33.

The Book on Government

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كتاب الإمارة

Ummul Momineen A'isha (رضئ للا تعالی عنہا) narrated that when the believing women migrated (to Medina) and came to the Apostle of Allah (صلى للا عليه و آله وسلم), they would be tested in accordance with the following words of Allah. the Almighty and Exalted - O' Prophet (صلى للا عليه و آله وسلم), when believing women come to you and swear on oath that they will not associate anything with Allah, nor steal, nor fornicate, nor kill their children, nor accuse others for what they have fabricated themselves, nor disobey you in any rightful thing, then you should accept their allegiance, and ask forgiveness of Allah for them. Certainly, Allah is Most Forgiving and Most Merciful. (Al-Mumtahana – 12). Whosoever from the believing women accepted these conditions and agreed to abide by them were considered to have offered themselves for swearing allegiance. When they had (formally) declared their resolve to do so, the Apostle of Allah (صلى للا عليه و آله وسلم) would say to them, you may go. I have confirmed your allegiance. By Allah, the hand of the Apostle of Allah (صلى للا عليه و آله وسلم) never touched the hand of a woman. He would take the oath of allegiance from them by oral declaration. By Allah, the Apostle of Allah ( صلى للا عليه و آله وسلم) never took any vow from women except that which Allah had ordered him to take, and his palm never touched the palm of a woman. When he had taken their vow, he would tell them that he had taken the oath from them orally.

It has been narrated on the authority of Urwa that Ummul Momineen A'isha (رضئ الل تعالی عنہا) described to him the way the Prophet (صلى للا عليه و آله وسلم) took the oath of allegiance from women. She said, the Apostle of Allah ( صلى للا عليه و آله وسلم) never touched a woman with his hand. He would only take a vow from her and when he had taken the (verbal) vow, he would say, you may go. I have accepted your allegiance.