I said to Abu Abdullah (as): "You know my profession. A woman comes to me, and I know her to be Muslim, to love you, and to hold your guardianship (wilayah), but she has no mahram (close male relative)." Imam (as) said: "If a Muslim woman comes, then take her, for a believer is a mahram for a believing woman." He then recited the verse: 'And the believing men and believing women are allies of one another.' (Surah At-Tawbah 9:71).