:sl:
Interesting Hadith. do you have the source for it?
It seems brother Ardianto already mentioned the hadith collections this hadith is in. Anyways, in case you had more specific source I shall give the numbers of book and hadith:
Sahih Muslim: Book 31 : Hadith 6137
Sahih Bukhari: Book 7 : Volume 62 : Hadith 19
Few more questions related to this matter. Did the Muslim women in the time of Prophet Muhammad SAW, used to ride the horses and the camels by themselves? is there any clear evidence on this.
Saudi Arab claiming that it would be dangerous for women to drive with their veils on, in my opinion can't be correct because I have seen many sisters wearing veil here in the United Kingdom, driving perfectly safely with their kids in back in their safety chairs.
However, could it be that it's to do with how each country's road are like because UK has usually very straight and smooth roads but when I went to Saudi Arab for Ummrah, they were very steep in some places and had cliff sides at some places. I saw many cars with dents on them and saw men struggling to keep control of the car at some places. So, could it be that this country's roads are not suitable for women to drive safely.
This very hadith is a clear proof of women themselves riding camels at the time of the Prophet Muhammad (:saws:).
I also do not believe that a veil can really prevent women from driving safely. I do not have the knowledge about what the real reason behind women not being allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia is so I can only guess and try to have some logical assumptions. One excuse given by one Saudi cleric is also that when women are allowed to drive they'd be able to mix with non-mahram men and it would bring immorality to society etc. I find it ridiculous as those women who have an inclination to socialize too much with non-mahram men can nowadays do it through the Internet in the privacy of their own rooms anyways. And does it mean that the camel-riding women who were considered the best by our Prophet were then also immoral as they by riding camels had better opportunites for meeting non-mahram men? Audzu billah.
I don't think roads can be a reason as they can't be much different from those of Saudi Arabia's neighbouring countries, let's say Yemen, where women can drive. I just hope this law that has no basis in Islam will be changed there soon insha'Allah. Really, Saudi Arabia has way more bigger and more important things to do to be more like an Islamic country than to prohibit women from driving. Let them start with discouraging shirk by removing the king's images from everywhere.