Introduction

In the light of modern perspectives on women's rights and human rights, the concept of considering women as beings of deficient intelligence in Islamic documents is deeply objectionable and degrading. Such a view belittles women's human dignity and their intellectual capacity, which is contrary to modern human rights and women's rights. In today's society, it is essential to value women's rights equally and to properly recognize their human dignity, intelligence, work capacity, and their role in society. However, in Islamic scriptures there are some statements that try to present women as inferior to men in terms of intellect and to limit their capabilities. These statements not only interfere with women's personal freedom, but also strike at their honor.

Every Human Being Has Dignity

In a state or society, it is essential that the honor and dignity of every human being be equal. Human rights apply equally to every member of society, and according to modern human rights charters, men and women alike are all entitled to equal intellect and capability. No person should be evaluated on the basis of gender, but on the basis of merit and capability. But in the Islamic references, women are presented in such a way as if they are intellectually weak and skilled only in household work. Such a view confines women's personal and social lives and makes them dependent on men in almost every sphere of their lives. Yet in the modern world, women continue to play outstanding roles in education, employment, politics and other important fields. Women have shown intellect and skill equal to men, and they have proven that they are not confined only to household work. They are contributing equally in scientific research, technology, economics, and the creative arts.

At the root of the values established in today's society for protecting women's rights lies the concept of equal opportunity and potential. Ensuring equal rights and dignity for both women and men is our social responsibility. Creating misconceptions among the public about women's intelligence and skill is a kind of attack on women's womanhood and a violation of their fundamental human rights. Moreover, socially, this view creates obstacles on the path of women's right to education, their equal participation in the workplace, and their freedom in personal life. Many families take decisions to send women to school or college on the basis of religious belief, or to let them go to work, so it is extremely important to challenge the prevailing beliefs in society.

Are Women Deficient in Intellect in Islam?

Discriminatory notions about women and expressing doubt about their intelligence, knowledge and intellect are not only a barrier to social and political progress, but also strike at women's honor. Therefore, the concept found in Islamic references of considering women as degrading, deficient-intellect beings is completely unacceptable, and it is harmful not only for women's mental and physical development, but is also a major obstacle to the overall development of society. In the Quran, the hadith and almost all Islamic references, without any reservation, a clear teaching is given to consider women as beings of deficient intellect. The reader may consider whether the matter is degrading 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 due to deficiency in worship, and the word kufr also applies to denying blessings and commandments other than disbelief in Allah
145. Muhammad ibn Rumh ibn Muhajir al-Misri (RA) … Narrated from Abdullah ibn Umar (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: O women! Keep giving charity and seek istighfar abundantly. For I have seen that the majority of the inmates of Hell are women. A wise woman asked: O Messenger of Allah! What is the reason for our majority in Hell? He said, you curse a lot and express (ingratitude) towards your husbands. And I have not seen any community more deficient in religion and intellect, who overpowers the wise more than you.
The questioner asked: O Messenger of Allah! In what is our deficiency in intellect and religion? He said: the deficiency in your intellect is that the testimony of two women equals the testimony of one man; that is the proof of your intellectual deficiency. A woman abstains from salat (prayer) for several days (every month) and breaks her fast in Ramadan (due to menstruation); that is the deficiency in religion.
Hadith grade: Sahih (Authentic)

Sahih al-Bukhari (Tawheed)
Chapter: 24/ Zakat
Section: 24/44. Giving zakat to close relatives.
1462. Narrated from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (RA). He said, on a day of Eid al-Adha or Eid al-Fitr, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) went to the place of Eid prayer and finished the salat. Then he advised the people and ordered them to give sadaqah, and said: O people! You shall give sadaqah. Then he went to the women and said: O women! Give sadaqah. I have been shown that you are the majority in Hell. They said: O Messenger of Allah! What is the reason? He said: you curse a lot and are ungrateful to your husbands. O women! Despite being deficient in religion and intellect I have not seen anyone like you who robs the intellect of a resolute man. When he returned and reached home, Zaynab (RA), the wife of Ibn Mas'ud (RA), asked permission to enter upon him. 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. She was permitted. She said: O Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him), today you have ordered giving sadaqah. I have ornaments. I intend to give them as sadaqah. Ibn Mas'ud (RA) thinks that in this sadaqah of mine, he and his children have the greater right. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Ibn Mas'ud (RA) is right. Your husband and children deserve this sadaqah of yours more. (304, Muslim 12/2, Hadith: 982, Ahmad 7299) (Adhunik Prakashani: 1368, Islamic Foundation: 1374)
Hadith grade: Sahih (Authentic)

But Do Muslim Women Want Equal Rights?

Here the question arises—what do Muslim women want? Equal rights, or do they voluntarily support that structure in which a woman is a subhuman of deficient intellect? Let us watch some videos, in which a burqa-clad Muslim woman, herself a woman, is opposing equal rights, pleading the case of patriarchy while being a woman herself, and expressing support for establishing Sharia law in Bangladesh,

Conclusion

In conclusion, the claims of intellectual inferiority, incapability or "deficient intellect" about women made in Islamic references are in no way compatible with the standards achieved by modern human rights, science, psychology, and gender equality. These statements not only insult and devalue women's personhood, but also strengthen the path of establishing women as second-class human beings in society. Modern research has proven—intelligence is not gender-dependent; between biological men and women, no one is inferior or superior on the basis of gender in IQ, cognitive ability, logical analysis or decision-making skills. Yet the attempt of religious interpretations to question women's intellect by denying this scientific truth has completely failed before today's human values.

Counting women's testimony as half of a man's on the basis of the so-called "deficient intellect" concept, calling their religious observances "deficient", or portraying women as the majority inhabitants of Hell—these concepts are discriminatory and contrary to human dignity by the moral standards of today's world. The reality is that women are capable of showing skill equal to men in every field—from education to science, from technology to leadership, from politics to the military—and have been proving their worth century after century. Therefore, analyzing and questioning these discriminatory and degrading concepts in the scriptures is itself a part of human sense of justice.

A society that denies women's dignity, freedom, intellectual capacity and due rights cannot advance on the path of true progress. Challenging discriminatory beliefs against women is not just about protecting women's honor—it is an essential process for the development of humanity, the growth of rational thought, and moral progress. Therefore, there is no reason to blindly accept the degrading position in which women have been placed in Islamic references; rather, discarding these concepts in the light of critical perspectives, human values and scientific truth is the path of a civilized society.

Therefore, recognizing women's honor, rights and intellectual capacity in full dignity is the fundamental demand of humanity. Establishing discrimination in the name of religious references is never just. A woman—is a full human being; her power, potential and self-respect should not be mortgaged to any religious label or old belief. For the progress of modern society, considering the question of women's dignity and equal rights with the highest importance is the only rational and humane path.