Around three months before Hijrah, Hazrat Mus‘ab Bin Umair (ra) travelled from Madinah to Makkah with a delegation of believers who wanted to accept Islam. Hazrat Ka‘b Bin Maalik (ra) narrates that it was the day after Eidul-Adha around Hajj time, when the delegation gathered in the narrow valley of Aqabah. In a majority male group, there were only two women present. One was Hazrat Umme Ummaarah (ra) and the other was Asmaa’ Bint Amrra. Hazrat Umme Ummaarah (ra) and her husband were one of the first people to enter Islam because they were a part of this delegation.
The Holy Prophet (sas) came to them with Hazrat Abbas (ra), who was a sincere well-wisher of the Holy Prophet (sas) but had not openly accepted Islam at that time. Immediately after taking an oath to enter the fold of Islam, the delegation invited to take the Holy Prophet (sas) and his Companions (ra) back to Madinah with them. The Almighty Allah had already indicated to the Holy Prophet (sas) by then to migrate. Upon hearing the request from the delegation, the Holy Prophets aw remained silent but Hazrat Abbas (ra) said:
Group of Khizraj! You know that our family has always protected the Holy Prophet (sas) in times of danger. Now that you wish to take him back with you, make sure you are capable of the responsibility of his (sas) protection before making any commitment.
On this remark, Hazrat Baraa’ Bin Ma’roorra Ansaari grabbed the hand of the Holy Prophet (sas) and proclaimed:
We swear by the God who sent the Holy Prophet (sas) as his true messenger! We are dutiful people and our traditions live. We will protect the Holy Prophet (sas) more than our own lives!
This oath taken in a small valley of Makkah was very significant. According to the Holy Quran, the Holy Prophet (sas) made this unforgettable deal with the Ansar (Muslims of Madinah) for the sake of Allah. The Holy Prophet (sas) also took bai‘at (oath of allegiance) from the two women present without holding their hands out of modesty and respect. The Holy Prophet (sas) considered women’s oral oaths sufficient for bai‘at.1
1 Usdul-Ghaabah fi Ma‘rifatis-Sahaabah by Ali ibn Muhammad al-Jazariyyi, Vol. 6, p. 284, Naseebatu Bintu Ka‘b, Darul-Fikr Press, Beirut, 1995.