THE EXTENT OF THE ADMISSIBILITY OF EVIDENCE OF WOMEN IN ISLAMIC LAW

The position of women since the beginning of history to date is viewed from different perspectives, especially as it affects the admissibility of their evidence. In many places, women had no rights at all and treated. worse than animals; and had no say in anything whatsoever. Their proper place was considered to be in the home or working in the fields and at other medial duties, with no regard for their identity or concern for their feelings. In some parts of the world, men doubted whether women even had souls or could be regarded as human beings.! It is this appalling situation of women that prompted the West to believe that women have no rights in Islamic law comparable to those enjoyed by European women. The fact remains that not until very recently, throughout the western world the situation was no better at all. For example, in England over nine (9) million women were burned alive in the 16 century, and were only considered to be citizens in 1850 and by 1882 entitled to own property.? In France, only in 1938 were women allowed to deal in property and operate bank accounts.}