The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "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."
Context and Occasion of Revelation
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari 2658 addresses a specific legal ruling concerning financial testimony. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was explaining the Islamic legal principle that in certain financial matters, two women may serve as witnesses where one man would suffice.
Explanation of Legal Wisdom
The term "deficiency of mind" refers not to inherent intellectual incapacity but to specific experiential factors in seventh-century Arabian society. Women of that era generally had less exposure to complex financial transactions and commercial dealings, making them less experienced in such matters.
This ruling is specific to financial testimony and does not apply to other domains where women's testimony is accepted equally. In matters of childbirth, female-specific issues, and many other areas, women's testimony is actually preferred or required.
Scholarly Interpretation
Classical scholars like Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explain that this "deficiency" is relative and contextual, relating to the societal roles and experiences of women at that time, not their fundamental intellectual capacity.
Imam al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this ruling protects women from the burden of legal testimony in areas where they may have had less practical experience, while preserving their dignity and rights in other spheres.
Contemporary Understanding
Modern scholars note that in societies where women have equal exposure to financial matters, the underlying wisdom of this ruling may be reconsidered while maintaining respect for the textual tradition.
The essential principle remains that Islamic law adapts witness requirements to ensure justice and reliability based on witnesses' knowledge and experience in specific domains.