After the signing of the Hudaybiyah Treaty, the Companions of the Prophet did not know what to do. This is because the Prophet had signed the agreement after accepting all the conditions of his opponents. At this crucial juncture, the Prophet consulted his wife Umm Salmah. When all the Companions could not give an opinion, it was Umm Salmah who advised the Prophet on what to do and he followed her advice. In this incident, it is implicit that Umm Salmah was a woman who was aware of what was happening outside her home. She could not have given an advice had she been a woman leading a closed and secluded life in a ghetto, without any interaction with the outside world. Umm Salmah could understand the depth of matters, which is why she was in a position to give wise counsel. Today Muslims do not want their womenfolk to interact or have any kind of exposure with the world. Such kind of unawareness will never make it possible for them to perform the role played by Prophet's wife Umm Salmah. Women can play a meaningful role like that of Umm Salmah only if they know about issues beyond cooking, doing domestic work and taking care of children. Women can play such high roles if they are aware of the world and other various fields of knowledge.
