Is it true that the Hadeeth: "Women are lacking in wisdom and in religion" only applies during the women's period? In other words, are women lacking in wisdom because of their excessive nervousness during their menstrual periods and they are lacking in religion because they are not allowed to perform prayer or fasting during that time. Please advise me, may Allaah reward you.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam , explained the meaning of these words within the same Hadeeth, which was narrated on the authority of Abu Sa‘eed Al-Khudri . In this Hadeeth it was narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, went out to the Musalla (an open place where Muslims gather to perform ‘Eed prayer) to offer the prayer on ‘Eed Al-Ad'haa or ‘Eed Al-Fitr. Then he passed by some women and commanded them to give charity and be diligent in seeking the forgiveness of Allaah, as he was informed that the majority of the dwellers of Hell are women because they curse frequently and show ingratitude to their husbands. Then he informed them that they are lacking in wisdom and in religion. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, also told them that they lack wisdom because the testimony of two women is equal to that of one man, while they lack religion because they do not perform prayer or fasting during their periods. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Allaah The Almighty has drawn our attention to the reason for which a woman's testimony is worth half that of a man's in the verse in which He Says (what means): {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.} [Quran 2:282] Such a reason applies at all times, whether during menstruation or any other time.

As for women's lack of religion, it is due to the acts of worship that a woman misses during her menstrual periods, i.e., it is a deficiency only when compared to people who perform all acts of worship perfectly.

An-Nawawi explained that deficiency in religion (with regard to women) is of three types:

1-      The deficiency that incurs sin: such as leaving obligatory acts of worship like prayer or fasting without a Sharee‘ah concession.

2-      The deficiency that does not incur sin: such as leaving the Friday prayer, taking part in Jihaad or any other non-obligatory act of worship without an excuse.

3-      The mandatory deficiency: such as leaving prayer and fasting by women during their periods.

Allaah Knows best.