Q: We always hear the Hadith: Women are lacking in their capacity to reason and in deen i.e. religion. Some people even use it to offend women. Could you kindly explain the meaning of this Hadith?
Answer: The Hadith reads: "I have not seen anyone more deficient in ability to reason and deen than you. A cautious sensible man can be led astray by some of you." It was said: "O Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him)! What is the deficiency in our reasoning and deen?" He said: "Is not the testimony of two women equal to the witness of one man?" It was said: "What is deficient in her deen?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Is not it true that a woman can neither pray nor fast during her menses?"
The Prophet (peace be upon him) explained that the deficiency in woman's reasoning means their weak memory. Therefore, their testimony must be verified and supported by another woman to confirm their testimony, because they may forget and thus add or omit some of the testimony.
And get two witnesses out of your own men. And if there are not two men (available), then a man and two women, such as you agree for witnesses, so that if one of them (two women) errs, the other can remind her.
Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allâh has made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend (to support them) from their means.