Written by: ʿImrān Ayyūb Lāhorī
According to the Qur’an, Sunnah, and scholarly consensus, a woman’s act of granting protection (amān) is legally valid and binding in Islam. Her assurance of safety to any non-Muslim or enemy is to be honored by the entire Muslim community.
❖ Hadith of Umm Hānī رضي الله عنها:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to her:
Arabic:
قد أجرنا من أجرت
Translation:
“We have also granted protection to the one to whom you have granted protection.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 3171 – Kitāb al-Jizyah wal-Muwādaʿah, Bāb Amān al-Nisā’ wa Jawārihin; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 336; Aḥmad: 6/341; Muwaṭṭa’: 1/152; Al-Dārimī: 1/339; Abū Dāwūd: 2/77)
This clearly establishes that a woman’s amān is recognized and upheld by the Prophet ﷺ himself.
❖ Incident of Zaynab bint Muḥammad ﷺ:
Zaynab رضي الله عنها, the daughter of the Prophet ﷺ, granted protection to her husband Abū al-ʿĀṣ ibn al-Rabīʿ, who was still a disbeliever at the time.
The Prophet ﷺ accepted and honored her act of granting amān.
(Bayhaqī: 9/95 – Kitāb al-Siyar, Bāb Amān al-Mar’ah; ʿAbd al-Razzāq: 5/224)
❖ Statement of ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها:
She said:
Arabic:
المرأة تجير
Translation:
“A woman can also grant protection.”
(Bayhaqī: 9/95 – Kitāb al-Siyar; ʿAbd al-Razzāq: 5/223; Sunan Saʿīd ibn Manṣūr: 2/234)
Imām Ibn al-Mundhir رحمه الله stated:
“There is a consensus (ijmāʿ) among the scholars that a woman can validly grant protection (amān).”
(Al-Ijmāʿ by Ibn al-Mundhir: p.73, 246)
Ruling:
According to the Qur’an, Sunnah, and scholarly consensus, a woman’s act of granting protection (amān) is legally valid and binding in Islam. Her assurance of safety to any non-Muslim or enemy is to be honored by the entire Muslim community.
1. Evidence from the Sunnah
❖ Hadith of Umm Hānī رضي الله عنها:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to her:
Arabic:
قد أجرنا من أجرت
Translation:
“We have also granted protection to the one to whom you have granted protection.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 3171 – Kitāb al-Jizyah wal-Muwādaʿah, Bāb Amān al-Nisā’ wa Jawārihin; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 336; Aḥmad: 6/341; Muwaṭṭa’: 1/152; Al-Dārimī: 1/339; Abū Dāwūd: 2/77)This clearly establishes that a woman’s amān is recognized and upheld by the Prophet ﷺ himself.
❖ Incident of Zaynab bint Muḥammad ﷺ:
Zaynab رضي الله عنها, the daughter of the Prophet ﷺ, granted protection to her husband Abū al-ʿĀṣ ibn al-Rabīʿ, who was still a disbeliever at the time.
The Prophet ﷺ accepted and honored her act of granting amān.
(Bayhaqī: 9/95 – Kitāb al-Siyar, Bāb Amān al-Mar’ah; ʿAbd al-Razzāq: 5/224)❖ Statement of ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها:
She said:
Arabic:
المرأة تجير
Translation:
“A woman can also grant protection.”
(Bayhaqī: 9/95 – Kitāb al-Siyar; ʿAbd al-Razzāq: 5/223; Sunan Saʿīd ibn Manṣūr: 2/234)2. Scholarly Consensus
Imām Ibn al-Mundhir رحمه الله stated:
“There is a consensus (ijmāʿ) among the scholars that a woman can validly grant protection (amān).”
(Al-Ijmāʿ by Ibn al-Mundhir: p.73, 246)Summary:
- A woman’s amān is valid and binding according to authentic prophetic practice and scholarly consensus.
- The Prophet ﷺ personally endorsed amān given by both Umm Hānī and his daughter Zaynab.
- Thus, any woman—like any Muslim man—has the right to grant protection under Islamic law.
