Commentary on Sermon 80 of Nahjul Balaghah
Text of the Sermon
مَعَاشِرَ النَّاسِ إِنَّ النِّسَآءَ نَوَاقِصُ الْإِيمَانِ نَوَاقِصُ الْحُظُوظِ نَوَاقِصُ الْعُقُولِ فَأَمَّا نُقْصَانُ إِيمَانِهِنَّ فَقُعُودُهُنَّ عَنِ الصَّلَاةِ وَ الصِّيَامِ فِي أَيَّامِ حَيْضِهِنَّ وَ أَمَّا نُقْصَانُ عُقُولِهِنَّ فَشَهَادَةُ امْرَأَتَيْنِ كَشَهَادَةِ الرَّجُلِ الْوَاحِدِ وَ أَمَّا نُقْصَانُ حُظُوظِهِنَّ فَمَوَارِيثُهُنَّ عَلَى الْأَنْصَافِ مِنْ مَوَارِيثِ الرِّجَالِ فَاتَّقُوا شِرَارَ النِّسَآءِ وَ كُونُوا مِنْ خِيَارِهِنَّ عَلَى حَذَرٍ وَ لَا تُطِيعُوهُنَّ فِي الْمَعْرُوفِ حَتَّى لَا يَطْمَعْنَ فِي الْمُنْكَرِ .
O’ people! Women are ‘deficient’ in faith, ‘deficient’ in shares, and ‘deficient’ in intelligence. In regards to the ‘deficiency’ in their faith, it is their abstention from prayers and fasting during their menstrual period. In regards to their ‘deficiency’ in their intelligence, it is because the evidence of two women is equal to that of one man.
As for the ‘deficiency’ of their shares, it is because of their share of inheritance being half that of men. So beware of the evils of women. Be on your guard even from those of them who are (reportedly) good. Do not obey them even in good things, so that they may not attract you to evils things.