Khadijah (RA) was an image of faithfulness, integrity, truth, modest good manners, and nobility, generous, wise, and understanding, nurtured in an atmosphere of wealth and luxury. She was blessed with the distinction of having been greeted with salaam by Allah (SWT) and the Angel Jibril (alai). She was the first lady to ever so honored. She was the first person to have an abiding faith in the utterances of Prophet (sal) and to accept Islam as her religion and her way of life.
Khadijah (RA) was born in Makkah in the year 556 CE. Her mother’s name was Fathima bint Za’ed and her father’s name was Khawaylid bin Asad. He was a very prosperous businessman and a popular leader among the tribe of Quraish. Khadijah (RA) married Abu Halah bin Zarrah and she bore him two children Halah and Hindh. But unfortunately at her young age, he passed away. Sometime later the young widow married Athique bin Aith and she had a daughter by him as well named Hindha. 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 her business she inherited from her father.
One day Khadijah (RA) had heard of the integrity, honesty, and principled behavior of the Prophet (sal) and sent a job offer to him to head her trading caravans. He gladly accepted the offer and started working for her. Khadija (RA) sent him on a business trip to Syria with her old and trusted slave Maisarah to accompany and serve him. After successfully completing the trade journey she heard about the Prophet’s (sal) integrity, strength of character, adherence to principles, his amicable dealings and his business abilities during the trade through her slave Maisarah.
She deeply got impressed on Prophet (sal) and she sent a marriage proposal to him through one of her close friends Nafeesa bint Manbah. Prophet (sal) accepted the marriage proposal of Khadija (RA) and both got married. At that time Prophet (sal) was 25 years of age and Khadija (RA) was 40 years old. She was the first wife of Prophet (sal) and he did not marry again during her lifetime. They lived with peace and harmony for more than 24 years.
Khadijah (RA) was very blessed in the marriage and had six children. First two sons Qasim and Abdullah then followed the daughters Zainab, Ruqayyah, Ummu Kulthum, and Fathima.
During the siege that Prophet (sal) underwent in Makkah, in the Shi’ab Abi Thalib, she was there by his side constantly supportive and sacrificing all the comforts of life. When Prophet (sal) received the first revelations of Allah (SWT) through Jibril (Alai), he got feared and he was sweating and shaking while returning to home. At that time soothing and encouraging words of sympathy and understanding of Khadija (RA) gave him immeasurable strength and confidence. Also whenever Prophet (sal) abused by the disbelievers, she provided moral support and unflagging faith.
Khadijah (RA) passed away just three years before the Hijrah or the Prophets migration to Madinah. She died at the age of sixty-five having given almost twenty-five years to Muhammad (Sal) and the cause of Islam. The Prophet (sal) was heartbroken at the loss of a dedicated companion who stood by him during the most difficult period of his life. He personally supervised the preparation of her grave and climbed down to it to check it out. He then lowered her body into the grave himself. Thus ended the life of the lady who was the greatest supporter of Islam in its earliest days.
Aishah (RA) narrates that whenever the Prophet (sal) talked about Khadijah (RA) 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 Prophet (sal) missed her when he was blessed with a better, younger wife by Allah (SWT). 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 Allah blessed me with children.”
Reference :
"Great Woman of Islam - who were given the good news of paradise" by Mahmood Ahmed Ghadanfar
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