Q. My daughter keeps asking me about the Hadith that women are deficient in mental ability and in religion. Could you please explain it? Why does the Prophet say that most women will be in hell?
S.M. Hussaini
A. Your daughter is not alone. Many are those who question the meaning it conveys. This is largely due to the fact that the Hadith is quoted only in part and the relevant statement is cited out of context. People always attribute to the Prophet the suggestion that women are inferior to men on grounds of a deficient mind a lack of faith. This is far from true.
Let us look at the Hadith in full: “On the occasion of Eid, either that of sacrifice or that of ending the fast, the Prophet went to the prayer place, and then went to speak to women and he said: “Ladies! ... I have not seen people deficient in mind and religion yet can get away with a rational man’s mind like any one of you.” They asked: “How are we deficient in mind and religion, Messenger of God?” He said: “Is it not true that a woman’s testimony counts as half that of a man?” When they answered in the affirmative, he said: “This is her mental deficiency. Is it not true that when a woman is in her period she neither prays nor fasts?” They again answered in the affirmative. He said: “This is her religious deficiency.” (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
To start with, the Prophet was speaking to a congregation of women on a joyous occasion. Exemplary in his care for others, particularly his companions, and kind and compassionate as he was, it is inconceivable that he would insult them by such a statement, if he meant it as a statement of fact, like some of us do. The Prophet simply used this phrase “deficient in mind and religion” to alert them to what he wanted to say to them. The Prophet frequently uses such a method, inserting some words that may not be relevant to the point he wants to stress, so that they serve to attract the attention of his audience. Furthermore, his statement expresses amazement at a well-known situation, when a man is infatuated by a woman to the extent that his behavior changes in character. He may be wise and intelligent, yet he could easily behave in a way that is inconsistent with his intelligence and wisdom when he is so infatuated. This is a case where a woman who is generally weaker than a man can control him.
The Hadith mentions that the Prophet’s women audience asked him to clarify what he said. His clarification pinpoints certain aspects that suggest no inferiority whatsoever. The mental deficiency is related to the fact that in certain cases, two women witnesses are required in place of one man witness. This has to do with the role of each of the two sexes in Islamic society. It is no reflection on a woman’s mental ability. As for religious deficiency, the Prophet states the fact that a woman is exempt from prayer and fasting when she is in menstruation. While God gives a woman the reward for prayer and fasting as if she has done them, since she stops only because of her condition and in response to God’s orders, still the fact that she does not fulfill these duties means that her worship is less in terms of what she offers. It does not mean that she is a lesser believer.
As for a relevant statement of fact in this regard, the Prophet says that “Women are full sisters of men.” In the Arabic text, the Prophet uses here a word which implies total similarity and equivalence. Hence, the Prophet’s statement suggests no inferiority attached to women. The Qur’an and the Sunnah assign the same duties to both men and women, and promise them the same reward. If this does not mean the same status, I would like to know what does.
May I add here that the translation of this Hadith as quoted by you is wrong, because it splits the relevant sentence and gives the Prophet’s words in such a way that they appear to make a statement of fact. This is wrong as I have explained.
As for the other part, a full translation of it goes as follows: “’I have seen hell and I have never seen any thing more horrific than what I saw then. I also saw that the majority of its dwellers are women.’ They asked: ‘On what grounds, Messenger of God?’ He said: ‘By their denial.’ They said: ‘Their denial of God?’ He answered: ‘No. Their denial of their spouses and their denial of kindness. You may be kind to one of them all the time, but when she finds fault with you she says: I have never received any kindness from you.’”
To start with, the Hadith does not say that most women are in hell. It says that the majority of hell dwellers are women, which simply signifies that more women fail in this worldly test than men. Then the Prophet points out their failure, which is not based on denying God. Rather, it is denying kindness, particularly in marital situations. The Prophet has pointed this out in more than one Hadith, warning women against grumbling and frequent complaints. He is also warning them here against denying kindness by their husbands, highlighting a failing that is often expressed in denying past kindness.
The Hadith shows that women can easily avoid such a destiny by being fair and appreciative of kindness. They should always be grateful to God for what He has given them and also be appreciative of any kindness done to them by others, particularly those with whom they live, be they their husbands, parents or other relatives.
Women’s Prostration in Prayer
Q. Women from the Indian subcontinent who follow the Hanafi school of Fiqh prostrate themselves in prayer, putting their arms, chests and stomachs flat to the ground. They are often reproached in the Haram for doing so. Could you say what they should do in order to dispel such criticism.
Umm Bilal
A. What these women do is wrong, because what is required of women in prayer is only to put themselves together, without leaving gaps or take up a wide area. For example, when a man in prostration, or sujood, puts his hands on the ground, his elbow does not touch his body at any point. It leaves a gap, but a woman should not leave that gap. Otherwise, prostration is the same for men and women.
Thus, a woman does not place her chest, elbows, stomach or belly on the ground. If she does, then she is doing the prostration improperly. The Prophet says: “I have been commanded to prostrate myself on seven sets of bones: the forehead, hands, knees and toes. These are the ones to touch the ground in prostration. Otherwise, we would not be prostrating ourselves, we would be doing something else when we are commanded to prostrate ourselves. One little point to add: the nose is also placed on the ground to make sure that the forehead is on the ground.
I have already answered your question about the name Asiyah, explaining that the name the Prophet objected to starts with the letter ain in Arabic, which does not exist in English. It should not be confused with Asiah, the name of Pharaoh’s wife whom God mentions as exemplary in her faith.