Why Two Women Witnesses

Why Two Women Witnesses

1996 3-4 March-April 13-16 Why Two Women Witnesses (1014) By Shamshad M. Khan

During the course of Dawah a question which repeatedly arises is that concerning the “position of women in Islam.” Muslim scholars have been with great success, able to demonstrate the true position of Muslim women: especially of women’s liberation with the advent of Islam. The Islamic ruling on issues such as inheritance, the right to earn, the right to own property, etc. have reinforced this position and have been prescribed by Allah long before western nations even thought of such concepts.

However, the question of “Two women witnesses” in the place of one man seemed somewhat problematic. Hence, the need to investigate this issue. “And if there are not two men, then a man and two women, such as ye choose for witnesses. So that if one of them errs, the other can remind her” (2:282). Eyebrows are inevitably raised when this part of the verse is read. The questions often posed include:

1. Do women have weaker memories than men?

2. Why should two women be needed in the place of one man?

3. Are women inferior to men? In this scientific age, however, we can explore the significance of this legislation. A great deal has been discovered since the early days of Islam. And each day of advancement brings about a better understanding of the revealed message. The Holy Qur’an is a message for all and for all times. It therefore unfolds its meaning for every age. As for women, we are aware of the cyclical psychological strains that she has to encounter. The symptoms during early pregnancy, the ante-natal and post-natal depressions, the phenomenon of menopause, the physiological and psychological problems due to infertility and last but not the least, the psychological problems faced after miscarriage. It is under these situations that women can experience extraordinary psychological strains giving rise to depression, lack of concentration, slow mindedness and short term memory loss.

Let us examine these episodes in detail and with medical references. On the subject of the premenstrual syndrome. (Psychiatry in Practice, April, 1983). George Beamount 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 per cent of women have some degree of breast and abdominal discomfort which is premenstrual but that only about 10 per cent complain to their doctors-and then only because of severe tenderness of the breast and mental depression.”

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 effects during the premenstrual period. In this effective category, are many emotional designations including irritability, depression, tension, anxiety, sadness, insecurity, lethargy, loneliness, tearfulness, fatigue, restlessness and change of mood.

Furthermore, women face the problem of ante-natal and post-natal depression, which cause extreme cycles of depression in some cases. Again these recurring symptoms naturally affect the mind, giving rise to drowsiness and dopey memory”.

On the phenomenon of menopause in an article in Newsweek International, May 25th, 1992. Dr. Jennifer Al Knopi, Director of the Sex and Marital Therapy Programme of Northwestern University writes:

“ ... Women never know what their body is doing to them ... some reporting debilitating symptoms from hot flashes to night sweat, sleeplessness, irritability, mood swings, short term memory loss, migraine headaches, urinary inconsistency and weight gain. Most such problems can be traced to the drop-off in the female hormones oestrogen or 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 ...”

There are also the psychiatric aspects of infertility and miscarriages. On the subject of infertility Dr. Ruth Sagovsky, writes: “Depression, anger and guilt are common reaction 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 gynecologist and GPs have to try to help these couples against a backdrop of considerable distress. They need to distinguish between those factors which are important psychologically and those which are irrelevant, and constantly bear in mind the subtle interaction between mind and body.

It is under such circumstances that a woman needs consolation, company, and as Qur’anic verse 2:282, directs: ‘If one of them errs the other can remind her.’ 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. Allah, the Creator knows best.

Also, we must not overlook the fact that women are known to be more sensitive and emotional than men. It is well known, for example, that under identical circumstances women suffer much greater anxiety than men. Different age groups may also respond differently. 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:

“J. Gray (1971 b) surveyed emotionality in humans and concluded that women are more phobic and more often have neurotic symptoms, psychosomatic symptoms, and depressive disorders, or at least that they more often claim to have or admit having these symptoms.

In the same article we read “Other surveys using self-reports show a greater incidence of emotional symptoms in the general female population than in the male population (Clancy and Gove, 1975; Levine, Kamin, and Levine, 1974).

These are reasons enough for a genuine inquirer and as time progresses no doubt more will be unveiled. The aim of presenting these research findings on a number of aspects related to the theme is to indicate that a woman by her own biological constitution faces such problems. It does not however make her inferior to man, but it does illustrate that she is different.