How can muslims claim that women are equal to men in Islam, when the word of a woman is worth half of a man's?

Question

"And get two witnesses out of your own men, and if there are not two men, then a man and two women such as ye choose, for witness..." Surah 2:282

Answer 1

Surah 2:282 is promoting sex discrimination. Please explain why a women is capable of looking after her family, perform the household chores and prepare meals, keep her husband happy and all whilst holding down a full time job. And all of this she undertakes on her own. Whilst most men (though not all) trying to undertake these tasks would not be able to cope.

Of course Woman are equal.

Answer 2

Here is the explanation from the Qur'an that I own...

The verse deals with a special kind of monetary transaction..., which would be called a 'Letter of Credit' today. The conditions of an LC can be very tricky and complicated, and are often missed even by experienced businessmen and legal experts. That is why, perhaps, the Qur'an emphasises that the terms of the contract should be written down, preferrably by a well-versed scribe, who would today be equivalent to a lawyer. There being no established courts of law at that time, the Qur'an suggests a further safegaurd of having two women of whom only one, in reality, is the witness, the other being just her helper in case she gets confused. That is why the role of the second woman is so clearly defined. These precautions have not been suggested in the case of a simple transaction face to face about merchandise, mentioned in the later part of the verse, and the simple way of pledging the goods against the loans considered sufficient. The presence of two women does not mean that both are witnesses, or that the evidence of one woman is half of that of a man. In no other place in the Qur'an two women have been suggested as witnesses except here, because this is a case of a special transaction and women, not being adept at business, were more likely to get confused than men.

So you see, this verse was meant as a way to help and protect women when engaging in the transaction of an LC. This verse doesn't apply today so much because women are more adept at business and there are women lawyers. To stay true to the spirit of this verse, if a man feels that he will be confused then he should bring someone with him for assistance. Today there are people who bring someone, when possible, to help them out in certain financial matters if needed. It's a perfectly normal and understandable thing to do and the person who is receiving the help should in no way be considered less of a person.

Answer 3

Islam gave women the equality by giving her all rights such as her family name which can be named even after her marriage
about witnesses women have many emotions especially mothers
many women have no idea about the economic or poultice issues especially housewives
but in female problems the witness woman is very important
if a woman was the only witness she will be very important
the wives of the prophet Mohamed were witnesses they told us what the prophet said and do in his house so all Muslims do the same things which the prophet did

Answer 4

Most modern day religions are a product of ancient times in which gender roles where more highly defined. In part this was done for survival as division of labor can be more efficient. But I believe there was another motivation helped with existential identity issues.

On top of this many of the religious rules concerning women were indirectly motivated by male mating rights. They did not have DNA testing back then and carrying on ones progeny was as strong of an instinct back then as it is now, if not more so. Even if women where against such motivations, they did not have the power back then to change things.

Religion has often been used to control people. If you control minds then you control actions. There is no more inspirational way to do this than to say God said such and such or else......OFF WITH YOUR HEAD. Combining fear with the divine is quite powerful and only a semi-enlightened soul can break its grip.

Some might accuse me of being hyperbolic but I know there were times in history religion was interpreted and used in such a spirit. And according to the Old Testament and Qu'ran there is plenty of room to make a bone head interpretations. It is possible to make more compassionate interpretations but unlike most fundamentalists they actually have to listen to their hearts to do such as thing. Often they get caught up in the trap of literalism and the hard assed interpretations. It is twisted logic but many figure for it to be the right interpretation it must be hard assed, because the truth obviously has to hurt.

Personally I believe in a Higher Power and use various religious texts as a tool to think about spiritual metaphysics. I do not however let fear and literalism rule over me. I went through many pains to realize God's truth is in my heart. I thank him/her/it that I Am finally listening.

Answer 5

First of all, this applies ONLY to FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS where a debt contract is being put together in writing. Two men are required as the witnesses. But if they're not available then one man and two women, so that if one woman FORGETS something, the OTHER may REMIND HER, not because she's inferior, or her witness is less wrothy of a man.
Enemies of Islam abuse the meaning of this verse to try to harrass Muslims and defame Islam by saying, "This means one man, is equal to two women." Or they say, " In all Islamic courts, women's witnesses are worth half of a man's."

Both of the above allegations are false. If the woman as a witness was worth half that of a man, the verse would have STATED so clearly. But obviously that is not the case. Instead, the reason for 2 women and 1 man as witnesses is that if one woman FORGETS, the other may remind her.

Bearing a witness in an Islamic society is a burden. No Muslim desires to be a witness AGAINST another Muslim, unless it becomes incumbent upon him/her, if required by law. By having two females, as opposed to one female, further protection and encouragement for women is given, to bear witness. Women in an Islamic society are usually not invovled in employment, business transactions, and other such out-of-the-house positions. However, if they desire, they can do so, but most Muslim women prefer to stay inside thier homes. In such a society, a woman is not an expert in business transactions, and is thus prone to forgetfullness. Thus this verse protects the parties in FINANCIAL contracts. And at the same time, gives women another peer to make them more comfortable in bearing and giving witness against a party. Counter-intuitively, this verse actually protects the women and the parties involved in FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS.

I AM NOT TRYING TO INSULT ANYONE BUT FOR YOUR INFORMATION:
Women in Today's Israel are not allowed to give evidence in Rabbinical courts because the Talmud says: "Women are temperamentally light-headed" . The Rabbis, also, justify why women can't bear witness by citing Genesis 18:9-16

LAST I WOULD LIKE ASK YOU TO READ THE HOLY QURAN BEFORE YOU JUDGE BECAUSE THE HOLY QURAN TELLS US QURAN 3:195:

"Their Lord responded to them: "I never fail to reward any worker among you for any work you do, be you MALE OR FEMALE, YOU ARE EQUAL TO ONE ANOTHER........."

Answer 6

practically speaking and no prejudice to women

they change their mind every second and you would not like to be in accused stand and one women saying wether you were doing this or that .its the way women think. two will reinforce each other one will think herself to double mindedness. specially when cross examined. thats just the way it is in nature. specially in financial transactions, relationship maters and detaled stuff.

secondly the most favourite tactic of any lawyer is somther women witness's chracter to make her credibility deminish. this cannot be done if two women witnesses are involved

Answer 7

If you really know Islam it never claimed that women are equal to men and that was clear in many ways, but Islam gave the woman her right, in everything, in marriage, death, inheritance...etc

Answer 8

Stop being a bigot, same injustices apply in the bible also, get with the programme!

Answer 9

good question. Personally i dont think islam regards men and women as equals in current life. One muslim woman once told me that women will be treated as equals (or better than men, cant remember) in the afterlife, but only if they are less equal in this life.

Answer 10

There are very few men who value women. God does, but then again She knows everything.