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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

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