Woman Between Islam and Western Society
5. Position of Woman in the Islamic Shari‘ah
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Muhammad’s camp to Mecca would not have to be
returned.
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This was adhered to in the case of men,
one notable instance was that of Suhayl ibn ‘Amr’s
son, Abu Jandal, who in spite of having walked 13
miles from Mecca to al-Hudaybiyyah in a badly
injured condition with his feet in shackles, was
promptly returned to his persecutors. Similarly,
other Muslims having managed to free themselves
from Quraysh were returned one after another.
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This pact, however, was not regarded as covering
the case of Muslim women. This verse of the Qur’an
was revealed on this occasion:
Believers, when believing women seek refuge
with you, test them. God best knows their
faith. If you find them true believers, do not
return them to the infidels.
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Many incidents have been recorded of women
managing to free themselves from the clutches of
the Quraysh, coming to Medina, and then not
being returned to the Quraysh in spite of the latter
invoking the terms of the peace treaty. For
example, when Umm Kulthum bint ‘Uqbah ibn
Abu Mu’ayt escaped to Medina, she was not
