Women in Islam: Mixed feelings

» Zanzi - Mixed feelings

This is a very well-written article, yet I must confess that I have mixed feelings regarding its message.

You state:

The equality of women in Islam is everywhere you look.

Yet, critics claim

We encounter the following dialogue in the Sahih of al-Bukhari (Vol. l, p. 83) and in the Mishkat al-Masabih (p.15) which took place between Muhammad and some women:

"Muhammad said: ‘I have seen that you, in spite of being deficient in mind and religion, rob even a wise man of his senses.’ They said: ‘Allah’s messenger, where lies our deficiency of reason and faith?’ He said: ‘Is not the evidence (testimony) of a woman equal to half the evidence of a man?’ They said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘This is because of the deficiency of your minds (mental status). Is it not a fact that when you enter the period of menses, you neither observe prayer nor observe fast?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ Then he said: ‘This is the deficiency in your faith."’

(source: http://www.answering-islam.org/BehindVei... )

So I must confess that I am confused. Is the truth that Islam holds women in high regard, but many Muslims fail to live out this command? Or is the truth that stories of gender-specific illtreatment of women are made up? Or does the truth lie elsewhere?

-- posted by Zanzi