Title: Are Women Deficient in Intelligence and Religion? Question: The following is a website that was recently found by one of the brothers I know in DC. The address is: http://debate.domini.org/newton/ Here is an excerpt that I was wondering if you could comment on brother: Allah's Apostle once said to a group of women: 'I have not seen any one more deficient in intelligence and religion than you. A cautious, sensible man could be led astray by some of you.' The women asked: 'O Allah's Apostle, what is deficient in our intelligence and religion?' He said: 'Is not the evidence of two women equal to the witness of one man?' They replied in the affirmative. He said: 'This is the deficiency of your intelligence'... 'Isn't it true that a woman can neither pray nor fast during her menses?' The women replied in the affirmative. He said: 'This is the deficiency in your religion.' The authenticity of the above Hadith is undisputed. It is reported by the two most reliable collections of Hadith ; Bukhari and Muslim . The agreement of Bukhari and Muslim on its authenticity makes it (mutafaqun 'alayhi) 'agreed upon', which is the highest degree of authenticity. The above Hadith has been accepted and used by eminent scholars, such as Ghazali , Ibn al-'Arabi , Razi , Suyouti , Qortobi , Nawawi , and Ibn Kathir , in their writings." Even the text of this hadith seems confused, could you clarify? Answer: The translation of the referred narrative ascribed to the Prophet (pbuh) is not very accurate. The stresses have not been adequately transmitted in the English language. I give the correct translation (as I understand it) below: The Messenger of Allah once said to a group of women: O Women, give charity. I see the majority of those in hellfire to be women. They said: why is it so, O Messenger of Allah? He said: You rebuke a lot and you are disobedient towards your husbands. I have not seen any one who has more influence on an intelligent and sensible man, than you, although you are deficient in intellect and religion. A cautious, sensible man can easily be led astray by you. The women asked: O Allah's Messenger, what is deficient in our intellect and religion? He said: Is not the evidence of two women equal to the witness of one man? They replied in the affirmative. He said: This is the deficiency in your intelligence'... 'Isn't it true that a woman can neither pray nor fast during her menstruation? The women replied in the affirmative. He said: This is the deficiency in your religion.'' In this narrative of the Prophet (pbuh), according to a normal principle of the classical Arabic language, some words have been suppressed. The words " Naqisa'tul-`aql wal-deen " translated as: "deficient in intellect and religion" have the noun " umu'r " suppressed. The complete phrase is: " Naqisa'tu umu'ril-`aql wal-di'n " or " Naqisa't fi' umu'ril-`aql wal-di'n " i.e. "deficient in responsibility in matters pertaining to intellect and religion. A thorough deliberation on the narrative in the light of the above explanation would clarify the meaning of this narrative. The Prophet (pbuh) directs the group of women to give a lot of charity to balance out their weaknesses. He then informs them of two of their important weaknesses, i.e., they are quick in rebuke and are disobedient to their husbands. Both these qualities may result in making the family life very miserable. He then expresses his surprise at their influence on their men by saying that although God has reduced their responsibility in matters pertaining to practical wisdom and religion, but strange as it is, they have a tremendous influence on their men. 11 th April 1998