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Women's Intelligence and the Islamic Tradition: Difference between revisions
Women's Intelligence and the Islamic Tradition (view source)
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==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
[[Muhammad|Muhammad's]] dislike for women caused him to declare that the majority of the inhabitants of [[Hell]] are women.<ref>{{Bukhari|1|6|301}}</ref> When asked why, he said it was because they are deficient in intelligence and religion, and because they are ungrateful to their husbands. Although Muslim apologists and female Muslims use a lot of creative arguments to explain away Muhammad's declarations about women, they don't stand up to scrutiny. Here we will present evidence showing Muhammad's belief that ''all'' women are less intelligent than their male counterparts; as well as examine and refute the common Muslim claims about the [[Hadith|ahadith]] in question. | Prophet [[Muhammad|Muhammad's]] dislike for women caused him to declare that the majority of the inhabitants of [[Hell]] are women.<ref>{{Bukhari|1|6|301}}</ref> When asked why, he said it was because they are deficient in intelligence and religion, and because they are ungrateful to their husbands. Although Muslim apologists and female Muslims use a lot of creative arguments to explain away Muhammad's declarations about women, they don't stand up to scrutiny. Here we will present evidence showing Muhammad's belief that ''all'' women are less intelligent than their male counterparts; as well as examine and refute the common Muslim claims about the [[Hadith|ahadith]] in question. | ||
== Evidence == | == Evidence == | ||
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=== Muhammad was using hyperbole to scare women into giving alms === | === Muhammad was using hyperbole to scare women into giving alms === | ||
{{ quote | | {{ quote ||But the Prophet (peace be upon him) was also being playful in his use of strong terms to impress this teaching on the listeners. Ruqayyah Waris Maqsud writes, “After the Farewell Pilgrimage at the Eid prayer, the Prophet walked past the men leaning on Bilal's arm, and came to the rows of women behind them. Bilal spread out a cloth and the Prophet urged the women to be generous with their gifts of charity, for when he had been allowed a glimpse into the flames of Hell, he had noted that most of the people being tormented there were women. | ||
But the Prophet (peace be upon him) was also being playful in his use of strong terms to impress this teaching on the listeners. Ruqayyah Waris Maqsud writes, “After the Farewell Pilgrimage at the Eid prayer, the Prophet walked past the men leaning on Bilal's arm, and came to the rows of women behind them. Bilal spread out a cloth and the Prophet urged the women to be generous with their gifts of charity, for when he had been allowed a glimpse into the flames of Hell, he had noted that most of the people being tormented there were women. | |||
The women were outraged, and one of them instantly stood up boldly and demanded to know why that was so. | The women were outraged, and one of them instantly stood up boldly and demanded to know why that was so. | ||
'Because,' he replied, 'you women grumble so much, and show ingratitude to your husbands! Even if the poor fellows spent all their lives doing good things for you, you have only to be upset at the least thing and you will say, 'I have never received any good from you!' (Bukhari 1.28, recorded by Ibn Abbas - who was present on that occasion as a child). | 'Because,' he replied, 'you women grumble so much, and show ingratitude to your husbands! Even if the poor fellows spent all their lives doing good things for you, you have only to be upset at the least thing and you will say, 'I have never received any good from you!' (Bukhari 1.28, recorded by Ibn Abbas - who was present on that occasion as a child). | ||
At that the women began vigorously to pull off their rings and ear-rings, and throw them into Bilal's cloth.”}} | At that the women began vigorously to pull off their rings and ear-rings, and throw them into Bilal's cloth.”<ref>[http://www.answering-christianity.com/karim/women_not_deficient_in_intelligence_and_religion.htm Are Women Deficient in Intelligence and Religion?] - Answering-Christianity.com</ref>}} | ||
This is a very sneaky presentation of evidence. This interpretation attempts to draw together two different sets of ahadith and present them as the same event. The first set is provided above. Here are the ones for this specific interpretation: | This is a very sneaky presentation of evidence. This interpretation attempts to draw together two different sets of ahadith and present them as the same event. The first set is provided above. Here are the ones for this specific interpretation: | ||
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== Conclusion == | == Conclusion == | ||
The meaning of these ahadith is very clear. Muhammad "blanketed" a statement over every single woman who has ever and will ever live. Despite many creative ways to explain away the meaning and implications of these ahadith, the actual evidence cannot be denied. Muhammad clearly said that women are deficient in intelligence because, in Islam, the value of their testimony is equal to that of half a man. If the Qur'an is a book for all people for all time, then that mandate stands; thus Muhammad was referring to all women in general; and not just a specific group of women. | The meaning of these ahadith is very clear. Prophet Muhammad "blanketed" a statement over every single woman who has ever and will ever live. Despite many creative ways to explain away the meaning and implications of these ahadith, the actual evidence cannot be denied. Muhammad clearly said that women are deficient in intelligence because, in Islam, the value of their testimony is equal to that of half a man. If the Qur'an is a book for all people for all time, then that mandate stands; thus Muhammad was referring to all women in general; and not just a specific group of women. | ||
=== Further thoughts on these ahadith === | === Further thoughts on these ahadith === | ||