It is narrated from Sayyida Umaymah bint Ruqayqah (may Allah be pleased with her), she says: I, along with other women, went to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and we pledged allegiance to him. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) took our pledge on the principles stated in the Holy Qur’an, that we would not associate anything with Allah (up to the end of the verse), but the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also said that you are to act upon these conditions to the extent of your ability and strength. We said: Allah and His Messenger are more merciful to us than our own selves. We submitted: O Messenger of Allah! Why do you not shake hands with us? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: I do not shake hands with unrelated women. My taking a pledge from one woman is the same as taking a pledge from a hundred women.