He Smiled when a Woman Was Keen to Perform Pilgrimage with Him

It has been narrated that Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said,

“The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) (declared that he) wanted to go on pilgrimage (Hajj) so a woman said to her husband, ‘Take me to perform pilgrimage with the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him), He said, 'I do not have (a mount) to take you for pilgrimage on, She said, ‘So take me for pilgrimage on your water-carrying camel.’ He said, ‘This is (a camel) that your son and I alternately ride.’ She said, ‘Then take me for pilgrimage on your such and such camel.’ He said, (It is confined (as an endowment) in the cause of Allah.’ She said, 'So sell your palm-dates.’ He said, ‘This is both my and your food.’ When the Prophet (Peace be upon him) came back from Makkah (Mecca), she sent her husband to him and said, 'Convey to the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) my salam [1]and ask him about what would be equivalent to performing pilgrimage with him.’

Her husband went to the Prophet (Peace be upon him) and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, my woman (wife) sends you her salam and rahmatullah[2].  She told me to take her for pilgrimage with you and I told her that I did not have (a mount). Then she told me to take her for pilgrimage on such and such camel of mine but I told her it was confined (as an endowment) in the cause of Allah.’ The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, “Had you taken her for pilgrimage, that would have been in the cause of Allah (as well).” He (the man) said, ‘The Prophet (Peace be upon him) smiled as he was astonished at her keenness to perform pilgrimage (with him).’ He said (to the Prophet), 'She also told me to ask you about what is equivalent to performing pilgrimage with you.’ He (Peace be upon him) said, “Convey to her my salam and rahmatullah and that performing minor pilgrimage (Umrah) in (the month of) Ramadan is equal to performing pilgrimage with me.”” [3]