It was reported from Yaya bin Sa’eed, from ‘Amrah bint ‘Abdur-Rahmãn, that she informed him that Aishah رضي الله عنها, the wife of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, said: “Had the Messenger of Allah seen what the women are doing (in our times), he would have prevented them from going to the Masjid, just as the women of the Children of Israel were prevented.” Yahya said: “I said to ‘Amrah: ‘Were the women of the Children of Israel prevented (from their places of worship)?’ She said: ‘Yes.’
The great Hanafi faqeeh and muhaddith Allamah Badrud-deen Aiyni رحمه الله (d.855 AH/1451 CE) said in his commentary of Sunan Abi Dawud:
“Her statement, ‘That which the women have innovated,’ meaning of adornments of beauty (zinah) and fragrances and of beautiful clothing and the likes.
Rather, I say that if Aishah رضي الله عنها were to see the innovation of the women of this time, in respect to newly introduced customs and vices, she would of have been harsher in her rebuke, especially the women of Egypt, because they have introduced such things that cannot even be described with words. For example, the finely woven fabrics on their heads which resemble the humps of Bactrian camels, as well as upper blouses with overly large sleeves. I even heard from the people of Egypt that a woman would cut out a coloured silk clothing which was almost a hundred cubits in length. They also walk in the markets with pompous clothing strong fragrances, with their faces uncovered, seductively, in a proud fashion. They also ride on lively donkeys. They run between men while their sleeves are hanging low on both sides. They ride on recreational water transports on the Nile and its respective outlets while mingling with men. Some of them sing in loud melodious tones. They also overpower and overwhelm the men folk and rule over them. Some women even sell prohibited items openly and mix with men while engaged in it. Some are procuresses who corrupt both men and women, while others are prostitutes who sit and wait for evil to come their way. Some steal from homes and public baths. Some practice witchcraft and tie knots on ropes. Some do business in the market places dealing with men. Some are mourners who cry aloud at someone’s death for a wage, others pound their chests and slap their faces behind the deceased for a wage. Some are paid songstresses who sing in all genres for both men and women. Some propose on behalf of men to such women who are already married, by this they cause problems between the husband and his wife until he divorces her. There are many more types of women who leave the parameters of Shari’ah.
Ponder, that the time between Aisha’s رضي الله عنها statement, “If only the Prophet ﷺ had seen what the women have done,” and the Prophet’s ﷺ passing was very short, and yet they had not even innovated one-tenth of what the women in these times have. If these women were alive then, they would not even be allowed to live any longer, let alone go to the masjid.”[4]
[1] # 869
[2] #445
[3] #569
[4] Sharh Sunan Abi Dawud by Aiyni Vol.3 Pg.54-55
