Ponder this..

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a punishment is something that gets you to stop a certain behaviour, something doesn't necessarily have to be removed.

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Either way, I don't see it fitting.

[SultanOrder]

Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri:
Once Allah's Apostle went out to the Musalla (to offer the prayer) o 'Id-al-Adha or Al-Fitr prayer. Then he passed by the women and said, "O women! Give alms, as I have seen that the majority of the dwellers of Hell-fire were you (women)." They asked, "Why is it so, O Allah's Apostle ?" He replied, "You curse frequently and are ungrateful to your husbands. I have not seen anyone more deficient in intelligence and religion than you. A cautious sensible man could be led astray by some of you." The women asked, "O Allah's Apostle! What is deficient in our intelligence and religion?" He said, "Is not the evidence of two women equal to the witness of one man?" They replied in the affirmative. He said, "This is the deficiency in her intelligence. Isn't it true that a woman can neither pray nor fast during her menses?" The women replied in the affirmative. He said, "This is the deficiency in her religion."
Sahih Bukhari 1:6:301

Really amazing hadith and looking at it at first glance some might think the prophet scw is sexist or prejudice towards woman. He first mentions some of the qualities of the saxaabiyaat that he does not like and likens it to deficiency in religion and intelligence. Yet, what does he really mean they are less intelligent than men or less religious?
What is his aim in this hadith? To have the woman give more alms (charity). Woman who are more careful with the resources at home needed to sustain the family, are far more conservative with using it. What does this allude to? To lack of faith in the decree of Allah. It is an unintelligent person who believes that whatever risq that is decreed by Allah will not reach them. Yet this is not what the prophet mentions, he mentions their conduct to their husbands, and the way they curse them. Is it not part of islam that allah shall reward the woman who is patient and grateful to the efforts of their husbands. When is this quality really beloved by Allah and rewarded the most? During times of hardship, when despite the efforts of the men to bring in income, they are unable to do so. And some woman may still out of frustration (like we still see in our times) curse their husbands and abuse them. Can this not be characterized as unintelligent? And tying this back to it being a day of Eid, the prophet scw must of noticed the woman not giving out much Alms. And they not giving Alms especially on a day of Eid, can only show us a glimpse to the time of difficulty they were in, in terms of material wealth. During the eid is when you give to those who are very needy and in abject poverty. This can only show that people must of been really suffering at that time. Keeping material wealth is sign of someone who is attached to this world, and selfish because of their fears. So what does one do to combat that fear? He warns them of a greater fear, that of the hell-fire.
Now when the prophet scw says that woman are a grater number in hellfire, this could be a simple fact, since it has to be one of the genders. It is not a specific attack at women. Now going back to the women he is speaking to at the moment, what is our general view of the saxaabiyaat at that time? It is the wide held belief that they are the role models for all proceeding generations, that their great sacrifices and piety is written in many volumes of books, even 1400 years later they are spoken of, this includes the ummul mu'miniin. It is preposterous to believe that a great number of those women will go to hell, or that the prophet scw was not aware of their status among all woman, in all time. So I can not but conclude that the prophet scw was consciously aware of speaking to all women to come in his ummah, and that he was also warning them, of some of the dangers that certain qualities will lead you to. And in times of hardship not to be stingy. How would it look if our role models were over stingy and did not trust in Allah? Wouldn't we say look at the saxaaba and saxaabiyaat, how they were at the time of the prophet scw, do you expect us to be better than them?
As for 2 woman equaling the witness of one man, does this signify woman are less than man? When one man marries four woman, did he marry woman that are equal to 1/4 of a man? These numbers have a meaning and a wisdom. Also, does a woman who see's for example a crime, is she less intelligent to understand that it is a crime, more than men? for woman are not proven to be less observant than men. This inteligence I believe that the prophet is alluding to is not what we modern day know intelligence as i.e. the ability to learn and synthesize information.
What is the deficiency in religion the prophet spoke of? Yes woman's natural physical condition of menses, that prevent her from prayer and fasting. It is interesting to note that during menses women don't have to pray and don't have to make it up, but fasting they must make it up when they are able to do so. A liberty men are not allowed in the religion. At other times the prophet scw calls this a mercy on the women. So woman can make up fasting, so this can not be a total deficiency since they make it up. But prayer they don't have to make it up. Therefore, they don't get the deeds for performing the prayer, but neither do they get a sin. They are at a deficiency to the men, in good deeds. And the best way to get good deeds to perform supererogatory deeds.What could the prophet scw really be implying, because I surely don't believe he scw was patronizing them. If we tie this back up to what he scw came to them in the first place, that is to get them to give alms.
I believe that the prophet scw is provoking the women to do more good deeds, utilizing the competitive spirit within women not to be outperformed by men. In a time of hardship, a more provocative statement is necessary to get the attention of people. And there is no haram in competition to do good deeds in islam.

[Daff]

This is by far the best thread I have seen on Snet MashaAllah Firefly

[DisplacedDiraac]

^ Co-sign

Welcome back Firefly..

[Firefly]

WestLdnShawty: Thank you abaayo. I pray you're in the best of health and imaan. insha-Allaah. Good to see you around.

DafIyoMiriq: There have been far better threads, but thanks.

Perfect_Order: Never cease to amaze me. Masha-Allaah. Those classes are paying off.