Woman in Islamic Shari‘ah
5. Muslim women
~ 99 ~
roof of a fort with Hassan ibn Thabit as their guard.
Safia, the daughter of Abdul Muttalib, who was also
present on the roof, describes how she saw a
passing Jew taking a round of the fort: “At that time
the Banu Qurayza (a Jewish tribe) were doing battle
with the Muslims, which is why the road between
us and the Prophet was cut off, and there was no
one to defend us from the Jews. The Prophet and all
his Companions, being on the battlefront, were in
no position to come to our assistance. In the
meanwhile, the Jew was coming nearer to the fort,
and I said, ‘O Hassan, look! This Jew who is
walking all around our fort is a danger to us,
because he might go and inform the Jews of the
insecure position we are in. The Prophet and his
Companions are in the thick of battle, so it is your
duty to go down and kill him.’ But Hassan replied,
‘By God, you know I am not fit for such a task.’”
At this, she tied a cloth round her waist, picked up a
stick, went down to the outside of the fort and beat
the man to death. “This done, I came back inside the
fort and asked Hassan ibn Thabit to bring the things
the Jew had on him, as I, a woman, did not want to
touch him. Hassan ibn Thabit replied, ‘Daughter of
