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
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/
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