Wednesday, May 15, 2019

THE BENEFACTOR OF ISLAM - SAYYIDA KHADIJA-TUL KUBRA (S.A.)


Sayyida Khadija (s.a.) was the first wife of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). He did not marry anyone while she was alive. There is well known saying, “Islam did not rise except by Ali (a.s.)’s sword and Khadija (s.a.)’s wealth.”
She was born in Makkah in 565 A.D. and died in 623 A.D. which was 11 years after Hijra. Her father was Hazrat Khuwaylid bin Asad belonging to Banu Asad tribe, a clan of Banu Hashim. He was a successful merchant and Sayyida Khadija inherited his vast wealth. Her trade caravan surpassed the caravans of all other traders of Quraysh put together.

In the Arabian society of Ja’hiliah, she earned the titles of “Ameert-ul-Quraysh” or “Princess of Quraysh” and “al-Tahira” or “the Pure One” due to her impeccable personality and virtuous character, not to mention her honorable descent. She used to be kind to the poor, assist her relatives financially. She did not worship idols and followed the Ibrahimic faith of Islam. As she did not travel herself with the caravans of trade, she used to employee an agent. At one time, she was looking for a new agent and Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.) suggested his nephew, the young Muhammad (s.a.w.a.s.) to do the job. She sent her servant, Maysarah, with him. The trip produced more profit than expected. Maysarah also saw some unusual events with the young Muhammad (s.a.w.a.s.). She sent him on another trade trip to Yemen. Her cousin Waraqa bin Nawfal told her that the manners of young Muhammad (s.a.w.a.s.) were like a messenger of God. She had also heard about his trust and truthfulness. Consequently, she proposed to marry him. The Nikah was performed by Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.) and Nawfal gave away her hand to the young Muhammad (s.a.w.a.s.). The marriage was a very happy one and produced two boys who died in infancy. Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.) was the only daughter who survived. Her period of happiness lasted for 15 years. When the revelation started, she was the first woman to confirm his prophecyAs Islam started to spread across the Arabian Peninsula, she handed over her entire wealth to her beloved husband and he used it for the welfare of Muslims. When the Quraysh boycotted the family of Hazrat Abu Talib (A.S.), the richest woman of Quraysh gladly shared the hardships with her husband in the Shib-e-AbuTalib for 3 years. She used to give one gold coin to Imam Ali (a.s.), who was 16 years old at that time, to bring water secretly.  

The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) used to say that Sayyida Khadijatul Kubra (s.a.) was one of the four best women of the world; the other three being Hazrat Maryam, mother of Prophet Eisa’, and Hazrat A’siya, wife of the Pharaoh and her daughter Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.)
On the death bed, she sought forgiveness from her husband if she in any way had failed to serve the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). Then asked for Shifaa’t on the Day of Judgment from her husband. She told her wish to her beloved daughter, Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.) to ask her father to shroud her dead body in the clothes he (s.a.w.a.s.) was wearing when the first Wahi was revealed.  

Sayyida Khadijatul Kubra (s.a.) and the “Protector of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.)” Hazrat Abu Talib (A.S.) died in the same year. It was a great shock for him (s.a.w.a.s.), hence he called that year as “Aam ul Huzn” which means “Year of Grief”. Both these personalities were very dear and important to the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and the All-Mighty Allah had referred to their functions in his life in Surah az-Zuha Ayah 6 and 8, “Did He (Allah) not find you an orphan and gave you shelter? Did He (Allah) not find you poor and enrich you?”

After her death, when one of his other wives heard him remembering and praising Sayyida Khadijatul Kubra (s.a.), the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) became very angry and said, “She believed in me when all others disbelieved; she held me truthful when all others called me a liar; she sheltered me when others abandoned me; she comforted me when others shunned me; and Allah granted me children by her while depriving me of children by other women.”

Surah al-Ahza’b Ayah 6, “The Prophet has more authority over the believers than themselves. His wives are their mothers.” The Muslims in Makkah were very poor. The infidel Quraysh had ordered their community members not to pay any wages to the Muslims. Sayyida Khadija (s.a.) fed them day after day so that no Muslim slept hungry. As a mother wants to see her children are well-fed, hence she took loving care of the Muslim Ummah. There is a well-known tradition the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) that Paradise is under the feet of their mothers.

               Sources: Khadijatul Kubra by Sayyid Ali Asghar Razwy, Duas.org, Ziaraat.com, imamreza.net


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