarkable voice and recorded Quran on vinyl. - Women reciters were so popular they had dedicated radio days and earned significant pay, competing with men.
Wahhabi Influence Silenced Voices
- The ban on women’s voices reciting Quran stemmed from a Wahhabi fatwa deeming female voices as 'awra' or improper to be heard publicly. - This fatwa was widely applied to silence women, but no one takes credit for issuing it.