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 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 equaled
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 prophecy. As
Islam started to spread across the Arabian Peninsula, she handed over her
entire wealth to her beloved husband
and he used it for the Muslims. When the Quraysh boycotted the family of Hazrat
Abu Talib (A.S.), the richest woman of Quraysh 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 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, Ziaraat.com, Duas.org, imamreza.net, al-islam.org
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