Islam honours women and does not treat them as outcasts, as was the case during the jahiliyyah. It permits some things to both women and men, whilst paying attention to the guidelines on gender interactions. In this hadith, Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that both men and women used to do wudu’ at the time of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). In other words, they would both do wudu’ from one vessel, as is mentioned in other reports narrated by Ibn Majah. What is meant is that such actions were well known at that time, and the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did not object to that or try to change it. This was quoted as evidence by those who think that water left over by women may be used by men, and water left over by men may be used by women, and if that were not allowed, they would not have done that, and the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) would have told them not to do that. It is proven that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) did ghusl to purify themselves of janabah from a single vessel, and that he also did that with Maymunah. What is meant by them both doing wudu’ – as was narrated by Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) – is that the men would do wudu’ and leave, then the women would come and do wudu’..