It was narrated that Umm 'Atiyyah said: "When I wanted to give pledge to the Messenger of Allah, I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, women helped me (in wailing for the dead) during the Jahiliyyah; shall I go and help her (in wailing) and then come to you and give you my oath of allegiance?' He said: 'Go and help her.' So I went and helped her, then I came, and gave my pledge to the Messenger of Allah."