Fatwa ID: 08408
Answered by: Maulana Sakib Shadman
Question:
I used to believe that women getting periods in Islam was Allah granting us a break and not a bad thing. But a few Ahadith of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam came to mind, such as women being deficient in Deen during this month and I recall one in which he said that he has not heard of any woman achieving perfection in Deen except for Maryam a and Asiyah may Allah be pleased with them.
Does this mean that a man and a woman who perform the exact same deeds will, at the end of the day, not be equally rewarded since when the woman was on her period the man was praying all the salahs during that time?
Does the above Hadith mean that women can’t achieve perfection in Deen but men can?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Please note that Shaytan is whispering doubts into your mind in order to misguide you. Please stay in a constant state of Dhikr in order to ward off these whispers.
Firstly, please consider the Hadith below;
Narrated Ibrahim Abu Isma`il As-Saksaki: I heard Abu Burda who accompanied Yazid bin Abi Kabsha on a journey. Yazid used to observe fasting on journeys. Abu Burda said to him, “I heard Abu Musa several times saying that Allah’s Apostle said, ‘When a slave falls ill or travels, then he will get reward similar to that he gets for good deeds practiced at home when in good health.” (Bukhari)
Whatever deeds you would have done in good health; the reward for those deeds will be written for you when you fall ill and are unable to do those deeds. Hence the more correct opinion states that when a woman menstruates, she will be continue to receive reward for her missed prayers and other deeds which she is unable to perform.
The Hadith you mentioned about women’s deficiency in Religion; this is due to the fact that men pray Salat and fast all throughout the month whereas women are unable to do so for approximately one week out of each month. However this is not a deficiency that women will be held accountable for. Allah Ta’ala gave women ease in this matter by allowing women to forgo praying/fasting during this time. Thus one needs to consider that it is by Allah’s infinite wisdom and Qadr (predestiny) that he caused women to be impure for one week every month. We should not question Allah’s Qadr as there is certainly a profound wisdom behind this decree. We should accept it and be content with what Allah Ta’ala has decreed for us.
You also mentioned the Hadith that “Many men reached the level of perfection, but no woman reached such a level except Mary, the daughter of `Imran and Asia, the wife of Pharaoh”.
This refers to the previous Ummahs (nations). In other words, no female from the previous nations was able to attain this level except Maryam and Asia (AS). This Hadith does not suggest that absolutely no other women will attain perfection besides Maryam and Asia (AS). Rather few women will attain such a status, but this is not due to women receiving less rewards for their deeds. By Allah’s will, most famous scholars, Imams and just rulers are male. But if women strive for perfection in Deen, they can also reach a high level of righteousness.
Again it is by the divine wisdom of Allah Ta’ala that every single Prophet was male. Prophets are Ma’sum (protected from sin), such that they are able to reach perfection in Deen. There were at least 80,000 to 120,000 prophets. Thus more men were able to attain perfection in Deen compared to women; because there are no female Prophets. Instead of being discouraged in this regard, you should try to emulate Maryam and Asia (AS) so you may also reach a high status in Jannah.
Finally, you will not be rewarded any less than a man. Your Jannah will not be smaller nor less enjoyable than that of a man of similar deeds compared to you. Women have as many opportunities as men to earn Ajr (reward for good deeds). Furthermore, Allah Ta’ala is Al-Aadil (most Just) and will not treat anybody unfairly on the Day of Judgement, regardless of their gender.
Surely, Allah does not wrong (anyone), even to the measure of a particle. If it is a good deed, He multiplies it, and gives a great reward out of His Own pleasure. [Surah An-Nisāʾ: 40]
Thus please remove these doubts from your mind. Western feminism incites women to compare themselves to men in everything. Please do not fall into that trap. Otherwise it will have you questioning the decree of Allah Ta’ala. Simply accept that men and women are different. Also accept that women can also can attain a high status in Jannah if they strive to do good deeds in this Dunya. Please worry about your own A’mal (actions) and try not to focus on the virtues of men compared to women.
Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.
Written by Maulana Sakib Shadman
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
حَدَّثَنَا مَطَرُ بْنُ الْفَضْلِ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، حَدَّثَنَا الْعَوَّامُ، حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ أَبُو إِسْمَاعِيلَ السَّكْسَكِيُّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا بُرْدَةَ، وَاصْطَحَبَ، هُوَ وَيَزِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي كَبْشَةَ فِي سَفَرٍ، فَكَانَ يَزِيدُ يَصُومُ فِي السَّفَرِ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو بُرْدَةَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا مُوسَى مِرَارًا يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ إِذَا مَرِضَ الْعَبْدُ أَوْ سَافَرَ، كُتِبَ لَهُ مِثْلُ مَا كَانَ يَعْمَلُ مُقِيمًا صَحِيحًا ”.
Sahih al-Bukhari 2996
Chapter 134: A traveller is granted reward, Book 56: Fighting for the Cause of Allah (Jihaad)
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:2996
حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مُرَّةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ مُرَّةَ الْهَمْدَانِيَّ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيِّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ فَضْلُ عَائِشَةَ عَلَى النِّسَاءِ كَفَضْلِ الثَّرِيدِ عَلَى سَائِرِ الطَّعَامِ، كَمَلَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ كَثِيرٌ، وَلَمْ يَكْمُلْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ إِلاَّ مَرْيَمُ بِنْتُ عِمْرَانَ وَآسِيَةُ امْرَأَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ ”.
Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “The superiority of `Aisha to other ladies is like the superiority of Tharid (i.e. meat and bread dish) to other meals. Many men reached the level of perfection, but no woman reached such a level except Mary, the daughter of `Imran and Asia, the wife of Pharaoh.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 3433
Chapter 46: The Statement of Allah Taa’la: “When the angels said: O Maryam! Verily, Allah gives you glad tidings of a Word…”, Book 60: Prophets
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3433
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، هُرَيْمُ بْنُ مِسْعَرٍ الأَزْدِيُّ التِّرْمِذِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ سُهَيْلِ بْنِ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَطَبَ النَّاسَ فَوَعَظَهُمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ ” يَا مَعْشَرَ النِّسَاءِ تَصَدَّقْنَ فَإِنَّكُنَّ أَكْثَرُ أَهْلِ النَّارِ ” . فَقَالَتِ امْرَأَةٌ مِنْهُنَّ وَلِمَ ذَاكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ ” لِكَثْرَةِ لَعْنِكُنَّ ” . يَعْنِي وَكُفْرَكُنَّ الْعَشِيرَ . قَالَ ” وَمَا رَأَيْتُ مِنْ نَاقِصَاتِ عَقْلٍ وَدِينٍ أَغْلَبَ لِذَوِي الأَلْبَابِ وَذَوِي الرَّأْىِ مِنْكُنَّ ” . قَالَتِ امْرَأَةٌ مِنْهُنَّ وَمَا نُقْصَانُ دِينِهَا وَعَقْلِهَا قَالَ ” شَهَادَةُ امْرَأَتَيْنِ مِنْكُنَّ بِشَهَادَةِ رَجُلٍ وَنُقْصَانُ دِينِكُنَّ الْحَيْضَةُ تَمْكُثُ إِحْدَاكُنَّ الثَّلاَثَ وَالأَرْبَعَ لاَ تُصَلِّي ” . وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ وَابْنِ عُمَرَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ صَحِيحٌ غَرِيبٌ حَسَنٌ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ .
Narrated Abu Hurairah: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) delivered a Khtubah in which he exhorted them, then he said: “O women! Give charity for you are the majority of the people of the Fire.” A woman among them said: “And why is that O Messenger of Allah?” He said: “Because of your cursing so much.” – meaning your ungratefulness towards your husbands. He said: “And I have not seen any among those lacking in intellect and religion who are more difficult upon people possessing reason and insight than you.” A woman among them said: “And what is the deficiency of her intellect and religion?” He said: “The testimony of two women among you is like the testimony of a man, and the deficiency in your religion is menstruation, because one of you will go three or four days without performing Salat.”
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2613
Chapter 6: Regarding The Completion Of Faith, Its Increasing And Decreasing, Book 40: The Book on Faith
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:2613
هل تؤجر الحائض على ترك الصيام والصلاة؟ قولان للعلماء:
القول الأول: أنها تؤجر، لأنها تركتهما تعبداً لله
القول الثاني: لا تؤجر، والصحيح الأول.
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ص453 – كتاب شرح منهج السالكين وتوضيح الفقه في الدين اللهيميد – من يباح لهم الفطر في رمضان – المكتبة الشاملة
(٣) قوله: (لم يكمل من النساء) أي: من نساء الأمم الماضية، إِلَّا إن حملنا الكمال على النبوة فيكون على إطلاقه. ومرَّ بيانه [برقم: ٣٤١١] في ذكر موسى.
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ص103 – كتاب صحيح البخاري بحاشية السهارنفوري ت الندوي – باب قوله جل جلاله إذ قالت أئمببكة يمرليم يامريم إن الله يبشرك بكلمة منه اسمه المسيح عيسى ابن مريم إلى قوله كن فيكون آل عمران – المكتبة الشاملة
أي: صار كاملًا، أو بلغ مبلغ الكمال (من الرجال كثير) أي: كثيرون من أفراد هذا الجنس حتى صاروا رسلًا وأنبياء وخلفاء وعلماء وأولياء (ولم يكمل) أي: لم يبلغ درجة الكمال (من النساء إلا مريم بنت عمران وآسية امرأة فرعون) اللعين، أي: زوجته، ليس المراد به الحصر في المذكور، بل المراد: بيان القلة وما ذكره .. فهو مذكور على سبيل التمثيل؛ فلا اعتراض بفاطمة وخديجة الكبرى؛ والمعنى: ولم يكمل من النساء إلا قليل منهن، ولما كان ذلك القليل محصورًا فيهما باعتبار الأمم السابقة نص عليهما، بخلاف الكمل من الرجال؛ فإنه يبعد تعدادهم واستقصاؤهم بطريق الانحصار، سواء أريد بالكمل الأنبياء أو الأولياء.
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ص243 – كتاب شرح سنن ابن ماجه للهرري مرشد ذوي الحجا والحاجة إلى سنن ابن ماجه – باب فضل الثريد على الطعام – المكتبة الشاملة
