Why is a woman's testimony halved in Islam?

There are differences among Muslims today regarding the understanding of many other rules. One of them is that, In Islam, the testimony of a woman in half. Now it has become a regular objection by non-Muslim men and women and Muslim women. They hear and read that before Islam there was no respect for women. Islam came and honored the woman. And when the question is asked, the honor belongs to the person whose speech is important. If Islam has given honor to women, then why halve her testimony. maybe, in Pakistani law, the testimony of a woman is not considered more than that of a man. So is it an honor or a disgrace - this is the question or confusion that is found especially among women and non-Muslim countries. And if the question arises again that this is not a respect for women, then they would be annoyed that nowadays people are hating religion, that is, they seem to be blaming religion or the addressees of religion. And those who ask the questions about this topic, immediately are labeled as lovers of Western civilization. This is the situation of most scholars. Well, we come to our subject. In very simple words, we try to understand the testimony about women in the Qur'an. Simplicity in words is our mission so Make it easy for everyone to understand.

First of all, we will come to the Qur'an empty-minded and then submit to whatever he commands.

  We collect all the verses in the Holy Qur'an which are related to testimony. We review them again and again.

1-   Surah Al-Baqrah verse number 282.

 

يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اِذَا تَدَايَنۡتُمۡ بِدَيۡنٍ اِلٰٓى اَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى فَاكۡتُبُوۡهُ‌ؕ وَلۡيَكۡتُب بَّيۡنَكُمۡ كَاتِبٌۢ بِالۡعَدۡلِ‌ وَلَا يَاۡبَ كَاتِبٌ اَنۡ يَّكۡتُبَ كَمَا عَلَّمَهُ اللّٰهُ‌ فَلۡيَكۡتُبۡ ‌ۚوَلۡيُمۡلِلِ الَّذِىۡ عَلَيۡهِ الۡحَـقُّ وَلۡيَتَّقِ اللّٰهَ رَبَّهٗ وَلَا يَبۡخَسۡ مِنۡهُ شَيۡـًٔـا‌ؕ فَاِنۡ كَانَ الَّذِىۡ عَلَيۡهِ الۡحَـقُّ سَفِيۡهًا اَوۡ ضَعِيۡفًا اَوۡ لَا يَسۡتَطِيۡعُ اَنۡ يُّمِلَّ هُوَ فَلۡيُمۡلِلۡ وَلِيُّهٗ بِالۡعَدۡلِ‌ؕ وَاسۡتَشۡهِدُوۡا شَهِيۡدَيۡنِ مِنۡ رِّجَالِكُمۡ‌ۚ فَاِنۡ لَّمۡ يَكُوۡنَا رَجُلَيۡنِ فَرَجُلٌ وَّامۡرَاَتٰنِ مِمَّنۡ تَرۡضَوۡنَ مِنَ الشُّهَدَآءِ اَنۡ تَضِلَّ اِحۡدٰٮهُمَا فَتُذَكِّرَ اِحۡدٰٮهُمَا الۡاُخۡرٰى‌ؕ وَ لَا يَاۡبَ الشُّهَدَآءُ اِذَا مَا دُعُوۡا‌ؕ وَلَا تَسۡـَٔـمُوۡۤا اَنۡ تَكۡتُبُوۡهُ صَغِيۡرًا اَوۡ كَبِيۡرًا اِلٰٓى اَجَلِهٖ‌ؕ ذٰلِكُمۡ اَقۡسَطُ عِنۡدَ اللّٰهِ وَاَقۡوَمُ لِلشَّهٰدَةِ وَاَدۡنىٰۤ اَلَّا تَرۡتَابُوۡٓا‌ۚ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ تَكُوۡنَ تِجَارَةً حَاضِرَةً تُدِيۡرُوۡنَهَا بَيۡنَكُمۡ فَلَيۡسَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ جُنَاحٌ اَلَّا تَكۡتُبُوۡهَا‌ؕ وَاَشۡهِدُوۡۤا اِذَا تَبَايَعۡتُمۡ‌ؕ وَلَا يُضَآرَّ كَاتِبٌ وَّلَا شَهِيۡدٌ‌ ؕ وَاِنۡ تَفۡعَلُوۡا فَاِنَّهٗ فُسُوۡقٌ ۢ بِكُمۡ ؕ وَ اتَّقُوۡا اللّٰهَ‌ ؕ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ اللّٰهُ‌ ؕ وَاللّٰهُ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءٍ عَلِيۡمٌ‏ ﴿۲۸۲﴾

O, believers! When you contract a loan for a fixed period, commit it to write. Let the scribe maintain justice between the parties. The scribe should not refuse to write as Allah has taught them to write. They will write what the debtor dictates, bearing Allah in mind and not defrauding the debt. If the debtor is incompetent, weak, or unable to dictate, let their guardian dictate for them with justice. Call upon two of your men to witness. If two men cannot be found, then one man and two women of your choice will witness—so if one of the women forgets the other may remind her.¹ The witnesses must not refuse when they are summoned. You must not be against writing ˹contracts˺ for a fixed period—whether the sum is small or great. This is more just ˹for you˺ in the sight of Allah, and more convenient to establish evidence and remove doubts. However, if you conduct an immediate transaction among yourselves, then there is no need for you to record it, but call upon witnesses when a deal is finalized. Let no harm come to the scribe or witnesses. If you do, then you have gravely exceeded ˹your limits˺. Be mindful of Allah, for Allah ˹is the One Who˺ teaches you. And Allah has ˹perfect˺ knowledge of all things.

— Dr. Mustafa, the Clear Quran

O you who have believed, when you contract a debt for a specified term, write it down. And let a scribe write [it] between you injustice. Let no scribe refuse to write as Allah has taught him. So let him write and let the one who has the obligation [i.e., the debtor] dictates. And let him fear Allah, his Lord, and not leave anything out of it. But if the one who has the obligation is of limited understanding or weak or unable to dictate himself, then let his guardian dictate injustice. And bring to witness two witnesses from among your men. And if there are not two men [available], then a man and two women from those whom you accept as witnesses - so that if one of them [i.e., the women] errs, then the other can remind her. And let not the witnesses refuse when they are called upon. And do not be [too] weary to write it, whether it is small or large, for its [specified] term. That is more just in the sight of Allah and stronger as evidence and more likely to prevent doubt between you, except when it is an immediate transaction which you conduct among yourselves. For [then] there is no blame upon you if you do not write it. And take witnesses when you conclude a contract. Let no scribe be harmed or any witness. For if you do so, indeed, it is [grave] disobedience in you. And fear Allah. And Allah teaches you. And Allah is Knowing of all things.

— Shieh International

 

Surah An-Noor, verse no 4

 

وَالَّذِيۡنَ يَرۡمُوۡنَ الۡمُحۡصَنٰتِ ثُمَّ لَمۡ يَاۡتُوۡا بِاَرۡبَعَةِ شُهَدَآءَ فَاجۡلِدُوۡهُمۡ ثَمٰنِيۡنَ جَلۡدَةً وَّلَا تَقۡبَلُوۡا لَهُمۡ شَهَادَةً اَبَدًا‌ۚ وَاُولٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ الۡفٰسِقُوۡنَۙ۔

Those who accuse chaste women ˹of adultery˺ and fail to produce four witnesses, give them eighty lashes ˹each˺. And do not ever accept any testimony from them—for they are indeed rebellious—

— Dr. Mustafa, the Clear Quran

And those who accuse chaste women and then do not produce four witnesses - lash them with eighty lashes and do not accept from them testimony ever after. And those are defiantly disobedient,

— Shieh International

 

Surah An-Noor verse no 6.

وَالَّذِيۡنَ يَرۡمُوۡنَ اَزۡوَاجَهُمۡ وَلَمۡ يَكُنۡ لَّهُمۡ شُهَدَآءُ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡفُسُهُمۡ فَشَهَادَةُ اَحَدِهِمۡ اَرۡبَعُ شَهٰدٰتٍۭ بِاللّٰهِ‌ۙ اِنَّهٗ لَمِنَ الصّٰدِقِيۡنَ

except those who repent afterwards and mend their ways, then surely Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

— Dr. Mustafa, the Clear Quran

Except for those who repent thereafter and reform, for indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

— Shieh International

Surah An-Noor, verse no 7

وَالۡخَـامِسَةُ اَنَّ لَـعۡنَتَ اللّٰهِ عَلَيۡهِ اِنۡ كَانَ مِنَ الۡكٰذِبِيۡنَ

and a fifth oath that Allah may condemn him if he is lying.

— Dr. Mustafa, the Clear Quran

And the fifth [oath will be] that the curse of Allah be upon him if he should be of the liars.

— Shieh International

Surah An-Noor verse no 8.

وَيَدۡرَؤُا عَنۡهَا الۡعَذَابَ اَنۡ تَشۡهَدَ اَرۡبَعَ شَهٰدٰتٍۢ بِاللّٰهِ‌ۙ اِنَّهٗ لَمِنَ الۡكٰذِبِيۡنَۙ‏ 

For her to be spared the punishment, she must swear four times by Allah that he is telling a lie,

— Dr. Mustafa the Clear Quran

But it will prevent punishment from her if she gives four testimonies [swearing] by Allah that indeed, he is of the liars.

— Shieh International

Surah An-Noor verse no 9.

 

وَالۡخَـامِسَةَ اَنَّ غَضَبَ اللّٰهِ عَلَيۡهَاۤ اِنۡ كَانَ مِنَ الصّٰدِقِيۡنَ

and a fifth oath that Allah may be displeased with her if he is telling the truth.¹

— Dr. Mustafa, the Clear Quran

And the fifth [oath will be] that the wrath of Allah be upon her if he was of the truthful.

— Shieh International

Surah An-Noor verse no 10.

وَلَوۡلَا فَضۡلُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَرَحۡمَتُهٗ وَاَنَّ اللّٰهَ تَوَّابٌ حَكِيۡمٌ‏

˹You would have suffered, ˺ had it not been for Allah’s grace and mercy upon you and had Allah not been Accepting of Repentance, All-Wise.

— Dr. Mustafa the Clear Quran

And if not for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy...¹ and because Allah is Accepting of repentance and Wise.

— Shieh International

وَالّٰتِىۡ يَاۡتِيۡنَ الۡفَاحِشَةَ مِنۡ نِّسَآٮِٕكُمۡ فَاسۡتَشۡهِدُوۡا عَلَيۡهِنَّ اَرۡبَعَةً مِّنۡكُمۡ‌ۚ فَاِنۡ شَهِدُوۡا فَاَمۡسِكُوۡهُنَّ فِىۡ الۡبُيُوۡتِ حَتّٰى يَتَوَفّٰٮهُنَّ الۡمَوۡتُ اَوۡ يَجۡعَلَ اللّٰهُ لَهُنَّ سَبِيۡلًا‏ 

˹As for˺ those of your women who commit illegal intercourse—call four witnesses from among yourselves. If they testify, confine the offenders to their homes until they die or Allah ordains a ˹different˺ way for them.

— Dr. Mustafa the Clear Quran

Those who commit immorality [i.e., unlawful sexual intercourse] of your women - bring against them four [witnesses] from among you. And if they testify,¹ confine them [i.e., the guilty women] to houses until death takes them or Allah ordains for them [another] way.²

— Shieh International

 

Let us first look at Surah Al-Baqarah verse no.282. That is if you have sold something in the hands of someone on loan or have done a loan transaction, write it down as a reminder and write it down in front of two men so that no dispute arises, and if two men do not meet then one man and Make two women witnesses. Now here is the point to understand carefully. The authority of the matter is in the hands of the writer. Anyone can make a witness of his own free will. But in court cases, it is up to the judge or the court to decide who is to accept the witness and who is not. The court must provide justice. Let the court be satisfied. Whether the court has a video, fingerprint, DNA, a forensic report, or a child or a woman at the scene of the incident, he should testify that at the time of theft, robbery, or murder, she recognized that this is our relative or the neighbor or a friend. And if the court is satisfied then what is the reason for him not to accept his testimony. Even if he does not accept. But in this verse, Allah Almighty is commanding the writer to bear witness as much as you like. If a woman says that I testified that such and such an accident is like this, then it should be accepted. Therefore, it was not the intention of Allah Almighty to compare the intellect of a man and a woman. No one is talking about the court. The matter of the court will be in the other down-written verses. The first thing is that this verse is about business affairs and in fact no responsibility of business belongs to women. We know that a person who is not in any field, he is completely careless in it, he has no knowledge and interest about it. like that this field of testimony in court and business etc. is not the field of women. because their life situation is very different than men's. Eight to ten days of woman pass in menstruation in a month. then if she becomes pregnant five out of nine months she has a lot of problems and now day when the doctor tells her. she then completes bed rest, not to travel, etc. then to have a baby after that. 40 days not to come out of the house at all, how many days in a child's upbringing she goes like this and then after a few months the second child comes again. Then four months and ten days of 'iddah, on the death of her husband if unluckily he died. so, on the other hand, there is no such matter for a man. ۔ And it often happens that a person who does not have a department or environment or habit, if he has to do it occasionally, it becomes very difficult or he cannot do it properly, for example, we have often seen that there is a speaker, a mullah, he speaks on stage. But if you ask a well-educated man to do the same thing, he may not be able to speak, because he did not have the relevant department, not because he is stupid or less intelligent. Of course, transactions are not a woman's business.

Now let's look at the other verses - now let's see whose testimony is half and whose testimony is complete.

In verse 2 of Surah Al-Talaq, Allah Almighty has asked to make only 2 witnesses. Maybe 2 men or 2 women. It doesn't say two men or two women, although it also speaks of testimony.

In Surah An-Noor, verses 4-10, there is an issue between a husband and wife, that is, there is a confrontation between a man and a woman. He also has to take only four oaths. Since she is a woman, she should take eight oaths twice as much as a man.

Now let us come to verse 4 of the same Surah Al-Noor

Allah Almighty says that if a person accuses a chaste woman, he should bring four witnesses. Maybe it's 4 men, 2 men, 2 women, or 4 women, no specialization. Now suppose that 1 woman is comparable to four people. And in addition to gold, if four witnesses could not meet 2 or 3, then all three of them are punished with 80 lashes in cash. And the testimony is suspended for life. They will not even be able to speak in the panchayat or in the court or in some people.

Now look at Surah An-Nysa 'verse 15

 

In this verse, Allah Almighty stipulates that if a woman commits adultery, then you must bring four witnesses from the Muslims, then your word will be obeyed.

 

In the face of all this debate, decide for yourself whether a woman's testimony is really half that of a man's. If we look at our daily routine, we can see how we are obeying the testimony of a woman. We never have any hesitation in it that if a lady doctor informs in childbirth the boy is born. We immediately believe this testimony without seeing and believe that it will be a boy. Isn't this her testimony? If she says that twins were born and this one happened first and this one came later then we would consider the child, she is big.  and the other small. Living only on the testimony of a woman. Now, why don't we accept her as half testimony or reject her? Besides, when it comes to religion, we have received more than 2,000 hadeeth from Hazrat Ayesha (may Allah be pleased with her), and what could be a greater testimony than narrating the hadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).  The great Companions used to ask her about many hadiths. She was the greatest jurist. Now if they say that she was special there is no special or general mention anywhere in the verse.

 If we look, there is no such thing in it. Yes, the matter should certainly be considered correct. We should try to understand what the Holy Qur'an is saying correctly. May Allah Almighty grant us all a correct understanding of the Holy Qur'an.