The Woman's Deficiency in Intellect and Religion, and the Meaning of Oppressing the Woman

Question:
He asks: Is the woman's deficiency in testimony and in not praying only when she is menstruating, or is she deficient in other matters as well?

Answer:
This is part of the deficiency in her religion and intellect. This is some of the deficiency in her intellect and religion, and it is not limited to that. The woman is not like the man in many matters; this is clear. Those who reject the hadiths and act arbitrarily claim that they are removing oppression from the woman. On this basis, the rulings of the Shari'ah would be oppression, may Allah protect us from that. This is dangerous speech and this is a dangerous suspicion.
I say that oppressing the woman is giving her something she does not have. This is oppressing the woman: appointing her to jobs that are not fitting for her, appointing her to jobs she cannot handle. This is oppressing the woman. So if you lower a person to a status that is not his, you have oppressed him. Oppression is placing a thing in other than its proper place. This is oppression.