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Prophet accepted him. But once he converted to islam. the couple<br />
returned<br />
to one another.<br />
1<br />
Reporting the Hadith <strong>of</strong> the Prophet was another important area<br />
in which women made a significant contribuiton in early Islam.<br />
It was stated by Ibn S"a, d in the section which he devoted to the<br />
women - Hadith reporters that there were 700 women who reported<br />
Hadiths they heard either from the Prophet himself or from his<br />
associates. For example, Fatimah al-Zahra s reported 387 Hadith,<br />
0<br />
'Asmýal Bint AT Bak r reported 58, Zaynab Bint Jahsh reported 111<br />
0<br />
Hadiths, MaymUn*ah Bint al-H! ýith al Hl. l'; liyyah reported 76 Hadith.<br />
0<br />
Their contribution was not limited to merely reporting Hadith<br />
during and after the Prophet's time, but also some women were<br />
considered to be experts in religious instruction. Among such women<br />
C- ;12<br />
were Alisha (the Prophet's wife) andlUmm al-Dard *<br />
The Muslim women moreover, made a contribution in the field <strong>of</strong><br />
literature. ' Among such women was Khawla, Bint Thalalab. who was<br />
particularly known because <strong>of</strong> her famous problem about which she<br />
consulted the Prophet, and this was the immediate reason behind<br />
revealing the Qurlanic verses that prohibited ZMZ7, as mentioned<br />
earlier.<br />
It was'also she who spoke to4Umar ibn al-Khaýtrb as he came out<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Mosque accompanied by al-Jaiad. After mutual compliments<br />
between her arlUmar, she spoke to'cVmar saying, "Oh"Umar. I have<br />
known you when you were4Umar (in the diminutive) and looking after sheep<br />
1. Ibid<br />
2. Ibn Era"d. op. cit.. Vol. 2, P. 374<br />
165