39/18. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4181 — Women’s Pledge and Moral Commitment
The Women's Pledge
Women’s Pledge in Islam: Faith, Good Conduct, and No Handshake
Sunan an-Nasai : 4181
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4181
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُنْكَدِرِ، عَنْ أُمَيْمَةَ بِنْتِ رُقَيْقَةَ، أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي نِسْوَةٍ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ نُبَايِعُهُ فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ نُبَايِعُكَ عَلَى أَنْ لاَ نُشْرِكَ بِاللَّهِ شَيْئًا وَلاَ نَسْرِقَ وَلاَ نَزْنِيَ وَلاَ نَأْتِيَ بِبُهْتَانٍ نَفْتَرِيهِ بَيْنَ أَيْدِينَا وَأَرْجُلِنَا وَلاَ نَعْصِيَكَ فِي مَعْرُوفٍ . قَالَ " فِيمَا اسْتَطَعْتُنَّ وَأَطَقْتُنَّ " . قَالَتْ قُلْنَا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَرْحَمُ بِنَا هَلُمَّ نُبَايِعْكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنِّي لاَ أُصَافِحُ النِّسَاءَ إِنَّمَا قَوْلِي لِمِائَةِ امْرَأَةٍ كَقَوْلِي لاِمْرَأَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ أَوْ مِثْلِ قَوْلِي لاِمْرَأَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ " .
Umaimah bint Ruqaiqah Narrated from:
I came to the Prophet with some other Ansari women to give our pledge. We said: 'O Messenger of Allah, we give you our pledge that we will not associate anything with Allah, we will not steal, we will not have unlawful sexual relations, we will not utter slander, fabricating from between our hands and feet, and we will not disobey you in goodness.'He said: 'As much as you can and are able.' We said: 'Allah and His Messenger are more merciful toward us. Com, let us give you our pledge, O Messenger of Allah! The Messenger of Allah said: 'I do not shake hands with women. Rather my word to a hundred women is like my word to one woman.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4181In-book reference : Book 39, Hadith 33English translation : Vol. 5, Book 39, Hadith 4186
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4181
This hadith about the women’s pledge lists the promises made by Umaimah bint Ruqaiqah and the Ansari women. They pledged not to associate anything with Allah, steal, commit unlawful sexual relations, invent slander, or disobey the Prophet in what is good. The Messenger of Allah answered, “As much as you can and are able,” showing that the pledge was tied to real human ability. When the women asked to give the pledge directly, he explained that he did not shake hands with women. His spoken acceptance to a large group was like his word to one woman. The narration therefore joins belief, personal morality, truthful speech, obedience in goodness, reasonable ability, and the verbal pledge of women in one clear account.
What we learn from this hadith
- Pure worship of Allah was the first promise in the women’s pledge.
- The pledge joined faith with honesty, chastity, truthfulness, and good obedience.
- The Prophet told the women to fulfill the pledge according to their ability.
- He accepted the women’s pledge by words and stated that he did not shake hands with women.
