Khadijah bint Khuwaylid
Narrated Abu Hurairah: Jibril
(Gabriel) came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: "O Allah's Messenger! This
is Khadijah, coming to you with a dish having meat soup (or some food or
drink). When she reaches you, greet her on behalf of her Lord (Allah) and on my
behalf, and give her the glad tidings of having a palace made of Qasab in
Paradise, wherein there will be neither any noise nor any toil, (fatigue, trouble,
etc.)." [Al-Bukhari]
'Abdullah bin 'Abbas narrated
that one day the Prophet (ﷺ) drew four lines on the earth and asked
his Companions if they understood what these lines stood for. They respectfully
replied that he knew better. He then told them that these lines stood for the
four foremost ladies of the universe. They were Khadijah bint Khuwaylid,
Fatimah bint Muhammad, Maryam bint Imran, the mother of the Prophet Issa and
'Asia bint Muzahim (the wife of the Pharaoh).
She was the first person to
have an abiding faith in the utterances of the Prophet (ﷺ) and to accept Islam as her religion and
her way of life. She was blessed with the distinction of having been greeted
with Salam (greetings) by Allah and the Angel Jibril.
Khadijah was born in Makkah in
the year 556 CE. Her mother's name was Fatimah bint Zayd, and her father's name
was Khuwaylid bin Asad. He was a very popular leader among the tribe of
Quraysh, and a very prosperous businessman who died while fighting in the
famous battle of Fujjar. Khadijah thus grew up in the lap of luxury. She
married Abu Halah Malak bin Nabash bin Zarrarah bin At-Tamimi and bore him two
children, Halah and Hind. She wanted to see her husband prosper and financed
him in setting up a big business. But unfortunately he passed away. Some time
later the young widow married 'Atique bin 'Aith bin 'Abdullah Al-Makhzumi, and
she had a daughter by him as well named Hindah, but the marriage soon broke up
on grounds of incompatibility. After this all her attention was devoted to the
upbringing of her children, and building up the business she inherited from her
father. Her astuteness and business ability made her business one of the most
widespread businesses among the Quraysh.
Her policy was to employ hard
working, honest and distinguished managers to deal on her behalf as a lot
depended on the integrity of the employees who traveled far and wide on her
behalf. She exported her goods to far away markets like Syria, and her managers
bought goods from those markets to be sold at home.
Khadijah had heard of the
integrity, honesty and principled behavior of the Prophet (ﷺ) and sent a job offer to him to head her
trading caravans. He gladly accepted the offer and started working for her.
Khadijah sent him on a business trip; her old and trusted slave Maysarah being
delegated to accompany and serve him.
Maysarah was impressed by the
Prophet's integrity, strength of character, adherence to principles, his
amicable dealings and his business abilities. On the way back from Syria, the
Prophet (ﷺ)
lay down under a tree to rest for a while. Nestora, a Jewish monk, noted for
his knowledge of religion and for his insight saw him and asked Maysarah who he
was. Maysarah told him all about Muhammad (ﷺ) and his reputation for honesty and intelligence.
Nestora then told him that this man would be elevated to Prophet hood in the
future, as no man had ever rested under that particular tree but Prophets.
Tradition has it that Maysarah
also saw two angels bearing a cloud over Prophet's head to protect him from the
glare and heat of the sun.
When he returned home Maysarah
reported to Khadijah all that had taken place on the trip to Syria. She was
deeply moved and impressed, and started thinking of proposing marriage to
Muhammad. But how could she express her thoughts to him? She already rejected
several proposals of marriage from men belonging to some of the noblest
families of the Quraysh. How would her tribe react? What would her family say?
And what was more, would her proposal be acceptable to this young, yet
unmarried man of the tribe of Quraysh?
As she pondered over these
questions and debated within herself, one night she dreamt that the shining sun
had descended from the heavens into her courtyard, radiating her home. When she
woke up she went for the interpretation of this wonderful dream to her cousin,
Waraqah bin Nawfal, a blind man noted for his skill in interpreting dreams, and
for his depth of knowledge, particularly of the Torah and the Injil. When he
heard her dream, he gave a serene smile, and told her not to worry, as this was
a very promising dream. The glorious sun she saw descending into her courtyard
indicated that the Prophet (ﷺ) whose advent had been predicted in the
Torah and the Injil was to grace her home and she would gain from his presence
in her life.
After this meeting with Waraqah
she became stronger in her desire to marry Muhammad (ﷺ). One of her very close friends, Nafisah
bint Manbah knew of her inclination and she went to Muhammad (ﷺ) and requested his permission to ask him a
very personal question. When he said he had no objection, she asked why he had
not yet got married. He said he did not have the financial resources. Then she
asked him if he would be willing to marry a beautiful lady from a noble and
wealthy family, who was inclined towards marriage with him. He asked whom she
was referring to; when he learnt her identity he said that he was willing,
provided she was willing to marry him. Khadijah' was overjoyed.
The Prophet (ﷺ) was then twenty-five years of age and
Khadijah was forty years old. (According to one tradition, she was
twenty-eight). The two uncles of the Prophet (ﷺ) Hamzah and Abu Talib approached her
uncle, 'Umar bin Asad, with the formal proposal. It was accepted and the two
families began preparing for the wedding. Halimah As-Sa'diyyah who nursed the
Prophet in his infancy was specially invited for the wedding and traveled to
Makkah from her village. When she left after the festivities, Khadijah
presented her with household goods, a camel and forty goats as an expression of
gratitude to the lady who had taken such good care of Muhammad (ﷺ) in his infancy.
Khadijah was very blessed in
the marriage, and had six children. First two sons, Qasim and 'Abdullah; then
followed the daughters, Zaynab, Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthum and Fatimah. It was a
very happy, peaceful and content household, but Muhammad (ﷺ) felt something was missing, and he was
extremely restless. He would retire for a month once a year to the cave of Hira
to dedicate himself entirely to prayer and meditation. One day he felt the
presence of another being who held him in his arms in a tight embrace. Then he
loosened his hold and asked him to read; Muhammad (ﷺ) answered that he was illiterate. But the
person repeated the same act and the phrase again and again. Then finally he
read these Ayat which are the first revelation of the Quran. They are from
Surah Iqra or Al-'Alaq.
"Read! In the Name of your
Lord Who has created (all that exists). He has created man from a clot. Read!
And your Lord is the Most Generous. Who has taught (the writing) by the pen. He
has taught man that which he knew not." [Noble Quran 96:1-5]
Then the being disappeared.
This was such an awesome experience that the Prophet (ﷺ) returned home sweating and shaking. He
called out to Khadijah asking her to cover him with a sheet or a blanket. When
he had calmed down to some extent, he told his wife that he feared for his
life, and narrated the whole incident to her. Khadijah, a picture of loyalty
and serenity consoled him saying that Allah would surely protect him from any
danger, and would never allow anyone to revile him as he was a of man of peace
and reconciliation and always extended the hand of friendship to all. He never
lied, always hospitable, carried the burdens of others and helped those who
were in trouble. These soothing and encouraging words of sympathy and
understanding from Khadijah gave him immeasurable strength and confidence. She
then took him to meet her cousin, Waraqah bin Nawfal, who immediately guessed
the identity of the being in the Cave of Hira as the Angel Jibril the Messenger
of Allah who had visited Moses as well. Waraqah who was very old wished that he
could live to see the time when the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) would be forced into exile by his people.
The Prophet (ﷺ) was very surprised and asked if his
people would really do this to him. Waraqah assured him that it was typical of
human beings that they would never appreciate or follow a Prophet who rose
among them. Waraqah added that he wished he were alive at that time and be able
to help him. He added that if what he had been told were true then surely it
meant that her husband was the Prophet of Allah (ﷺ) whose advent had been mentioned in the
scriptures.
The four daughters grew up to
be faithful and courageous daughters of Islam. They all migrated to Al-Madinah,
with the Prophet (ﷺ).
Zaynab was married to Abu 'Aas
bin Rabi'ah, Ruqayyah was married to 'Uthman. When she passed away he married
her sister Umm Kulthum; Fatimah was married to 'Ali bin Abi Talib. The first
three daughters died during the lifetime of Muhammad (ﷺ) and his beloved daughter Fatimah lived
just six months after he passed away.
When the disbelievers saw that
Islam was attracting more and more followers in spite of all their tactics,
they decided to declare an open and total political and economic boycott of the
tribe of Banu Hashim. This took place in the seventh year after the Prophet (ﷺ) declared himself the Messenger of Allah.
This is also known in Islamic history as the Shi'ab Abi Talib.
It was so severe that innocent
children faced starvation and hunger, and adults survived eating the leaves of
trees. Yet the firm followers of Muhammad did not turn away from their true
religion and they came out of the ordeal stronger and purer than before.
Khadijah who had been brought
up in luxury in her wealthy father's home now faced the economic hardships with
patience and courage, which are a necessary part of any siege. Khadijah's
nobility of character and conduct pleased Allah, so much that He sent special
greetings for her.
Khadijah was the ideal wife and
mother. The Prophet (ﷺ) lived in her house which became a blessed
place due to his presence and the fact that Jibril (ﷺ) came often to visit him there with
Quranic revelations. It became the centre of Islam, where all the Companions
male and female visited often to partake of the hospitality of Muhammad (ﷺ) and his wife.
After the Hijrah (migration) of
the Prophet (ﷺ) to Al-Madinah, the house was occupied by
the brother of 'Ali. Later Mu'awiyah bin Abu Sufyan who transcribed some of the
Divine Revelations purchased this house and built a mosque. Thus the site of
the house of Khadijah became a place of prayer and worship for all time. She
had been used to praying two Rak'as of Salat (prayer), mornings and evenings
with the Prophet (ﷺ), even before prayers were made compulsory
by Allah. After accepting Islam she became more contemplative and inclined
towards worship; she found a blessed feeling of peace in prayer.
Afif Kindi relates that 'Abbas
bin 'Abdul Muttalib was a great friend of his and he used to visit him often in
Yemen in connection with his business in perfumes. On one occasion when they
were standing and chatting in Mina, they saw a handsome young man approach. He
carefully washed his hands and feet and then stood respectfully with his arms
crossed on his breast. Soon a dignified lady of noble bearing and a young
handsome young lad joined him. 'Afif asked 'Abbas what they were doing and
whether this was a new form of exercise. 'Abbas replied that the youth was his
brother 'Abdullah's son, and the lady was his wife. She was a woman of great
wealth and virtue, and an ideal wife and mother. The lad was his brother Abu Talib's
son. Muhammad (ﷺ) had announced that he was a Messenger of
Allah and had started preaching a new religion called Islam. In due course
'Afif accepted Islam, but he always regretted the fact that he had not joined
the Muhammad (ﷺ) and his Companions in their prayers and
supplication on that memorable day in Mina, when he had first heard of Islam.
Khadijah passed away just three
years before the Hijrah, or the Prophet's (ﷺ) migration to Al-Madinah. She died at the
age of sixty-five, having given almost twenty-five years to Muhammad and the
cause of Islam. When Muhammad (ﷺ) saw her in the throes of death he
consoled her saying Allah had so ordained it, and that the thing she was
dreading, would prove favorable for her. Her eyes lit up and as she gazed at her
beloved husband, her soul left its earthly body.
Her grave was prepared at a
place called Hujjun, near Makkah. Muhammad (ﷺ) stepped into it to see that everything
was as it should be, and with his own hands lowered her gently into it. Thus
passed away the 'Mother' of all Muslims, the one who had sacrificed her all for
Islam, the lady who was the greatest supporter of Islam in its earliest days.
She who was the mother of Fatimah, the First Lady of Paradise, the grandmother
of the beloved grandchildren of the Prophet (ﷺ) Hasan and Hussein who are to be the
foremost of the youths in Paradise.
When she passed away, the
Prophet (ﷺ)
was heartbroken at the loss of a dedicated companion who stood by him during
the most difficult period of his life.
One of the ladies of the
Quraysh, Khawlah bint Hakim, visited the Prophet (ﷺ) to console him, and saw his state of
depression and grief and remarked on it. He replied it was only natural that he
should be touched by her absence, as she had been a loving mother to his now
neglected children; she had been a loyal and sympathetic wife who shared his
secrets. It was only human and natural that he should feel her loss as she was
there for him during his most difficult times. Whenever he was abused by the
disbelievers she had provided moral support and unflagging faith.
A Companion of the Prophet
narrates that whenever any gift was brought to him he would immediately send it
to some lady who had been a friend of Khadijah. Ayshah, a favorite wife of
Muhammad (ﷺ)
says that whenever a goat was slaughtered the Prophet it would send some meat
to Khadijah's friends; when she remarked about this on one occasion he told
her, 'I have great regard for her friends, as she has a special place in my
heart.' Ayshah said she never experienced such a feeling of natural feminine
jealousy for any other wife of the Prophet (ﷺ) as she did for Khadijah. She also
narrates that whenever Muhammad spoke of her he would talk at great length and
praise her qualities, and pray for her forgiveness.
Ayshah narrates that whenever
the Prophet (ﷺ) talked about Khadijah, it was in terms of
the highest praise. One day her innate feminine envy overtook her sense of
decorum and she spoke in disparaging terms of her, wondering why the Prophet (ﷺ) missed her when he was blessed with a
better, younger wife by Allah. This displeased him, but forbearing as he was,
he just sighed and answered,
"I have not yet found a
better wife than her. She had faith in me when everyone, even members of my own
family and tribe did not believe me, and accepted that I was truly a Prophet
and a Messenger of Allah. She converted to Islam, spent all her wealth and
worldly goods to help me spread this faith, and this too at a time when the
entire world seemed to have turned against me and persecuted me. And it is
through her that Allah blessed me with children."
As Allah says in Surah Al-Fajr
in the Noble Quran that it will be said to the pious believers:
"O the one in complete
rest and satisfaction! Come back to your Lord — well-pleased (yourself) and
well-pleasing (unto Him)! Enter you then among My (honored) servants, and enter
you My Paradise." [Noble Quran 89:27-30]
Ref:
http://www.islamswomen.com/articles/khadijah_bint_khuwaylid.php
