He [Al-Shaybani] said: We are averse to women fighting with men in combat. This is because women have no sincere firm will for fighting, as the Messenger of Allah (SAW) pointed out when He said [after passing by a slain woman]: Huh, this one should not have been fighting. And perhaps, by having women fight, the weaknesses of the Muslims might be revealed, and the Idolaters might rejoice at that; and perhaps this might be reason for the Idolaters’ determination against the Muslims, drawing the conclusion that the Muslims are weak, and they might say: They had to seek help from the women to fight us. So let them avoid this. For this reason it is not desirable that women go directly into fighting, except if the Muslims are compelled to this, since it is permissible, indeed obligatory, to drive away the adversity of the Idolaters when the need is clear, by whatever means the Muslims are able.