Woman Between Islam and Western Society
5. Position of Woman in the Islamic Shari‘ah
~ 322 ~
In all, Umm Salmah related 378 traditions and used
to lay down laws. Ibn Qayyim writes that if her
decrees were to be compiled, they would take up a
whole book.
Out of all the Prophet’s wives, ‘Aishah was the
most intelligent. About 2210 traditions of the
Prophet were related by her, and these were passed
on by about one hundred of the Prophet’s
Companions and their close associates. Among her
pupils were such eminent scholars as ‘Urwah ibn
Zubayr, Sa’id ibn Mussayyib, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amir,
Mashruq, ‘Ikramah and ‘Alaqamah. A jurist of high
calibre, she used to explain the wisdom and
background of each tradition that she described. To
take a very simple example, she explained that the
prescribed bath on a Friday was not just a matter of
ritual, as had been maintained by Abu Sa’id al-
Khudri and ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar, but was meant as
practical advice for people who had to travel from
far-off places to say their Friday prayers in the
Prophet’s mosque.
87
While travelling, they
perspired and became covered in dust: the Prophet
had, therefore, told them to take a bath before
attending prayers.
88
