Khadeejah bint Khuwailid (RA)

Khadeejah (RA), Honored by Allah

Khadeejah (RA) was the first ever lady to be blessed with the honor and distinction of having been greeted with Salam by Allah and Angel Gabriel. She (RA) was a perfect image of:

1. Faithfulness
2. Integrity
3. Modesty
4. Good manners
5. Nobility
6. Generosity
7. Wisdom
8. Understanding

Khadeejah’s (RA) birth and lineage

• She (RA) was born in Makkah in the year, 556CE.
• Her mother’s name was Fatimah bint Zai’d bin Al-Asamm.
• Her father’s name was Khuwailid bin Asad. He was one of the chiefs of Quraish and a very prosperous businessman.
• She (RA) was a very wealthy businesswoman, who used to employ men to do business for her; her caravans- like those of the rest of Quraish-used to travel to Ash-Sham and to Yemen and return with good profits and great benefits, so her business was profitable and her wealth increased continually.

Khadeejah’s (RA) Marriages

• She (RA) married Abu Halah bin Zururah At-Taimi. She (RA) bore him two children, Halah and Hind. Her husband died during Jahiliyyah.
• She (RA) later as a young widow married Ateeq bin Aziz, the leader of Banu Makhzum and she bore him a daughter Hindah. Ateeq also passed away.
• Prophet Mohammed (SAW), was Khadeejah’s (RA) last husband and the wedding which lasted for more than 24 years until she passed away and left our beloved Prophet heartbroken and in sorrow.

Khadeejah’s (RA) introduction to the Prophet (SAW)

• She (RA) had heard about the superior morality, integrity, honesty, trustworthiness, truthfulness and his character.
• She (RA) sent a message to him, requesting him to sell her goods in Ash-Shams and she offered him a higher rate than she gave to the other traders.
• He (SAW) gladly accepted the offer and started working for Her.

A Monk’s prediction of the Prophet (SAW)

• Prophet (SAW) set out on a journey to Ash-Sham, taking her goods with him along with her slave, whose name was Maisarah.
• As they approached Ash-Sham, the Prophet (SAW) descended and sat in the shade of a tree near the hermitage of a monk, who came out and asked Maisarah: ” Who is this man sitting under that tree?” Maisarah replied: ” He is a man from Quraish.” The Monk said to him: “No one has ever sat beneath that tree except a Prophet.”

Maisarah witnessing a cloud

• Maisarah also observed that at midday, when the heat was excessive, a cloud would appear and shade the Messenger of Allah (SAW).
• He was stunned and overcome at being blessed in the companionship of one chosen by Allah as his Messenger.

Khadeejah’s (RA) desire to propose Marriage to Prophet (SAW)

• Maisarah returned home and informs Khadeejah (RA), of all that had taken place on the trip to Ash-Sham. He informed her of the good character He had.
• The profits were double than what they normally were.
• She was deeply moved and impressed and started thinking of proposing marriage to Mohammed (SAW).
• She had already rejected several proposals of marriage from men belonging to some of the noblest families of Quraish, and wondered how her tribe would react to this proposal.
• She was also concerned if an unmarried younger man would accept her proposal.

Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) acceptance of the Proposal.

• The Prophet (SAW) accepted Khadeejah’s (RA) proposal.
• After Khadeejah (RA) had presented her proposal to the Messenger of Allah (SAW), he informed his uncles of what she had said and they agreed to his marriage with her, then his uncle Hamzah went to the house of Kuwailid bin Asad, her father – and made the proposal of marriage to her.
• He (SAW) was then twenty-five years old of age and Khadeejah (RA) was forty two years old.

The Wedding of Khadeejah (RA) and Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

• Prophet (SAW) presented Khadeejah (RA) with 20 camels as dowry (Mahr).
• She was the first woman Prophet (SAW) married and he did not marry any other until after her death.
• Their marriage was a blessed one and the Messenger of Allah (SAW) was an exemplary husband, loyal and kind, he treated his wife well and was very affectionate towards her.
• She (RA) was also an exemplary wife, loyal and eager to provide ease and repose for her husband and to please him.
• She was devoted to obeying and serving her husband and providing all means of assuring his happiness and comfort.
• Narrated Abu Huraira: Gabriel came to the Prophet and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! This is khadija 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 (i.e. Allah) and on my behalf, and give her the glad tidings of having a Qasab palace in Paradise wherein there will be neither any noise nor any fatigue (trouble) . “ (Al-Bukhari)

Khadeejah’s (RA) children from Prophet (SAW)

• Khadeejah (RA) was very blessed in the marriage with the Prophet (SAW), and had six children.
• First two sons Qasim and Abdullah.
• Then followed the daughters Zainab, Ruqayyah, Umm Khultum and Fatimah.
• The male children died before Islam; as for his daughters, they all lived to see the advent of Islam and they believed and migrated with him to Al-Madinah.
• Zainab married Abul Aas bin Rabee’ah.
• Ruqayyah married Uthman bin Affan, when she passed away he married Umm Khultum.
• Fatimah married Ali bin Abi Talib and had two sons Hasan and Hussain.

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