Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

It is narrated from Sayyidah Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) migrated (to Madinah), his daughter Sayyidah Zaynab (may Allah be pleased with her) sought permission from her husband, Abu al-As ibn al-Rabi', to go to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and he granted her permission. She reached the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and then Abu al-As also arrived in Madinah and sent a message to Sayyidah Zaynab to obtain protection for him from her father. I went out and looked from my chamber, and saw that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was leading the morning prayer. I said: O people! I am Zaynab, the daughter of the Messenger of Allah. I have granted protection to Abu al-As. When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) finished the prayer, he said: "O people! I was not aware of this matter until you yourselves heard it. Be aware! Even the lowest (and least in rank) Muslim can grant protection to someone on behalf of the Muslims."