SAYYIDATINA KHADIJA ( Rady Allahu Anha )

1. بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ SAYYIDATINA KHADIJA (RadyAllahuAnha) By: Hamid Ali Syed Jumada Al-Akhir 1437 A.H. Madrasahidaya.net

2. Her Name and Family • Sayyidatina Khadija (RadyAllahuAnha) was born in 68 B.H.,556 C.E. • She belonged to the most respected Arab tribe, the Quraysh. • Her father’s name was Khuwaylid ibn Asad, her mother was Fatima bint Za’ida.

3. Her Name and Family • Her great grandfather Qusaiywas also the ancestor of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu'alayhiwaSallam). • Hence, both SayyidatinaKhadija (RadyAllahuAnha) and the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu'alayhiwaSallam) inherited their ancestry from the same source.

4. Her Early Years • Sayyidatina Khadija (RadyAllahuAnha) was first married to Hind (also known as Abu Hala), son of Nabash – who was a well known and respected man of his tribe. • After Abu Hala passed away, she married Ateeq, son of ‘A’idh, who also passed away after some time. • Sayyidatina Khadija (RadyAllahuAnha) was an affluent and well-to-do lady. • She used to export her goods to Syria and employed a number of people who helped her in her flourishing business.

5. Her Early Years • Despite the fact that people in the tribe of Quraysh worshipped idols, Sayyidatina Khadija (RadyAllahuAnha) did not worship them and never believed in them but believed in one God. • Even before Islam, she did many good things for the less fortunate and her relatives. • Some of her many good deeds included: • feeding and clothing the poor, • helping her relatives by giving them money • helping her relatives get married. • She used a lot of her wealth and profit from her business to help the poor, widows, orphans, the sick and the disabled people of Makkah.

6. Her Business • Sayyidatina Khadija (RadyAllahuAnha) was looking for a man with excellent character to look after her business. • After learning about the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu'alayhiwaSallam) she sent a message to offer him twice as much as others to take her merchandise to Syria. • The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu'alayhiwaSallam) had heard a lot about Sayyidatina Khadija’s (RadyAllahuAnha) business and with his uncle’s approval accepted her offer.

7. Her Business • The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu'alayhiwaSallam) returned to Makkah from Syria after a successful journey. • Sayyidatina Khadija (RadyAllahuAnha) was very pleased and impressed with Holy Prophet’s (Sallallahu'alayhiwaSallam) behaviour and dealings.

8. Her Marriage to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhiwaSallam) • She took the initiative and sent the marriage proposal to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu'alayhiwaSallam). • The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu'alayhiwaSallam) agreed to the marriage with the approval of his uncle Hadrat Abu Talib. • Hadrat Abu Talib read the sermon of the Nikah and 500 golden dirhams were fixed as mahar (dowry). • At the time of marriage, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu'alayhiwaSallam) was 25 years old and she was 40 years old.

9. Her Acceptance of Islam • When the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu'alayhiwaSallam) received the first revelation of the Holy Qur’an through angel Jibreel (Alayhis salaam), he came home with the great responsibility of Prophethood. • She helped him throughout this time by providing him with love, care and moral support. • She took him to her Christian cousin Waraqah ibn Nawfal, a learned master of the Torah and the Gospels, who recognized him as the Chosen Prophet. • She took the shahadah (proclamation of Faith) and thus became the first to accept Islam and the first to accept him as the Messenger of Allah.

10. Married Life to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhiwaSallam) • SayyidatinaKhadija (RadyAllahuAnha)was the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu'alayhiwaSallam). • In the life of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu'alayhiwaSallam) she played a vital role: • She trusted the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu'alayhiwaSallam) and encouraged and understood his spiritual struggle. • Believed in him when he brought the Message. • Stood by him when he faced persecution, insults and threats from non-believers.

11. Married Life to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhiwaSallam) • She often used to accompany the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu'alayhiwaSallam) to the cave in Mount Hira and prayed there. • They were happily married for 25 years until she passed ahead. • They had four daughters; Sayyidatina Zainab, SayyidatinaRuqayya, Sayyidatina Umm Kulthum and Sayyidatina Fatima (RadyAllahuanhunna) ; and two sons Qasim and Abdullah (who passed away in childhood).

12. Married Life to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhiwaSallam) • All the Holy Prophet’s (Sallallahu'alayhiwaSallam) children were from SayyidatinaKhadija (RadyAllahuAnha) except for Ibrahim, who was from Maria Qibtiyyah. • She always kept the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu'alayhiwaSallam) content and happy. • There was mutual understanding, respect and love for each other.

13. Married Life to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhiwaSallam) • Sayyidatina Khadija (RadyAllahuAnha) gave her wealth to spread Islam. • The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu'alayhiwaSallam) and SayyidatinaKhadija (RadyAllahuAnha) used to offer prayers secretly for a long time.

14. Prophet’s Love for her • The Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu'alayhiwaSallam) loved and cared for SayyidatinaKhadija (RadyAllahuAnha) a lot and never let anyone say anything bad about her. • Sayyidatina Aisha (RadyAllahuAnha) reports that the Prophet (Sallallahu'alayhiwaSallam) said ”I did not get a better wife than her. When people rejected me, she believed in me; when they denied me, she became a Muslim; when none assisted me, she was my help. I have my children from her and he asserted, “Allah has given me love for her”. • The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu'alayhiwaSallam) always maintained the highest regard for her friends and relatives.

15. Her Passing Away • Sayyidatina Khadija (RadyAllahuAnha) passed away on the 10th of Ramadan, 3 years before Hijra at the age of 65 and she was laid to rest in Makkah, in the cemetery of Ma'la. • The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu'alayhiwaSallam) called the year in which Sayyidatina Khadija (RadyAllahuAnha) passed away 'Aam-ul-Huzn' meaning the ‘year of grief’. • The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu'alayhiwaSallam) did not marry any other woman while he was married to Sayyidatina Khadija (RadyAllahuAnha) and later on said that she was the best among his wives.

16. Her Merits • The Holy Qur'an says, “The Prophet is closer to the believers than their own selves and his wives are their mothers” (33:6). • SayyidatinaKhadija (RadyAllahuAnha) was instrumental in helping the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu'alayhiwaSallam) spread the word of Islam especially in the early stages. • She was such a great lady that even Allah (SubhanahuwaTa'ala) sent blessings on her. One day, angel Jibreel(Alayhis salaam) came down and told the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu'alayhiwaSallam) to convey peace and blessings of Allah (SubhanahuwaTa'ala) to Sayyidatina Khadija (RadyAllahuAnha) .

17. Her Merits • In a Hadith reported by Imam Al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu'alayhiwaSallam) said “The noblest women of the world are Maryam and Khadija” (RadyAllahuAnhuma). • The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu'alayhiwaSallam) had great love for even the slaves of SayyidatinaKhadija (RadyAllahuAnha), whom she had freed and presented to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu'alayhiwaSallam) • Angel Jibreel(Alayhis salaam) said to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu'alayhiwaSallam) to convey to SayyidatinaKhadija (RadyAllahuAnha) the glad tidings that she will get a house of pearls in Paradise, where there will not be any noise nor labour.

18. Her Titles and Honours • She is described as the 'First Mother of the Faithful' because she was the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu'alayhiwaSallam). • Her other titles are: • 'al-Kubra' which means the Great. • 'AmeeratQuraysh' which means Princess of Quraysh. • 'al-Tahira' which means the ‘Pure One’. • Sayyidatina Khadija (RadyAllahuAnha)is one of the four greatest ladies of Islam according to a Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu'alayhiwaSallam)