Are women are deficient?
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Putting “Women Are Deficient In Their
Intellect” In Its Proper Context
[Adapted from articles by Shamshad.M.Khan and Dr. Sherif Abdel Azeem]
Call To Islam Research
Introduction[/B]Using cut and paste statements, and ignoring the context in which statements were made the recent ‘Dispatches’ documentary was full of lies and half truths.
The aim of the programme was to sensationalise Islam and demonise the callers to Islam. No doubt this is excellent for improving viewing figures, but not so good for a balanced discussion about Islam. This article will explain in some detail the meaning behind one of the statements made by our brother Abu Usaamah.
They quoted Abu Usaamah as saying: “women are deficient in their intellect..”
This is in fact a statement of the Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wa
sallam) which when understood in its proper context, is in no way demeaning to women.
The following is a collection of statements from leading psychologists and
scientists’ regarding aspects of a woman’s nature which have been decreed by Allaah the Most High. By understanding the innate differences between men and women, a husband should be more understanding towards his wife. If we overlook these differences, it will lead to frustration and conflict between spouses.
A second article will highlight the Jewish and Christian views of women.
‘Despatches’ would do well to attend an orthodox synagogue to listen to the daily prayer made:
Praised be God that he has not created me a gentile. Praised be God that he has
not created me a woman. Praised be God that he has not created me an
ignoramus.1
Statements from leading practitioners
Pre Menstrual Syndrome.
Psychiatry in Practice, April 1983 issue states:
"Forty percent of women suffer from pre-menstrual syndrome in some form and
one in four women have their lives severely disrupted by it. Dr Jill Williams,
general practitioner from Bury, gives guidelines on how to recognise patients at
risk and suggests a suitable treatment." [Psychiatry in Practice, April 1993, p.14]
In the same issue, George Beaumont reporting on the workshop held at the Royal
College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in London on pre-menstrual
syndrome, says:
"Some authorities would argue that 80 percent of women have some degree of
breast and abdominal discomfort which is pre-menstrual but that only about 10
percent complain to their doctors - and then only because of … mental
depression... Other authorities have suggested that pre-menstrual syndrome is
1 Leonard J. Swidler, Women in Judaism: the Status of Women in Formative Judaism
(Metuchen, N.J: Scarecrow Press, 1976) pp. 80-81
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a new problem, regular ovulation for 20 years or more being a phenomenon
caused by 'civilisation', 'medical progress', and an altered concept of the role of
women." [Psychiatry in Practice, April 1993, p.18]
In its examination of the occurrence of physical and psychological change during
the period just prior to the onset of menstruation we read in Psychological
Medicine:
"Many studies have reported an increased likelihood of various negative affects
during the pre-menstrual period. In this affective category are many emotional
designations including irritability, depression, tension, anxiety, sadness,
insecurity, lethargy, loneliness, tearfulness, fatigue, restlessness and
changes of mood. In the majority of studies, investigators have found it
difficult to distinguish between various negative affects, and only a few have
allowed themselves to be excessively concerned with the differences which might
or might not exist between affective symptoms." [Psychological Medicine,
Monograph Supplement 4, 1983, Cambridge University Press, p.6]
In the same article dealing with pre-menstrual behavioural changes we read:
"A significant relationship between the pre-menstrual phase of the cycle and a
variety of specific and defined forms of behaviour has been reported in a number
of studies. For the purpose of their review, these forms of behaviour have been
grouped under the headings of aggressive behaviour, illness behaviour and
accidents." [Psychological Medicine, Monograph Supplement 4, 1983, Cambridge
University Press, p.7]
The lengthy review portrays how female behaviour is affected in these situations.
In 'The Pre-menstrual Syndrome', C. Shreeves writes:
"Reduced powers of concentration and memory are familiar aspects of the
pre-menstrual syndrome."
This does not mean, of course, that women are mentally deficient absolutely. It
just means that their mental faculties can become affected at certain times in
the biological cycle. Shreeves also writes:
"As many as 80 percent of women are aware of some degree of pre-menstrual
changes, 40 percent are substantially disturbed by them, and between 10 and
20 percent are seriously disabled as a result of the syndrome."
Furthermore, women face the problem of ante-natal and post-natal depression,
both of which cause extreme cycles of depression in some cases. Again, these
recurring symptoms naturally affect the mind, giving rise to drowsiness and
dopey memory.
Pregnancy
On the subject of pregnancy in Psychiatry in Practice, October-November 1986,
we learn that:
"In an experiment 'Cox' found that 16 percent of a sample of 263 pregnant
women were suffering from clinically significant psychiatric problems. Eight
percent had a depressive neurosis and 1.9 percent had phobic neurosis. This
study showed that the proportion of pregnant women with psychiatric problems
was greater than that found in the control group but the difference only tended
towards significance." [Psychiatry in Practice, October-November, 1986, p.6]
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Post-natal depression
Regarding the symptoms during the post-natal cycle Dr. Ruth Sagovsky writes:
"The third category of puerperal psychiatric problems is post-natal
depression. It is generally agreed that between 10 to 15 percent of women
become clinically depressed after childbirth. These mothers experience a variety
of symptoms but anxiety, especially over the baby, irritability, and excessive
fatigue are common. Appetite is usually decreased and often there are
considerable sleep difficulties. The mothers lose interest in the things they
enjoyed prior to the baby's birth, and find that their concentration is impaired.
They often feel irrational guilt, and blame themselves for being 'bad' wives and
mothers. Fifty percent of these women are not identified as having a depressive
illness. Unfortunately, many of them do not understand what ails them and
blame their husbands, their babies or themselves until the relationships are
strained to an alarming degree." [Psychiatry in Practice, May, 1987, p.18]
Menopause
There is a need to study the effects of the menopause about which very little is
known even to this day. This phase in a woman's life can start at any time from
the mid-thirties to the mid-fifties and can last for as long as 15 years.
Writing about the pre-menopausal years, C.B. Ballinger states:
"Several of the community surveys indicate a small but significant increase in
psychiatric symptoms in women during the five years prior to the cessation of
menstrual periods... The most obvious clinical feature of this transitional phase of
menstrual function is the alteration in menstrual pattern, the menstrual cycle
becoming shorter with age, and variability in cycle length become very prominent
just prior to the cessation of menstruation. Menorrhagia is a common complaint
at this time, and is associated with higher than normal levels of psychiatric
disturbance." [Psychiatry in Practice, November, 1987, p.26]
On the phenomenon of menopause in an article in Newsweek International, May
25th 1992, Dr. Jennifer al-Knopf, Director of the Sex and Marital Therapy
Programme of North-western University writes:
" ... Women never know what their body is doing to them ... some reporting
debilitating symptoms from hot flushes to night sweat, sleeplessness,
irritability, mood swings, short term memory loss, migraine, headaches,
urinary inconsistence and weight gain. Most such problems can be traced to the
drop-off in the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone, both of which
govern the ovarian cycle. But every woman starts with a different level of
hormones and loses them at different rates. The unpredictability is one of the
most upsetting aspects. Women never know what their body is going to do to
them... "
Infertility and Miscarriage.
Then there are the psychiatric aspects of infertility and miscarriage. On the
subject of infertility, Dr. Ruth Sagovsky writes:
"Depression, anger and guilt are common reactions to bereavement. In infertility
there is the added pain of there being nobody to grieve for. Families and friends
may contribute to the feeling of isolation by passing insensitive comments. The
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gynaecologist and GPs have to try to help these couples against a backdrop of
considerable distress." [Psychiatry in Practice, Winter, 1989, p.16]
On the subject of miscarriage the above article continues:
Miscarriage can at times have profound psychological impact and it is important
that those women affected receive the support they need. Approximately onefifth
of all pregnancies end in spontaneous abortion and the effects are poorly
recognised. If however, the miscarriage occurs in the context of infertility, the
emotional reaction may be severe. The level of grief will depend on the meaning
of pregnancy to the couple." [Psychiatry in Practice, Winter, 1989, p.17]
Emotional differences between men and women
Also, the fact that women are known to be more sensitive and emotional than
men must not be overlooked. It is well known, for example, that under
identical circumstances women suffer much greater anxiety than men.
Numerous medical references on this aspect of female behaviour can be given but
to quote as a specimen, we read in 'Sex Differences in Mental Health' that:
"Surveys have found different correlates of anxiety and neuroticism in the two
sexes. Women and men do not become equally upset by the same things, and
being upset does not have the same effect in men as in women. Ekehammer
(1974; Ekehammer, Magnusson and Ricklander, 1974) using data from 116
sixteen-year-olds, did a factor analysis on self-reported anxiety. Of the eighteen
different responses indicating anxiety (sweating palms, faster heart rate, and so
on) females reported experiencing twelve of them significantly more often than
males. Of the anxiety-producing situations studied, females reported
experiencing significantly more anxiety than males reported in fourteen of them."
[Katherine Blick Hoyenga and Kermit T. Hoyenga in Sex Differences in Mental
Health, p.336]
It is in light of the above findings of psychologist, psychiatrists and researchers
that the saying of the Prophet (salalahu alaihi wa sallam) is understood. He
(salalahu alaihi wa sallam) asked:
"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."
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 48, Number 826)
The Dispatches programme tried to show that the “extremist Muslims” (according
to their false definition) had an intolerant world view, unlike their “moderate” sufi
friends. However the statements that these “extremist Muslims” made were
taken directly from the Prophet (salalahu alaihi wa sallam) himself. Hence the
statements made regarding women, hijab, prayer of a child, the age of marriage,
jihad, prohibition of homosexuality, etc were from the religion of Islam, and were
not the personal view of these speakers. Hence by attacking these views, the
programme attacked Islam. Secondly, the programme did not provide a full
opportunity for Muslims to explain the reason behind these Islamic injunctions.
How Islam views women
One must also bear in mind that forgetfulness can be an asset. A woman has to
put up with children presenting all kinds of emotional problems and a woman is
certainly known to be more resilient than man. The aim of presenting the above
research findings on a number of aspects related with the theme is to indicate
that a woman by her biological constitution faces such problems. It does not
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however make her inferior to man but it does illustrate that she is different.
Viewed in this way, it can only lead one to the conclusion that Allaah knows His
creation the best and has prescribed precise laws in keeping with the nature of
humankind. Allaah, the Creator is All-Knowing and man (or the disbeliever in
Allaah and the final, perfected, revealed way of life) is - as usual - either ignorant
and arrogant.
The Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) was neither a psychologist
nor a psychiatrist. Rather, he merely conveyed the truth that was revealed to
him. He stated:
"Treat your women kindly. The woman has been created from a rib, and the
most curved part of a rib is its upper region. If you try to straighten it you will
break it, and if you leave it as it is, it will remain curved. So treat women kindly."
And in another narration: "If you try to straighten her you will break her and
breaking her means divorce." [Reported by al-Bukhârî and Muslim]. This is very
important advice for the man - for him to have patience and not to try to 'reform'
the behavioural pattern of the woman during these times i.e. 'to straighten her'.
He will not be able to do that, as it is biological in origin. Instead, he should
maintain and protect his relationship with her by showing kindness.
A Woman’s Testimony in Christian and Jewish scriptures
Women were not allowed to bear witness at all in early Jewish society.2 The
Rabbis counted women's not being able to bear witness among the nine curses
inflicted upon all women because of the Fall (see the "Eve's Legacy" section).
Women in today's Israel are not allowed to give evidence in Rabbinical courts.3
The Rabbis justify why women cannot bear witness by citing Genesis 18:9-16,
where it is stated that Sara, Abraham's wife had lied. The Rabbis use this
incident as evidence that women are unqualified to bear witness. It should be
noted here that this story narrated in Genesis 18:9-16 has been mentioned more
than once in the Qur’aan without any hint of any lies by Sara (Quran 11:69-74,
51:24-30). In the Christian West, both ecclesiastical and civil law debarred
women from giving testimony until late last century.4
If a man accuses his wife of unchastity, her testimony will not be considered at all
according to the Bible. The accused wife has to be subjected to a trial by ordeal.
In this trial, the wife faces a complex and humiliating ritual which was supposed
to prove her guilt or innocence (Num. 5:11-31). If she is found guilty after this
ordeal, she will be sentenced to death. If she is found not guilty, her husband
will be innocent of any wrongdoing.
Besides, if a man takes a woman as a wife and then accuses her of not being a
virgin, her own testimony will not count. Her parents had to bring evidence of
her virginity before the elders of the town. If the parents could not prove the
innocence of their daughter, she would be stoned to death on her father's
doorsteps. If the parents were able to prove her innocence, the husband would
2 Leonard J. Swidler, Women in Judaism: the Status of Women in Formative Judaism
(Metuchen, N.J: Scarecrow Press, 1976) p. 115.
3 Lesley Hazleton, Israeli Women The Reality Behind the Myths (New York: Simon and
Schuster, 1977) p. 41.
4 Matilda J. Gage, Woman, Church, and State (New York: Truth Seeker Company, 1893) p.
142
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only be fined one hundred shekels of silver and he could not divorce his wife as
long as he lived: The Bible states:
"If a man takes a wife and, after lying with her, dislikes her and slanders her and
gives her a bad name, saying, 'I married this woman, but when I approached her,
I did not find proof of her virginity,' then the girl's father and mother shall bring
proof that she was a virgin to the town elders at the gate. The girl's father will
say to the elders, 'I gave my daughter in marriage to this man, but he dislikes
her. Now he has slandered her and said I did not find your daughter to be a
virgin. But here is the proof of my daughter's virginity.' Then her parents shall
display the cloth before the elders of the town, and the elders shall take the man
and punish him. They shall fine him a hundred shekels of silver and give them to
the girl's father, because this man has given an Israelite virgin a bad name. She
shall continue to be his wife; he must not divorce her as long as he lives. If,
however, the charge is true and no proof of the girl's virginity can be found, she
shall be brought to the door of her father's house and there the men of the town
shall stone her to death. She has done a disgraceful thing in Israel by being
promiscuous while still in her father's house. You must purge the evil from
among you." (Deuteronomy 22:13-21)
published: 14-09-07
