Female recall

Exploring the reason for the directive for two female witnesses, in lieu of one man  

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا تَدَايَنتُم بِدَيْنٍ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى فَاكْتُبُوهُ 

…

وَاسْتَشْهِدُوا شَهِيدَيْنِ مِن رِّجَالِكُمْ ۖ فَإِن لَّمْ يَكُونَا رَجُلَيْنِ فَرَجُلٌ وَامْرَأَتَانِ مِمَّن تَرْضَوْنَ مِنَ الشُّهَدَاءِ أَن تَضِلَّ إِحْدَاهُمَا فَتُذَكِّرَ إِحْدَاهُمَا الْأُخْرَىٰۚ 

… 

وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۖوَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ اللَّهُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

This portion of Q2:282 is generally translated as: 

Saheeh International:  

282. O you who have believed, when you contract a debt for a specified term, write it down. … 

… And bring to witness two witnesses from among your men. And if there are not two men [available], then a man and two women from those whom you accept as witnesses - so that if one of the women errs, then the other can remind her. … 

… And fear Allah. And Allah teaches you. And Allah is Knowing of all things.  

Two key words in this, which need to be studied are: 

امْرَأَتَانِ   and   ضِلَّ

1) Err, not forget 

Thankfully, in the above translation, we find ضِلَّ translated as ‘errs’. However, in some translations, we find ضِلَّ translated as ‘forgets’, which is an incorrect translation as the root word for forget is ن س ی 

This leads many people wonder why forgetfulness is given as the reason, as both men and women are prone to forgetfulness. Both men and women are also prone to erring, going astray as well. A study of the root letters (ض ل ل) across The Quran agrees with this observation. Then, why do women need each other’s help in the matter, while men have to shoulder the responsibility by themselves? 

2) The word used for women 

The Quran is very precise in its use of words, to convey the exact meaning. Different Arabic words are generally translated as men and women. 

For example, Q12:30 mentions women of the city (نِسْوَةٌ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ) , and wife of the Aziz (امْرَأَتُ الْعَزِيزِ) ; Q51:29 for old woman (عَجُوزٌ) ; Q27:23 for the Queen of Saba (امْرَأَةً). 

The word used in the ayat under study, Q2:282, is امْرَأَتَانِ  

The root mīm rā hamza (م ر أ) is used: 

as ( الْمَرْءِ وَزَوْجِهِ) in Q2:102 for male gender, which can be translated as: the man and his wife; 

and 

as (امْرَأَتَيْنِ تَذُودَانِ) in Q28:23  for female gender, which can be translated as: two women keeping back 

Looking up in Lane’s Lexicon, pages 2702-3, the words formed with this root are used to express shades of meanings of food, easily digestible, and gullet, man, woman, … 

So, looking up if the female digestive tract is affected by her gender, a study titled Effects of the phases of the menstrual cycle on gastric emptying, glycemia, plasma GLP-1 and insulin, and energy intake in healthy lean women  suggests that: 

‘ Our observations establish that in healthy women after ingestion of a 50-g glucose preload, 1) gastric emptying is slower and glycemic, plasma GLP-1, and insulin responses, hunger and energy intake are less during the follicular compared with the luteal phase; 2) energy intake and the glucose, plasma GLP-1, and insulin responses are related to gastric emptying; and 3) these parameters are reproducible when assessed twice within one phase of the menstrual cycle, i.e., the follicular phase.’ 

This leads to another question: what is the link between glucose levels and ability to recall. A study titled Dose-dependent action of glucose on memory processes in women: effect on serial position and recall priority suggests that: ‘ The effect of glucose appears to be localized on the recall primacy effect, suggesting that glucose acts on precise memory operations. ’ 

So, there does appear to be some biological basis for concern, even though it may not be generally apparent. And Allah knows best. 

Q2:282 is the longest ayat in The Quran. In it, Allah teaches the Believers how to contract a debt. A debt is a very serious matter, and payments of debts are so important that even at the time of distribution of inheritance, it is essential to first pay off the debts (Q4:11-12) of the deceased. 

The next ayat (Q2:283) goes on to instruct about an exceptional situation, in which committing the contract to writing is not possible, and in it the hiding of witness is linked to sinfulness in a person. 

Science is coming to recognise three neural centres in the human body (brain, heart, and gut).  There is a lot of communication between them. In a article titled Your gut is directly connected to your brain, by a newly discovered neuron circuit, they report: 

‘ The study reveals "a new set of pathways that use gut cells to rapidly communicate with … the brain stem," says Daniel Drucker, a clinician-scientist who studies gut disorders at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute in Toronto, Canada, who was not involved with the work. Although many questions remain before the clinical implications become clear, he says, "This is a cool new piece of the puzzle." ’ 

In another article titled: From microbiome to mental health: The second brain in your gut, it states: 

‘ We really do have a second brain that influences our judgment, and much else besides. Known as the Enteric Nervous System (ENS) – enteric meaning ‘to do with intestines’ – it’s an extensive network of brain-like neurons and neurotransmitters wrapped in and around our gut. 

…

“Your gut has capabilities that surpass all your other organs, and even rival your brain,” says ENS specialist Dr Emeran Mayer of the University of California, Los Angeles, who is author of The Mind-Gut Connection, an account of the science of the ENS. “This second brain is made up of 50-100 million nerve cells, as many as are contained in your spinal cord.”

Researchers worldwide are now racing to explore the implications. The results are revealing the key role of the ENS in everyday health – and also what happens when it malfunctions. Links are emerging between the ENS and a host of disorders ranging from obesity and clinical depression to rheumatoid arthritis and even Parkinson’s disease.’  

Complete ayat 2:282 

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا تَدَايَنتُم بِدَيْنٍ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى فَاكْتُبُوهُ ۚوَلْيَكْتُب بَّيْنَكُمْ كَاتِبٌ بِالْعَدْلِ ۚوَلَا يَأْبَ كَاتِبٌ أَن يَكْتُبَ كَمَا عَلَّمَهُ اللَّهُ ۚ فَلْيَكْتُبْ وَلْيُمْلِلِ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ الْحَقُّ وَلْيَتَّقِ اللَّهَ رَبَّهُ وَلَا يَبْخَسْ مِنْهُ شَيْئًا ۚ فَإِن كَانَ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ الْحَقُّ سَفِيهًا أَوْ ضَعِيفًا أَوْ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُ أَن يُمِلَّ هُوَ فَلْيُمْلِلْ وَلِيُّهُ بِالْعَدْلِ ۚوَاسْتَشْهِدُوا شَهِيدَيْنِ مِن رِّجَالِكُمْ ۖ فَإِن لَّمْ يَكُونَا رَجُلَيْنِ فَرَجُلٌ وَامْرَأَتَانِ مِمَّن تَرْضَوْنَ مِنَ الشُّهَدَاءِ أَن تَضِلَّ إِحْدَاهُمَا فَتُذَكِّرَ إِحْدَاهُمَا الْأُخْرَىٰ ۚ وَلَا يَأْبَ الشُّهَدَاءُ إِذَا مَا دُعُوا ۚ وَلَا تَسْأَمُوا أَن تَكْتُبُوهُ صَغِيرًا أَوْ كَبِيرًا إِلَىٰ أَجَلِهِ ۚ ذَ‌ٰلِكُمْ أَقْسَطُ عِندَ اللَّهِ وَأَقْوَمُ لِلشَّهَادَةِ وَأَدْنَىٰ أَلَّا تَرْتَابُوا ۖإِلَّا أَن تَكُونَ تِجَارَةً حَاضِرَةً تُدِيرُونَهَا بَيْنَكُمْ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَلَّا تَكْتُبُوهَا ۗ وَأَشْهِدُوا إِذَا تَبَايَعْتُمْ ۚ وَلَا يُضَارَّ كَاتِبٌ وَلَا شَهِيدٌ ۚ وَإِن تَفْعَلُوا فَإِنَّهُ فُسُوقٌ بِكُمْ ۗ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۖوَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ اللَّهُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

282. O you who have believed, when you contract a debt for a specified term, write it down. And let a scribe write [it] between you in justice. Let no scribe refuse to write as Allah bless has taught him. So let him write and let the one who has the obligation dictate. And let him fear Allah, his Lord, and not leave anything out of it. But if the one who has the obligation is of limited understanding or weak or unable to dictate himself, then let his guardian dictate in justice. And bring to witness two witnesses from among your men. And if there are not two men [available], then a man and two women from those whom you accept as witnesses - so that if one of the women errs, then the other can remind her. And let not the witnesses refuse when they are called upon. And do not be [too] weary to write it, whether it is small or large, for its [specified] term. That is more just in the sight of Allah and stronger as evidence and more likely to prevent doubt between you, except when it is an immediate transaction which you conduct among yourselves. For [then] there is no blame upon you if you do not write it. And take witnesses when you conclude a contract. Let no scribe be harmed or any witness. For if you do so, indeed, it is [grave] disobedience in you. And fear Allah. And Allah teaches you. And Allah is Knowing of all things.

Al-Quran 2:282 

Arabic: https://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=2&translator=7 

Translation: https://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=2&translator=29 

Many key words appear together in Q2:282. It is fascinating to simply dwell upon each root word, and observe its usage across The Quran. There is so much to learn from this ayat.

…. 

Some root letters searches: 

https://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=rjl#(48:25:14) 

https://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=nsw#(2:49:12) 

https://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=Ejz#(51:29:8) 

https://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=mrA#(4:128:2) 

https://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=Dll#(2:282:67) 

https://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=nsy#(20:52:11) 

https://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=dyn#(2:282:6) 

Lane’s Lexicon http://www.tyndalearchive.com/TABS/Lane/ 

Last updated on: December 20, 2021 

The Serpent & The Third Eye

The serpent and the third eye in paganism and polytheism seem to have their origin in the deception story in the Garden, which led to the Fall of Adam. 

Consider the following: 

Genesis 3 1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman: 'Yea, hath God said: Ye shall not eat of any tree of the garden?' 

Genesis 3 2 And the woman said unto the serpent: 'Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 

Genesis 3 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said: Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.' 

Genesis 3 4 And the serpent said unto the woman: 'Ye shall not surely die; 

Genesis 3 5 for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil.' 

The Quran does not mention the conversation between the serpent and the woman. It mentions the reason the serpent whispered to them, that is, both to Adam and to his wife, and the temptation he presented to them:  

فَوَسْوَسَ لَهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ لِيُبْدِيَ لَهُمَا مَا وُورِيَ عَنْهُمَا مِن سَوْآتِهِمَا وَقَالَ مَا نَهَاكُمَا رَبُّكُمَا عَنْ هَـٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةِ إِلَّا أَن تَكُونَا مَلَكَيْنِ أَوْ تَكُونَا مِنَ الْخَالِدِينَ

 Then Satan whispered to them that he might manifest unto them that which was hidden from them of their shame, and he said: Your Lord forbade you from this tree only lest ye should become angels or become of the immortals
[Al-Quran 7:20, Translation: Pickthal]

Satan knew exactly what harm he would lead them to by fooling them into eating from the forbidden tree. 

The Quran also focuses on the specific temptations whispered to Adam: 

فَوَسْوَسَ إِلَيْهِ الشَّيْطَانُ قَالَ يَا آدَمُ هَلْ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَىٰ شَجَرَةِ الْخُلْدِ وَمُلْكٍ لَّا يَبْلَىٰ

But the devil whispered to him, saying: O Adam! Shall I show thee the tree of immortality and power that wasteth not away
[Al-Quran 20:120, Translation: Pickthal]

Genesis 3 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and she gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat. 

… and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, … 

Now that’s a strange statement: seeking wisdom, even though Allah had already imparted knowledge to Adam (Q2:31-33). 

The next verse of Genesis informs us that their eyes were opened. Weren’t their eyes already open when they were considering that tree? Or are we being informed about the ‘third eye’ being opened? Enhancing their vision? 

The Quran, Surah an-Nur, ayaat 30-31 orders both men and women to lower their vision. 

Genesis 3 7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig-leaves together, and made themselves girdles.

فَأَكَلَا مِنْهَا فَبَدَتْ لَهُمَا سَوْآتُهُمَا وَطَفِقَا يَخْصِفَانِ عَلَيْهِمَا مِن وَرَقِ الْجَنَّةِ ۚ وَعَصَىٰ آدَمُ رَبَّهُ فَغَوَىٰ

Then they twain ate thereof, so that their shame became apparent unto them, and they began to hide by heaping on themselves some of the leaves of the Garden. And Adam disobeyed his Lord, so went astray
[Al-Quran 20:121, Translation: Pickthal]

The Quran places the responsibility upon Adam for his disobedience, citing it as the cause for his going astray. Q20:115 begins with the mention of the covenant taken from Adam, which he forgot, and Q20:121 mentions Adam disobeyed. 

Satan’s tool to tempt Adam was whispering ( فَوَسْوَسَ ). The Quran concludes with a prayer specifically against the evil of such whispers: 

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ

مَلِكِ النَّاسِ

إِلَٰهِ النَّاسِ

مِن شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ

الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ

مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ

Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind,

The Sovereign of mankind.

The God of mankind,

From the evil of the retreating whisperer -

Who whispers [evil] into the breasts of mankind -

From among the jinn and mankind." 

[Al-Quran 114, Translator: Sahih International] 

Last updated on: August 10, 2022 

Time, Death & Decay

 DRAFT 

  

‏وَقَالُوا۟ مَا هِىَ إِلَّا حَيَاتُنَا ٱلدُّنْيَا نَمُوتُ وَنَحْيَا وَمَا يُهْلِكُنَآ إِلَّا ٱلدَّهْرُ ۚ وَمَا لَهُم بِذَلِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ ۖ إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَظُنُّونَ

And they say, "Not it (is) but our life (of) the world, we die and we live, and not destroys us except the time." And not for them of that any knowledge; not, they (do) but guess. 

[Al-Quran 45:24 https://www.islamawakened.com/quran/45/24/] 

A couple of ayaat earlier, Surah al-Jathiya ayat 22, mentions that the purpose of creation is to recompense every nafs for what it has earned. The next ayat (Q45:23) mentions those who have taken their desires as their gods. Denial of accountability frees them to follow their desires. 

The deniers of resurrection and accountability refuse to believe. They attribute non-existence and existence, death and life, to natural processes which are time bound. The truth of the matter is that nobody comprehends death, nor does anyone even know what is the nature of time. We can measure time, as the physical distance between two events, but nobody really understands time. Apparently, it is but a physical distance, a dimension, one in which we can’t seem to travel in reverse gear. 

Living creatures generally appear to rot and decay, till they disintegrate and become dust and bones. However, there are reports of well-preserved bodies, who were buried without any mummification, yet they did not suffer decay. There are also reports of some pagan religious leaders whose body did not deteriorate for days after they died. 

The Quran mentions that the Pharaoh was divinely saved in His body (Q10:92), when he was drowned in the sea, while pursuing Moses. It was a sign. It wasn’t a blessing. It also states that the Pharaoh and his family are cursed in this world, they are shown the fire morning and evening, and on the Day the Hour appears, they will be thrown in the severest of punishment (Q40:46). 

In the same surah, Q40:34 mentions that even though Joseph had come with clear proofs earlier, after he perished (هَلَكَ) the people stopped expecting the Messenger that he had prophesied about. 

Q28:41 states that Pharaoh and his soldiers have been made leaders inviting to the Fire.  

It is important to remember these ayaat, lest we be misled by the miraculously preserved bodies of some people, which is taken by people as a sign of sainthood, and thus revered. 

Death is a creation (Q67:2), a state of existence, which is not understood. There is a barrier that cannot be crossed(23:100), except once, and in one direction only. Therefore, all theories, scientific or scriptural, cannot be verified. While the believers take the scriptural facts on faith, the scientists are actively researching death, which they consider a disease. They hope to delay its onset, or even cure it someday. 

The Quran links longevity with progress and prosperity, clarifying that it is a divine act, and not an outcome of human endeavour: 

Holy Quran 21:44

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بَلْ مَتَّعْنَا هَٰؤُلَاءِ وَآبَاءَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ طَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْعُمُرُ ۗ أَفَلَا يَرَوْنَ أَنَّا نَأْتِي الْأَرْضَ نَنقُصُهَا مِنْ أَطْرَافِهَا ۚ أَفَهُمُ الْغَالِبُونَ

But, [on the contrary], We have provided good things for these [disbelievers] and their fathers until life was prolonged for them. Then do they not see that We set upon the land, reducing it from its borders? So it is they who will overcome?

Holy Quran 21:45

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قُلْ إِنَّمَا أُنذِرُكُم بِالْوَحْيِ ۚ وَلَا يَسْمَعُ الصُّمُّ الدُّعَاءَ إِذَا مَا يُنذَرُونَ

Say, "I only warn you by revelation." But the deaf do not hear the call when they are warned.

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