Meaning of the lack in reason and religious commitment in women.

The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I have not seen any lacking in reason and religious commitment but (at the same time) more able to rob the wisdom of the wise, except one of you [women].” They said: How are we lacking in religious commitment and reason, O Messenger of Allaah? He said: “Is not the testimony of a woman like half the testimony of a man?” They said: Yes. He said: “That is how she is lacking in reason.
And when she menstruates, does she not refrain from praying and fasting?” They said: Yes. He said: “That is how she is lacking in religious commitment.” So the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) explained that her lacking in reason refers to her weak memory, and that her testimony must be supported by the testimony of another woman, in order to confirm the testimony, because she may forget, and add something to or take something away from her testimony, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And get two witnesses out of your own men. And if there are not two men (available), then a man and two women, such as you agree for witnesses, so that if one of them (two women) errs, the other can remind her”

[al-Baqarah 2:282].

With regard to her lacking in religious commitment, that is because when she is menstruating or bleeding following childbirth, she does not pray or fast, and she does not make up the missed prayers, so this is lacking in religious commitment. But this lacking is not something for which she is called to account or blamed, rather it is something that happens by the will of Allaah; for He is the One Who has prescribed that out of kindness towards her and so as to make things easier for her, because if she were to fast during menses and nifaas, that would harm her. By His mercy Allaah has prescribed that she should not fast at the time of menses and nifaas, and she should make it up after that.

With regard to prayer, at the time of menses she is unable to purify herself, so by His mercy Allaah has prescribed that she should not pray, and the same applies to nifaas, and He has not prescribed that she should make it up, because making it up would be very difficult, as prayers are offered five times a day, and menses may last for several days, seven or eight or more, and nifaas may last as long as forty days. So by His mercy and kindness towards her, Allaah has waived the duty of offering and making up prayers.

This does not mean that her reason is lacking entirely, or that her religious commitment is lacking entirely, rather the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) explained that the lack in her reasoning has to do with what may happen of her testimony not being accurate, and the lack in her religious commitment has to do with what may happen of her missing prayers and fasts at the time of menses and nifaas. But that does not imply that she is less than a man in everything, or that a man is better than her in everything.

Yes, the male gender is superior to the female gender in general, for many reasons, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allaah has made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend (to support them) from their means”

[al-Nisa’ 4:34].

But a woman may sometimes surpass a man in many things. How often has a woman surpassed men in her reason, religious commitment and memory. What is narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) with regard to the female gender being inferior to the male gender in reason and religious commitment is from this point of view, which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) explained.

A woman may do a great deal of righteous deeds and thus surpass many men in her righteous deeds, fear of Allaah and status in the Hereafter. She may have a great deal of interest in some matters and thus able to give proper testimony, better than that of some men in some issues in which she has an interest. She may strive in memorization and understanding these issues, thus becoming a reference point with regard to Islamic history and many other things. This is clear to anyone who studies the state of women at the time of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and after that.

Thus it is clear that this lack does not mean that women cannot be relied on in narration (of hadeeth etc) or in giving testimony, if it is supported by another woman. It also does not mean that she does not fear Allaah or that she cannot be among the best of Allaah’s slave and the best of the female slaves of Allaah, if she adheres strictly to Islam. Although fasting is waived for her at the time of menses and nifaas, she has to make it up, and even prayer is waived in her case, but she does not have to make it up. This does not imply that she is lacking in all things when it comes to fearing Allaah, obeying His commands and becoming well-versed in matters that are of interest to her. It is a lack that is specific to reason and religious commitment, in the way that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) explained. So the believer should not accuse her of being lacking in all things, or of being weak in religious commitment in all aspects, rather it is a specific type of lacking that has to do with her religious commitment and reason, which has to do with accuracy of testimony and so on. So she should be treated fairly and the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) should be interpreted in the best possible manner. And Allaah knows best.


Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him)
Majallat al-Buhooth al-Islamiyyah (29/100-102).

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The empowerment of women, but at what price?

It is odd for a Muslim to see the workings of humans against their very own nature. The most evident example of this is demonstrated in the ongoing world movement to “Empower Women." The movement has been gaining momentum and is being endorsed and promoted by various international organizations, particularly the United Nations. Both the United Nations Human Development Report (2002) and the Arab Human Development Report (2002) include goals for "the complete empowerment of women." The Human Development Report even has a gender empowerment measure (GEM) that assesses gender inequality in economic and political opportunities.

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women from the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights of the United Nations is the most blatant example of the efforts to alter the unique status of the genders.

One of the main objectives of this committee is the following: "Aware that a change in the traditional role of men as well as the role of women in society and in the family is needed to achieve full equality between men and women... States Parties shall take all appropriate measures: to modify the social and cultural patterns of conduct of men and women, with a view of achieving the elimination of prejudices and customary and all other practices which are based on the idea of the inferiority or the superiority of either of the sexes or on stereotyped roles for men and women."

As is evident in the statement, this committee outwardly takes aim at religion and culture, expressing the view that "cultural and religious values cannot be allowed to undermine the universality of women's rights." They have said, that "in all countries, (one of) the most significant factors inhibiting women's ability to participate in public life have been the cultural framework of values and religious beliefs."

The Committee, in fact, has gone so far as to instruct Muslim nations that they must reinterpret the Noble Quran in ways that will better comply with modern social trends. The CEDAW Committee instructed Libya to alter its reading of the Quran with the following language:

... Members felt that the interpretation of the Quran had to be reviewed in the light of the provisions of the Convention and in the light of the current social environment....Efforts should be made to proceed to an interpretation of the Sharee'ah (Islamic Law) that was permissible and did not block the advancement of women.
The Government was urged to take a leading role in its interpretation of the Sharee'ah as a model for other Islamic countries.

It is difficult to imagine more treacherous or deliberate attacks on the values of religion, religious life, and the family. The principal goal of these organizations is to eliminate the traditional roles of men and women and replace them with the concept of "equality" or sameness. This is a feminist goal that has been operating during the last 50 years or more. The view of feminists is that women should be freed from the "bondage" of motherhood and allowed to participate equally with men in all aspects of life outside the home (i.e., economic, political, social). Childbearing and rearing are viewed as somehow "ignoble" and are discouraged. The role of motherhood has been denigrated and seen to be less valuable than a career outside the home. Inherent in all of this is a hostile attitude to longstanding notions of marriage, the natural family and the rearing of children.

There are some positive aspects to "empowerment of women" such as reducing discrimination, increasing education and literacy, improving quality of life, but with those efforts come the negative aspects as well. The insidious nature of the process is where the danger lies. For while on the face, there are honorable goals, the ultimate consequence is weakening of the family structure; the foundation upon which society is built.

A critical look will reveal that "Empowerment of Women" ultimately means that (super) women:
1. Work two jobs instead of one, having primary responsibility for the home and children even though they also work outside the home.
2. Often work in male-dominated environments, having daily contact with non-Mahram men.
3. Are forced to put their small children into daycare, even infants as young as 6 weeks old.
4. Spend, on an average, only 30 minutes a week in meaningful conversation with their children.
5. Suffer from depression two or three times the rate of men, along with other types of psychological distress, such as anxiety, stress reactions, etc.
6. Experience conflict between their feminine traits (e.g., nurturance, deference, affiliation, etc.) and the characteristics necessary for career success (e.g., assertiveness, autonomy, independence, etc).

It is not only the women who suffer, but the whole society as well. A look at the self-destruction of nations in the West, where motherhood is devalued the most, provides enough evidence. The murder, the drugs, the abuse ...these nations are crying out for their mothers; for it is the mother who provides stability to the community. It is the mother who will sacrifice all that she has for the sake of her children. It is the mother who will raise righteous children who will benefit society.

Allaah has created systems with balance and order, and when those systems are disrupted, humans suffer the consequences. The family is a system and it functions most effectively when the laws of nature and the laws of Allaah are implemented. Allaah Says what means: "Men are in charge of women by (right of) what (qualities) Allaah has given one over the other and what they spend (in support) from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding (the husband's) absence what Allaah would have them guard…” [Quran 4:34]

Allaah has made it clear in this verse that men are the protectors and maintainers of women and He has created each gender unique from the other. This in no way implies inferiority of one gender over the other, but it means that each gender fulfills specific functions and roles. Both roles are honorable and operate in a complementary manner. If Allaah had intended for men and women to be equal or then would it be necessary to have genders?

For Muslim women, we must realize that we do not require this type of "empowerment" or "liberation"; for the Muslim woman is already liberated. Her liberation comes through submission to her Creator and Sustainer. When we submit to Allaah we are liberated from the shackles of our selves and the deceits and trappings of this world. It is the "empowered" woman who works two jobs, both home and outside, who is actually in bondage and in need of freedom.

Muslim women have all the “power” that they need in this world and that power is Islam. Allaah has given us exactly what we need to be successful in this life and no convention or human law is going to improve upon that. Motherhood is an honorable gift given to us by Allaah and no one has the right to degrade that or take it away. In Islam, motherhood is held in the highest esteem, reflecting its significant nature. For, it is the righteous mothers of this world who will build healthy, stable and peaceful communities; not the CEO's of companies.


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