Introduction

In Islamic religious texts, especially the hadith, there are some narrations about women that depict them as inferior. For example, Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 29) and Sahih Muslim (Hadith 145) narrate that the Prophet Muhammad was shown Hell, where most of the inhabitants are women, because they are ungrateful to their husbands and deficient in intellect and religion. These narrations describe women as intellectually deficient and religiously inadequate, explained with the examples that the testimony of two women equals that of one man and that women do not pray or fast during menstruation.

Such hadiths influence the status of women in Islamic society, and are irrational and unacceptable in the light of modern rationalism, scientific evidence, and human rights. This article will examine these Islamic beliefs and prove that they are not any universal truth, that they do not deserve to be divine words, but rather are the result of the patriarchal influence of seventh-century Arab society. They must be rejected on the basis of reason, science and human rights, because blindly honoring any religious text conflicts with reason.

Scholars' Sermons and Misogynist Statements

Let us first listen to a statement by Abdur Razzak bin Yusuf,

The Hadith Narration: Most of Hell's Inmates Are Women

Even before the Day of Resurrection and Allah's judgment, the Prophet Muhammad is said to have gone on the Mi'raj (ascension) and seen that women are the majority of Hell's inmates. When asked the reason, the Prophet said, disobeying the husband is the cause (( Sahih al-Bukhari (IF), Hadith: 28 ))

Sahih al-Bukhari (IF)
Chapter: 2/ Faith (Iman)
Section: 21/ Ingratitude to the husband
28. Narrated from Abdullah ibn Maslamah (may Allah have mercy on him), from Ibn 'Abbas (RA), who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: I was shown Hell. (I saw that) most of its inhabitants are women; (because) they commit kufr. It was asked: Do they disbelieve in Allah? He said: They are disobedient to their husbands and deny favors. If you do favors for one of them for a long time, then she sees a slight neglect from you, she says, 'I have never received any good treatment from you.'
Hadith status: Sahih (Authentic)

The Quran, hadith, and almost all Islamic references teach, without any hesitation, that women should be regarded as creatures of deficient intellect. The matter is not only objectionable but also humiliating for women. (( Sahih Muslim, Islamic Foundation, Hadith: 145 )) (( Sahih al-Bukhari, Tawheed Publications, Hadith: 1462 )) -

Sahih Muslim (IF)
Chapter: 1/ Kitab al-Iman
Section: 34. Faith decreases with defects in worship, and the word kufr applies to denying blessings and commandments as well as disbelieving in Allah
145. Muhammad ibn Rumh ibn Muhajir al-Misri (may Allah have mercy on him) ... narrated from Abdullah ibn Umar (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: O women! Keep giving charity and seek forgiveness much, for I have seen that most of the inhabitants of Hell are women. An intelligent woman asked: O Messenger of Allah! What is the reason for our majority in Hell? He said: You curse a great deal and show (ingratitude) to your husbands. I have not seen any community more deficient in religion and intellect that is more influential over the minds of the wise than you.
The questioner asked: O Messenger of Allah! What is the deficiency in our intellect and religion? He said: The deficiency of your intellect is that the testimony of two women equals the testimony of one man; this is the proof of your intellectual deficiency. And women abstain from prayer (salat) for a few days (every month) and break the fast in Ramadan (because of menstruation); this is the deficiency of religion.
Hadith status: Sahih (Authentic)

Sahih al-Bukhari (Tawheed)
Chapter: 24/ Zakat
Section: 24/44. Giving zakat to relatives.
1462. Narrated from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (RA). He said: On the day of Eid al-Adha or Eid al-Fitr, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) went to the musalla (prayer ground) and completed the prayer. Then he gave advice to the people and ordered them to give sadaqah, saying: O people! You shall give sadaqah. Then he went to the women and said: O women! Give sadaqah, for I have been shown that you are the majority of the inhabitants of Hell. They said: O Messenger of Allah! What is the reason? He said: You curse a great deal and are ungrateful to your husbands. O women! Despite being deficient in intellect and religion, I have not seen anyone like you who can rob the intellect of a resolute man. When he returned and reached home, Zaynab (RA), the wife of Ibn Mas'ud (RA), sought permission to enter. It was said: O Messenger of Allah! Zaynab has come. He said: Which Zaynab? It was said: The wife of Ibn Mas'ud. He said: Yes, let her come in. She was given permission. She said: O Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him)! Today you have ordered sadaqah. I have ornaments, and I intend to give them as sadaqah. Ibn Mas'ud (RA) thinks that he and his children have more right to my sadaqah. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Ibn Mas'ud (RA) is right. Your husband and children have the most right to this sadaqah of yours. (304, Muslim 12/2, Hadith 982, Ahmad 7299) (Adhunik Prokashani: 1368, Islamic Foundation: 1374)
Hadith status: Sahih (Authentic)

Who Determines Human Intelligence?

Let us read a hadith. This hadith says that human intelligence is part of taqdir, and Allah has determined it long ago. That is, how much intelligence a person will have is predetermined by Allah (( Mishkat al-Masabih (Mishkat), Hadith: 80 )) -

Mishkat al-Masabih (Mishkat)
Volume 1: Iman (Faith)
Section: 3. First subsection - Faith in taqdir
80-[2] Narrated from Ibn 'Umar (RA). He said, The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Everything is according to Allah's qadr (decree) (taqdir/destiny), even foolishness and intelligence. (Muslim)[1]
[1] Sahih: Muslim 2655, Ahmad 5893, Sahih Ibn Hibban 6149, Silsilah Sahihah 861, Sahih al-Jami' 4531. Imam al-Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) also narrated the hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari in the chapter named Khalq Af'al al-'Ibad (Creation of the Acts of the Servants). Some contemporary muhaddithun mistakenly attributed the hadith absolutely to Imam Muslim. Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) also compiled the hadith in his 'Muwatta'. And Imam al-Bukhari has presented the hadith of Muslim with Imam Malik's chain.
Hadith status: Sahih (Authentic)
Narrator: Abdullah ibn Umar (RA)

Now, if the deficiency of women's intelligence mentioned in this hadith is part of Allah's taqdir or predetermined destiny, then it completely invalidates the concept of divine justice and is logically flawed. If intelligence is determined by Allah's will, then the claim of sending women to Hell in greater numbers because of their lesser intelligence is supported by no logic — this is an internal contradiction that exposes the irrationality of the religious claim. The fundamental principle of justice is that every person will be tested on the basis of their free will and deeds, in a state of equal opportunity. But if intelligence is predetermined, then holding a person accountable for their cognitive limitations is illogical and unjust.

First, if intelligence is part of Allah's taqdir, then punishing a less intelligent person — as the hadith describes women — for being unable to grasp religious truths or make moral decisions with their limited thinking ability is not just. From the perspective of moral philosophy, a person cannot be punished for something beyond their control. For example, if Allah deliberately created women 'deficient in intellect', how will they acquire the ability to perform religious duties or avoid disobedience to their husbands? This creates a lack of equal opportunity, which is contrary to any justice system. In logical analysis, such predetermination is not divine justice, but a logical fallacy that proves the religious claim false or flawed.

Second, this idea directly conflicts with 'free will'. Islamic philosophy presents human free will as the basis of accountability for one's deeds (( On taqdir, one of the foundations of Islam )), but if intelligence and foolishness are predetermined, then that freedom does not remain effective. If human thought, decision and action depend on predetermined intelligence, then holding one accountable for the outcome is inconsistent. This highlights the paradox of predestination, which is philosophically flawed, controversial and contrary to reason.

This claim is clearly stated in the hadith, such as in Sahih Muslim: "Everything is according to Allah's qadr (taqdir), even foolishness and intelligence." This hadith is also mentioned in Mishkat al-Masabih (Hadith 80), which is considered authentic. But there is no logical or scientific basis for this claim; it is based on blind faith, which does not survive any logical analysis. Consequently, if intelligence is part of taqdir, then the idea of sending women to Hell for their lesser intelligence is completely illogical and a false claim of divine justice. This shows that these hadiths are not any universal truth, but the product of an ancient social context, rejectable in modern rationalism.

International Human Rights: Gender Equality

The core principle of modern human rights is gender equality, which is clearly stated in the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). According to this Declaration, all human beings possess equal rights, and women cannot be shown as inferior for any religious or cultural reason. But the aforementioned hadiths establish inequality in testimony by saying women have less intelligence, which is a direct violation of human rights. The students of the madrasas where these are preached as the source of morality and as divine words grow up with parochial and unscientific ideas about women, which strengthens misogyny in society.

The influence of these hadiths in Islamic society is seen in Sharia law, where women's inheritance is half, the right to divorce is limited, and there is inequality in testimony. In Muslim-majority countries, such as Saudi Arabia or Iran, these texts are used to deprive women of their rights. This is not only internally repressive, but also conflicts with international human rights treaties such as CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women).

If women are said to be the majority in Hell for disobeying their husbands, then this is a tool of patriarchal control that denies women's freedom. In the light of modern human rights, this is an example of control through intimidation, which must be rejected without respecting any religious sentiment. Feminist Muslim scholars such as Amina Wadud or Fatima Mernissi try to reinterpret these texts to show that they originate from cultural bias, but these claims of theirs directly conflict with Islam's fundamental beliefs.

From a Logical Perspective, These Claims Are Unproven

According to rationalism, every claim is subject to proof, and claims must be analyzed without blind faith. These hadiths say women have less intelligence, but there is no logical proof. They are a reflection of the patriarchal outlook of seventh-century Arab society, where women's education and social participation were limited.

The hadiths say women curse more and are ungrateful to their husbands, but this is not any universal truth; it is the result of social conditioning. And the cunning attempt to keep women always obedient and subservient to their husbands through these hadiths also plays a major role in violating human rights. Because the husbands of Muslim society then develop the idea that by marrying a wife, he has blessed her, so it is the wife's duty to be grateful to him. At the same time, if we look at the logical structure of these hadiths, we see that Muhammad is using one superstition to present the argument of another superstition, which is a very ridiculous and foolish act in the structure of logic. There is no logical basis for a woman's testimony counting as half; this is also a superstition and the product of a mentality created by the patriarchal social system of Arabia. It is not that women are inherently less credible. Accepting such claims without any evidence is contrary to rationalism.

Women in the Light of Scientific Evidence

These hadiths of Islam claim that women are deficient in intellect and religious perfection, which, although a product of the seventh-century social context, is completely unsupported and illogical in the light of modern science. Accepting these claims as true is outright blind faith, because accepting them without any evidence conflicts with reason. Scientific research, especially meta-analyses and neuroscience studies, shows that there is no significant difference between women and men in general intelligence (g-factor). For example, a 2022 meta-analysis that reviewed 79 studies (46,605 participants) shows that there is no gender-based difference in general intelligence among school-age children, although differences are seen in some specific abilities (such as a slight male advantage in crystallized intelligence). This kind of research, based on IQ scores, shows that the overall intelligence of women and men is equal; there may only be small differences in some specific tasks (such as women's advantage in verbal capacity or men's in spatial capacity), but these are not related to general intelligence. (( The Impasse on Gender Differences in Intelligence: a Meta-Analysis on WISC Batteries )) (( The sexes do not differ in general intelligence, but they do in some specifics )) (( Sex/gender differences in general cognitive abilities: an investigation using the Leiter-3 )) (( You don't have a male or female brain - the more brains scientists study, the weaker the evidence for sex differences ))

Neuroscience research further confirms that although there are gender-based differences in brain structure, these are not directly related to intelligence. For example, a 2021 meta-synthesis shows that gender-based differences account for only about 1% of human brain structure or laterality, and the large difference is only in total brain volume (men's brains are on average 11% larger). But this size difference is not related to intelligence; rather, women and men achieve the same IQ using different brain regions. For instance, a 2024 study by Stanford Medicine shows that although there are gender-based differences in brain organization patterns, these are due to size, and there is no universal 'male brain' or 'female brain'. These differences are the result of hormonal and genetic factors, but they do not create any inequality in intelligence. Therefore, the claim in the hadith that women have less intelligence conflicts with science, and accepting it without any evidence is blind faith. (( The neuroanatomy of general intelligence: sex matters )) (( Stanford Medicine study identifies distinct brain organization patterns in women and men )) (( Two minds The cognitive differences between men and women ))

Additionally, women generally score higher than men in emotional intelligence (EI), which is the opposite of the hadith's claim. Research shows that women excel in empathy, interpersonal relationships and social responsibility, which are key components of EI. For example, a 2025 study shows that women score higher in attention to others' emotions, expression, and regulation. Also, a 2016 study by Korn Ferry Hay Group (55,000 participants) shows that women outperform men in 11 of the 12 EI competencies, being equal only in emotional self-control. These findings show that women are often ahead of men in emotional abilities, which refutes the hadith's claim of women being 'deficient in intellect'. These may be the result of social conditioning and biological factors, but they are not any religious 'deficiency'. (( Are Men and Women Equally Emotionally Intelligent? )) (( Sex differences in emotional and meta-emotional intelligence in pre-adolescents and adolescents )) (( The influence of gender on the relationship between emotional intelligence and psychological well-being in Spanish university students ))

The hadith further claims that women are religiously inadequate because they cannot pray or fast during menstruation. But this is a biological fact, a natural process, and not any 'deficiency'. Menstruation is the shedding of the uterine lining, regulated by hormones (such as estrogen and progesterone). It is the body's preparation for reproduction, where the lining sheds if conception does not occur. Science views it as a normal, healthy process, which is not related to any religious or intellectual deficiency in women. Calling this claim a 'deficiency' is contrary to reason, because it is a biological reality, not any divine punishment or inadequacy. If it is called a religious deficiency, then it is certainly born of blind faith.

In summary, these hadiths are scientifically unsupported and cannot be accepted without any evidence. Science shows that women and men possess equal intelligence, and menstruation is a natural process, not a deficiency. Such claims are the product of a patriarchal society, not any universal truth.

Women Are Also the Majority in Paradise

Now let us read another hadith. This hadith shows that every man in Paradise will be married and each will have two wives. That is, the number of women will be at least double that of men. I am not even mentioning the houris. The question is: the number of women is higher in Hell, and in Paradise women are double the men. How is this logically possible? Or are these hadiths actually a reflection of whimsical statements made as one pleases, which is why there is no consistency among them (( Sahih Muslim, Islamic Foundation, Hadith: 6884 ))

Sahih Muslim (Islamic Foundation)
54/ Paradise, the blessings of Paradise and the description of its inhabitants
Section: 6. The first group to enter Paradise will have faces shining like the moon on a full moon night, and their attributes and the description of their wives
6884. Narrated from Amr an-Naqid and Ya'qub ibn Ibrahim ad-Dawraqi (may Allah have mercy on them) ... from Muhammad (may Allah have mercy on him). He said: People may boastingly said, or discussing, said: Will there be more men in Paradise, or women? Hearing this, Abu Hurayrah (RA) said: Did not Abu al-Qasim (peace be upon him) say: The first group to enter Paradise will have faces like the moon on a full moon night. Those who enter Paradise after them will have faces like a bright star. Each of them will have two wives. The marrow of their shin bones will be visible from behind the flesh. No one will remain unmarried in Paradise.
Hadith status: Sahih (Authentic)
Narrator: Ibn Sirin (may Allah have mercy on him)

Conclusion

The aforementioned hadiths pave the way for belittling and humiliating women in Islamic society, establishing them as subhuman. But in the light of modern reason, science and human rights, these are illogical and rejectable. They are not any divine truth, but the product of patriarchal culture. To ensure women's rights in Muslim society, these texts must be reinterpreted or rejected, because reason cannot be abandoned out of respect for any religious sentiment. Accepting them for lack of evidence is blind faith, and a rationalist outlook must be adopted to ensure women's equal rights.