101 Reasons Why We Left Islam – Chapter 2: Women in Islam – Reason 13
This is one of those memes that have gone viral when I added the Hadith. It hit a cord with many people. While undermining women’s intelligence was widely prevalent throughout history, one would not expect the messenger of God and the final Prophet of humanity to say something like this:
- Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khurdi: The Prophet said, “Isn’t the witness of a woman equal to half of that of a man?” The women said, “Yes.” He said, “This is because of the deficiency of a woman’s mind.” https://sunnah.com/bukhari:2658
And in case some assumed this is a one-off Hadith, they are mistaken. Here are more: https://sunnah.com/bukhari:304 & https://sunnah.com/mishkat:19
These Hadiths refer to a verse in the Quran 2:282 that outlined the witness requirements:
“Believers, when you contract a debt for a fixed period, put it in writing…Call to witness two witnesses of your men, if the two are not men, then a man and two women from the witnesses whom you approve; so that if one of the women forgets the other may remind her…”
https://quran.com/al-baqarah/282
This reason for leaving Islam could have been moved to the Scientific Errors in the Quran and here is why. Research shows no differences in cerebral capacity between men and women. While on average, the cerebral brain of women is 11% smaller, it is just more compact. In the same way, variations between men do not have impact on individual IQ. Research shows no correlation between the size of the brain and the person’s intelligence. Through an evolutionary process, where men preferred petite women and women preferred stronger men, different genders developed differences in physical appearances but not intelligence. To survive as a species, we need intelligent men and women. In every academic field and intellectual avenue, women have proven to be more than capable of meeting and even, at times, exceeding when given equal opportunities as men. In Western countries, again and again, female students beat male students in nearly every subject, including subjects that were traditionally male-dominated, such as science, maths, and technology.
https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1232297
But maybe what really makes this a scientific error as well is that research blasts the argument that women make poor witnesses. Anyone who has a female partner, daughter, or sister would know that women remember EVERYTHING! They remember the date of the conversation, what you said and what she said, how you said it, what you were wearing, and what the weather was like that day – recalling the event in cinematic detail! And this is backed by academic studies that show women make better witnesses then men.
https://www.atlantis-press.com/proceedings/sdmc-21/125968476
It is suggested that this is again an evolutionary trait as women need this skill to identify a suitable mate who does not lie or cheat.
Issue 13.1: The Hadith shows the Prophet was not a progressive or had knowledge that exceeded the understanding or beliefs of 7th century Arabia. Several cultures that predated Islam saw women as equals. For example, ancient Egypt, women were regarded as equals to men in most aspects except occupation. Women ran households, contributed to the nation as artisans, brewers, doctors, musicians, scribes, and more. In ancient Persia, women were highly respected and considered also equals to men. They could own land, conduct business, receive equal pay, travel independently, and even hold their own council meetings. Both civilisations lasted over 3000 years. You can also research Wu Zetian of China during the Tang Dynasty, Queen Seondeok of Korea, and Amazonian women of Brazil. There are many examples of cultures that thrived and in which women were equal to men. Trying to patch Islam now is a little too late.
Issue 13.2: There is a clear scientific error in the Quran to claim the witness of a man is that of two women. For nearly 100 years now, women witnesses have proven to be as reliable if not more reliable than men in remembering details of an incident or conversation. What this boils down to is that the Prophet did not see women having the same intelligence as that of men and this is how Islam had framed them as subordinate to men.
Apologist Response:
Issue 13.1: There are several issues that can be stated here. The Hadith is not graded. So, we do not know how authentic it is. You can also argue that Islam was mirroring the culture of that time, and we should avoid presentism in judging the actions and behaviours of historical figures based on today’s values. While you can name a few cultures in which women and men were equal, they are a minority. From another perspective, one can argue that the Prophet was lessening the pressure on women who may be coerced or pressured to be false witnesses by insisting there is a second person there. Finally, some modern scholars suggest there is no need for a second witness other than another female who would support her by reminding her if she had forgotten. In essence, the Quran does not ask for two female witnesses, but just one female provided she has someone who ‘reminds’ her if she forgot.
>> Our response: The hadith may not be graded because it is controversial. It does not take away from its authenticity or the damage it causes to the way men behave and its impact on women. And we do have other hadiths that mention the same thing, and the one by Mishkat 19 is graded ‘Agreed Upon’, which means it is said to be authentic (see above). The Prophet may have been mirroring the culture of the time, but his actions would have serious consequences because Quran 33:21 assigned him as the best example to follow. The issue of coercing false witnesses can apply to men and women. And if the purpose is to ‘protect the woman’, why not make it from the start four witnesses, be that four men or four women? The last point is no starter; the verse clearly says, ‘two female witnesses. It calls them as witnesses. The Quran just make excuses as to why there needs to be a second witness.
Issue 13.2: Science is unreliable. It changes. Current research and exams might be influenced by a culture of wokism that tries to promote women to be more intelligent than men. Your evidence of personal experience with women is a stereotype. Not all women have a ‘cinematic memory’ of events! Moreover, women are known and proven to be more emotional than men and thus under pressure may not remember certain events.
>> Our response: The mentality presented here is outdated, as research has debunked this way of thinking. Independent research has proven many of the historical assumptions about differences in cerebral capabilities to be false. The issues about emotions are a deflection as men can be equally emotional when angry or triggered in a way that clouds their judgement or memory. What we are talking about is two people under similar conditions, research shows women make better witnesses than men. That is it!
Final Thoughts:
Many women question Islam and even leave it over this particular issue. It is hard to imagine a Prophet talking in such a degrading manner about the intellectual capacity of women and going further to blame them over something they have no control over – being born a woman! Why would an all-knowing and all-wise god not create equal men and women in the first place? How would that not help Islam to have women stronger and more independent in supporting their men? I know why. Because Allah is not real but the imagination of a 7th-century desert dweller who moulded Him around ideas, cultures, and norms that the Prophet wanted Islam to be – male-dominated.