While referring to debt transactions the Qur'an states that:
“ If ye are on a journey, and cannot find a scribe, a pledge with
possession (may serve the purpose). And if one of you deposits a
thing on trust with another, let the trustee (faithfully) discharge his
trust, and let him fear his Lord. Conceal not evidence; For whoever
conceals it,- his heart is tainted with sin. And God knoweth all that ye
do.” (2:283)
Many religious texts have ruled that the woman is wholly
uneligible to stand as witness. For instance, look at the law of
Yagnavalkasmrithi:
“ Sthree bala vrathe Kidava mathonmathi bishasthaka:
Rangavathari Pallandi Kudakridwileadiya
Pathilka patharthe sambandi Sahayari puthaskara
Sahasi Drushta dohashcha Nirduthatyosthe sukshina”
(2:70,71)
“Woman, child, the aged, the gambler, the intoxicated, the insane,
the one who has sinned by way of Brahmahatya, Charana
(Singer, actor etc.), Pakandi (atheist), the one who makes false documents,
the handicapped, the friend, the one who lends money, the helper,
the enemy, the thief, the bandit, the one with an apparent negative
impression, the one who has been cast aside by his relatives - all these
are not eligible to stand as witnesses.”
Why are women deemed non-eligible to bear testimony? The
explanation of the Manusmrithi is as follows:
“Ekolubdasthu Sakshheesyal Bahrushu
Chorina sthriya sthree budhera sthirathatu
Doshysh chanyopiye vratha”(8:77)
“One single man who is not greedy may be a witness, but not
several women, even if they are unpolluted, because a woman’s understanding
is unreliable, nor even other men who are rife with bad
qualities”
It was in times wherein ‘religious’ rulings held that women
were wholly unfit as witnesses and that it was only necessary that
two women were to offer the testimony that would normally be taken
from one man. Why is it that there is to be two women in place of one
man? The answer is also given by the Qur'an: “so that if one of them
errs the other can remind her.”
In fact, this Qur'anic recommendation helps us to comprehend
its divine nature; to comprehend the fact that the Qur'an is, indeed, the
legal commandment of the Creator who is clearly aware of the nature
of man and woman. Here, the Qur'an has not debased woman; it has
only appreciated her inherent weaknesses. Here again, it is the general
law of the Qur'an - that both man and woman must be assigned
their respective roles in each and every field of mutual cooperation
only on principles that are in keeping with the demands of justice -
which ultimately shines forth. The facts mentioned here under will
serve to clarify this point:
One: This verse deals with debt transactions. Since the Qur'an
has conferred all financial responsibilities upon man, it will be the men
who will, in general, be involved in economic dealings. Furthermore,
as the intermingling of the sexes is not encouraged in an Islamic society,
it is not natural for women to stand as witnesses in dealings of a mutual
nature between men as also in fields where men alone play the
dominant role. Even if women do become witnesses in any dealing,
whatsoever, they are duty bound to maintain all standards of Islamic
decency. In cases where such norms of decency are adhered to, it
may not always be possible to satisfactorily identify the individuals
involved in the transactions.
Two: Women are, in general, emotional creatures. It is probable
that the woman, who is easily influenced by tides of emotion is led
away from the truth. It may be that the one about whom the testimony
is being made is much more beautiful than the one who makes the
testimony. Or the testimony being made may concern a handsome
youth who arouses the passions in the one who makes the testimony.
There may also be circumstances, which appeal to the maternal instincts
of the one giving testimony. In all such situations, it is quite
possible that her emotional compulsions will ultimately influence her
testimony.
Three: The special constitution of woman’s body sets various
difficulties for her. There are many problems - like the severe mental
agitation during the days immediately prior to the commencement of
the menstrual cycle, physical and mental problems associated with the
early days of pregnancy, difficulties linked to the post menstrual period,
problems during child delivery and the mental strain that is caused
by abortion - all of which are to be faced only by women. Scientific
researches have confirmed the fact that under such circumstances, in
addition to the physical discomfiture, women are subject to various
psychological problems as well. It has been observed that some of
these problems include slowmindedness, lack of concentration, loss of
memory etc. It is essential, however, that all such situations must be
taken into account when the quality of women’s testimony or witness
is the subject of discussion. It is especially relevant that the verse
which recommends that two women are to testify in place of a single
man has also mentioned this “in order that if one errs the other may
remind her.”
In actual fact, therefore, this Qur'anic law has never debased
woman. On the contrary, it has appreciated her weaknesses and limitations
and has recommended the proper solution while yet providing
for her the opportunity to give testimony along with the man. The only
motive behind such a prescription has been to enable one woman to
correct the other on all such occasions where the latter may be subject
to slow mindedness or to a loss of memory. At the same time, the
testimony of a single woman will be fully considered in all cases that
involve only women and wherein it is only her own transactions that
have to be addressed. Here again we are subject to the realization of
the facts that all recommendations of the natural religion is, indeed, in
harmony with nature herself.
One witness also considered some occation:
Muslim :: Book 16 : Hadith 4138
Bukhari :: Book 7 :: Volume 63 :: Hadith 216
Bukhari :: Book 9 :: Volume 83 :: Hadith 18
Bukhari :: Book 8 :: Volume 82 :: Hadith 842
Bukhari :: Book 7 :: Volume 63 :: Hadith 226
Narrated 'Abdullah:
An Ansari man accused his wife (of committing illegal sexual intercourse). The Prophet made both of them takes the oath of Lian, and separated them from each other (by divorce).
Malik :: Book 29 : Hadith 29.12.35
Malik said that if a man divorced his wife and then after three months the woman said, "I am pregnant," and he denied paternity, then he had to do lian.
