| Q. I read a Hadith in which the Prophet (peace be upon him) describes women as deficient in faith and mental power. It also mentions that women will make up the majority of the dwellers of hell. Could you please explain this Hadith and whether it means that no matter how hard a woman tries, she cannot attain the same standard of faith as men. Rabiya Farrukh A. This Hadith is authentic, but it has often been quoted out of context. The effect has been that many Muslims came to consider women as inferior to men and to associate such a view with Islam. The world media has found in such a view a means to criticize Islam. The feminist trend jumped on the bandwagon, castigating Islam for its alleged unfairness to women. In the Muslim world, people who have little or scanty knowledge of Islam added fuel to the fire, saying that Islam is the root cause for the ill-treatment of women in the Muslim world. Nothing can be further from the truth. In all its legislation, Islam makes men and women equal. All Islamic duties apply equally to men and women, and they all receive the same reward for fulfilling their duties and for any good action they voluntarily do. The Qur'anic address is of two types: one to men and women alike, and the other to women only. There is nothing that requires a special address to men alone. There are a number of differences in Islamic legislation between men and women, but in all these, the advantage is always given to women. When we carefully examine any difference, even the ones that appear at first sight to give man an advantage, we find that the difference always work in the woman's favor. This is only to be expected from a faith, which makes justice the central point in all its legislation. To give full explanation of this fact requires time and space that cannot be allocated under the 'Discourse' column. However, we have been carrying articles by the late Abd Al-Haleem Abu Shuqqah which show how Islam deals most fairly with both men and women. We will be continuing soon with these articles. In due course, he will give a full explanation of this Hadith. However, I will highlight certain points concerning this Hadith, so that the reader can be reassured. When we consider the Hadith, we need to look also at the context in which it was said. The occasion was one of Eid, a joyous occasion when people feel happy. It is totally unlikely that the Prophet would mar such an occasion by telling half the community that they would be in hell and that they are deficient. That is totally contrary to his character. Therefore, we have to understand the context and the purpose of what the Prophet said. The Prophet went to address the women because he realized that they did not hear the sermon he gave after the Eid prayer. He told them: "Give generously for charity, because many of you could be in hell." When they asked the reason, he said: "Because you grumble too much and you deny the goodness of your mates." The overall tone of the Hadith is light-hearted and educative. It gives a warning that many could find themselves in hell unless they act to avoid such a fate. This applies to all mankind. God says in the Qur'an: "However strongly you may desire it, most people will not believe." (12: 103) In the case of women, the Prophet gave the reason as two characteristics that we often encounter with women: too many complaints and lack of appreciation of the good things done to them. Thus, the Prophet merely gave an admonition against these two qualities and pointed out the way to redress the balance and ensure a much better fate in the life to come. The way is to give to charity whatever one can. The Prophet adds: "I have not seen any who are deficient in their reason and faith who can captivate the mind of a wise man better than you." This is not a complaint or a form of chiding. It is said in a light-hearted manner, pointing out that a woman may be weaker than a man, yet she can easily control him if she applies her feminine powers to the task. When they asked him about the deficiencies he mentioned, the Prophet said that the religious deficiency is that a woman does not offer her prayer when she is in the period, while the deficiency of her mental power is reflected in the fact that two women are required to give testimony in place of a man. Yet these do not make women truly deficient, as a woman would not lose even an iota of her reward for prayer as a result of not praying during her period. Although she does not pray at that time, her reward for offering prayer on all her other days means that she has fulfilled what is required of her and God will reward her in the same way as a man who does not miss any prayer. Moreover, when she is a witness, she takes with her someone to remind her in case she forgets something of material importance. A man witness does not have that privilege. To suggest that a woman cannot attain the same standard of faith as a man, no matter how hard she tries, is totally wrong. God says in the Qur'an: "The righteous women are devout, guarding the intimacy which God has ordained to be guarded." (4: 34) This is a statement by God that women are righteous, devout and attend to their duties. In another verse God says: "For all men and women who have submitted themselves to God, all believing men and believing women, all truly devout men and truly devout women, all men and women who are true to their word, all men and women who are patient in adversity, all men and women who humble themselves before God, all men and women who give in charity, all men and women who fast, all men and women who are mindful of their chastity, and all men and women who always remember God - for them all God has prepared forgiveness of sins and a mighty reward." (33: 35) This verse makes it clear that there is no difference between men and women in the standard of faith they can attain, and they are rewarded in the same measure. We need to take the Hadith in its context, realizing that it is an admonition made in a light-hearted manner to encourage women to be charitable in order to offset certain mistakes they frequently make. It is by no means a judgment of doom. | 
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment