It is true that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) has mentioned that women have less intelligence than men. This is recorded in Bukhari Shareef.

Respected Brother-in-Islam%0D%0A%0D%0AAssalaamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullaahi Wa Barakaatuhu%0D%0A%0D%0AWe have taken note of your e-mail. By the grace of Allah we are not offended%0D%0Aby the least. We understand your frame of mind quite well, and are well%0D%0Aaware of the type of mindset you have. We sincerely make du'a that Allah Ta'%0D%0Aala grants you increase in Islamic knowledge and an understanding of the%0D%0ADeen.%0D%0A%0D%0APlease find attached a copy of the text under question. However, I am sure%0D%0Athat this will not solve the matter, for even if we had to present Imaam%0D%0ABukhari's hand-written manuscript it will be of no value to you.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe root of the issue is that you view Islam from a western mindset. Your%0D%0Avalues and principles lie in the kuffaar way of life, hence your apologetic%0D%0Aattitude regarding many of the teachings of Islam. We are all in need of%0D%0Ashedding some pride, which is the cornerstone of western ideology.%0D%0A%0D%0AOne of the principles that you have inherited from the kuffaar is the%0D%0Aequating of inferiority with derogation.%0D%0A%0D%0ATo accept that Allah Ta'ala has created somebody or something inferior to%0D%0Aanother, in no way implies that the inferior person or thing is belittled.%0D%0A%0D%0AThere are various examples of where Allah Ta'ala, in accordance to His%0D%0Awisdom, has created certain people superior than others. This is the right%0D%0Aof Allah Ta'ala and no one may question His Wisdom. His Knowledge is%0D%0Aabsolute and we, as His creation, cannot fathom His Wisdom.%0D%0A%0D%0AConsider that Allah Ta'ala has created:%0D%0A(a) Our Nabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) as the most superior of all the%0D%0Aambiyaa (prophets).%0D%0A(b) Hazrat Jibra-eel (alayhis salaam) as the most superior angel.%0D%0A(c) Hazrat Abu Bakr (Radiyallahu anhu) as the most superior companion of our%0D%0ANabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam)%0D%0A(d) Makkah as the most superior city.%0D%0A(e) The Qur%E1an the most superior of the Divine Books%0D%0A%0D%0AThese are merely few cases mentioned by way of illustration. If we had the%0D%0Atime, we could have easily produced a few thousand examples.%0D%0A%0D%0AIn all these cases, since a superior exists, the converse must necessarily%0D%0Afollow to be the inferior.%0D%0A%0D%0ACan one claim that by referring to them as inferior, we wish to belittle or%0D%0Aderide them? Do we imply that they are debase and disgraceful? Does it imply%0D%0Athat they are ignominious?%0D%0A%0D%0AIf this was the case it would imply that since Allah Ta'ala has created our%0D%0ANabi (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) as the most superior Nabi, Allah forbid,%0D%0Aall the other Ambiyaa (alayhis salaam) have no value? Does it mean that%0D%0Asince the Qur%E1an is most superior, all other Divine scriptures are merit%0D%0Aless? The same question can be posed regarding the other examples given.%0D%0A%0D%0AOn the one hand, inferiority is no shame, and on the other hand, it is the%0D%0Aprerogative of Allah Ta'ala to grant intellect to whom so ever He wishes to.%0D%0AIf in His Wisdom He granted men more intelligence than women, it is His%0D%0ARight. No one can question Him, nor can we, with our feeble intelligence%0D%0Aclaim, Allah forbid, that it is illogical for Allah Ta'ala to have done so.%0D%0AIt is neither implied that Allah Ta'ala has degraded women, nor made them%0D%0Avalueless.%0D%0A%0D%0AAllah Ta'ala has created man and woman for separate roles. He also granted%0D%0Aeach one of the two qualities which are more befitting for their respective%0D%0Aroles, e.g. women are generally more emotional than men in keeping with%0D%0Atheir role of motherhood. In the same light he has granted men more%0D%0Aintelligence than women, in accordance of their role of guardians and%0D%0Aoverseers over women.%0D%0A%0D%0AYou have misinterpreted this to imply that women are un-intelligent and%0D%0Astupid. This is the result of the corrupt basis from which you are viewing%0D%0Athe issue. You have presumed inferiority to mean degradation.%0D%0A%0D%0AAlmost the entire universe is made of inferior beings. We are all in one way%0D%0Aor the other inferior. We do not have to hang our heads in shame for being%0D%0Ainferior. It is the Divine system that He has created us inferior in some%0D%0Arespect or the other. There is therefore no need for women to feel ashamed%0D%0Aof the fact that they have been granted less of one quality than men.%0D%0A%0D%0AIt is rational to accept that not all humans are not of equal intelligence.%0D%0AIt therefore follows that some are more intelligent than others are i.e.%0D%0Aothers are inferior in intelligence. Can one claim that others are devoid of%0D%0Aintelligence? Such a claim will certainly be illogical.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe writer hereof has no qualms in accepting that there are many persons%0D%0Amore intelligent than I am. This makes me inferior in intellect. Why should%0D%0AI allow my pride make me feel ashamed of it. Now, I wish to meet a person%0D%0Awho can claim to be the most superior in intellect. Yet pride will prevent%0D%0Amany a person from accepting that they are of inferior intellect, for in%0D%0Atheir feeble minds it implies some type of disgrace.%0D%0A%0D%0AIn brief, inferiority does not imply disgrace.%0D%0A%0D%0AMay Allah Ta'ala grant us all understanding.%0D%0A%0D%0Aand Allah Ta'ala Knows Best%0D%0A%0A%0D%0AMufti Ebrahim Desai%0D%0AFATWA DEPT.