Outline
- Introduction
- The Beginning
- Khadijah, The Bint Khuwaylid
- Khadijah Meets Muhammad
- Khadijah, The First to Embrace Islam
- Khadijah’s Legacy
- Khadijah’s Virtues
- Khadījah After her Passing
- 12 Facts About Khadījah
Introduction
If you want to learn to be a positive thinking person, male or female, you have her to learn from. If you’re looking for a role model in modesty, you’ll find it in her. If you’re looking for a role model in good parenting, you’ll find it in her.
If you are looking for role modelling in a supportive wife, who is loyal, responsible, reliable, matured and wise, then you must know about her. If you’re looking for an example of a generous wealthy person, you can’t afford not knowing her or learning from her.
She is none other than Sayyidatunā Khadījah. Sayyidatunā Khadījah is the first Shining Star in The Shining Stars Series, brought to you by GSalam.Net and Al-Bushra by GSalam.
So, let the excitement begin!
The Beginning
Once upon a time, a man by the name Muhammad used to spend some lengthy quiet moments in the cave of Ḥirā’ near Makkah.
One fine day, while in the Cave, an Angel came to him, and commanded him to: “read.” “I don’t know how to read,” replied by Muhammad. The Angel took hold of him and squeezed him until he almost suffocated. He then released him and commanded him again to: read!
Again, he responded, “I don’t know how to read.” The Angel took hold of him and again, squeezed him until he couldn’t take it anymore. Again, he released him and asked him to: read. Muhammad repeated: I don’t know how to read.
The Angel once again took hold of him, squeezed tightly and then released him. And then commanded him, saying:
ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ﴿١﴾ خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ ﴿٢﴾ ٱقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْأَكْرَمُ ﴿٣﴾ ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلْقَلَمِ ﴿٤﴾ عَلَّمَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ ﴿٥﴾ ـ
““Read in the name of your Lord, who has created (all that exists). Created man from a clot. Read! And your Lord is Most Generous. Who taught by the pen. Taught man what he did not know.”
Muhammad was terrified by the encounter. So, he hurried home. Shivering.
Upon reaching home, he was received by his wife. He asked to be covered. Being a loving, caring and matured wife, she first comforted him, and calmed him down before anything else. Thereafter, he was able to share with her what happened in the cave of Ḥirā’.
This man, Muhammad is Sayyidunā Muhammad, ṣallā Allāhu’ alayhi wa sallam. The Angle is Jibrīl ‘alayhi al-salām. The verses he dictated to Muhammad were the first five verses to be revealed in the Qur’an. The caring, loving and supportive wife was Sayyidatunā Khadījah, raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhā. The whole incident marks the conferment of Prophethood upon the Prophet Muhammad. And with that he became the final Messenger of Allah to our world.
Khadijah, The Bint Khuwaylid
Sayyidatunā Khadījah’s father was Khuwaylid bin Asad, ibn Abdul-‘Uzzā, ibn Quṣay, ibn Kilāb, ibn Murrah, ibn Ka’b, ibn Lu’ay ibn Ghālib. She shares the same great grandfather (Quṣay) with the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
And her mother was Fatimah bint Zā’idah bin al-Aṣamm.
Khadijah Meets Muhammad
When we talk about Khadijah, we are talking about the first known woman ever, to propose to a man for marriage. Obviously, such a man must have had noble characters and qualities. This happened even when she was among the wealthiest businessmen of her time in Makkah.
Sayyidah Khadijah developed the interest in marrying Muhammad, then 25-year-old young man, when she hired him to go to Syria in her trade. Maysarah, Khadījah’s servant was in the company of Muhammad. And he had the honour to witness firsthand, the trustworthiness, honesty and nobility of Muhammad.
Upon their return from Syria with a profound profit, Maysarah shared with his Lady all the good things he saw and experienced with Muhammad. Khadijah, who was arguably looking for a deserving husband thought Muhammad was the man she needed in her life all that while.
Sayyidah Khadijah was 15 years older than the Prophet. However, neither the age factor nor her being wealthy (when Muhammad was not) deluded her or prevented her from being the good wife every good man can ever dream of.
Khadijah, The First to Embrace Islam
When the name of Khadijah is mentioned, you’re talking about the first person on earth, to believe and accept the message of Islam from the Prophet Muhammad. Without doubt, without a second thought, and without a single question.
When the name of Khadījah is mentioned, you’re talking about the first to perform ablution (wuḍū’) with or after the Prophet, ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam. And obviously, she was the first to pray with or after the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
When the Prophet came back from the cave of Ḥirā’, terrified, shivering, and asking to be covered, after had earlier had that encounter with Jibril. Sayyidatunā Khadijah didn’t hesitate to give him the best assurance, moral and emotional support a man will ever get from his wife.
In a ḥadith reported by Imām al-Bukhārī from the narration of Sayyidatunā ‘Āishah raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhā, Sayyidah Khadijah said to the Prophet after hearing his encounter:
وَاللَّهِ مَا يُخْزِيكَ اللَّهُ أَبَدًا، إِنَّكَ لَتَصِلُ الرَّحِمَ، وَتَحْمِلُ الْكَلَّ، وَتَكْسِبُ الْمَعْدُومَ، وَتَقْرِي الضَّيْفَ، وَتُعِينُ عَلَى نَوَائِبِ الْحَقِّ
“By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good relations with your kinship, help the poor and the destitute, serve your guests generously and assist the deserving calamity-afflicted ones.”
She later took him to see her cousin, Waraqah ibn Nawfal, who was a learned Christian man, who knew about the signs of prophethood. Waraqah confirmed that what the Prophet saw was the same Angel that came to Mūsā and ‘Īsā.
With that, Sayyidah Khadījah was the first Muslim on earth, on the first day of Islam.
Here, I must claim that there were five Muslims on the first day of Islam. Khadijah was the first. Who are the other four? Stay tuned with The Shining Stars Series to find out. Let’s learn about them together. It’s going to be interesting, inshā Allah…
Khadijah’s Legacy
Sayyidatunā Khadijah was honest, humble, loving, caring, loyal, supportive. She was a mother, who despite her wealth, she made enough time to bring up her children responsibly.
Sayyidah Khadijah had the privilege to be the woman who mothered all the children of the Prophet, except Ibrahim, whose mother was Mariyyah al-Qibtiyyah.
She had six children with the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Two of whom were boys and the remainder girls. The boys, Al-Qāsim and ‘Abdullāh died in their infancy. Ruqayyah, Zaynab, and Ummu Kulthūm died in Madinah during the lifetime of the Prophet. And Fatimah passed on six months after the passing of the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
Sayyidah Khadījah raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhā had married twice before marrying the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam. She had two children, Hind and ‘Abdul-‘Uzzā from her first marriage. And three children, Hind, al-Ṭāhir and Hālah from her second marriage.
The legacy of Sayyidah Khadijah is such that, by human logic, none can equal her, in the ummah. It’s worth noting that she didn’t earn that because of her name, lineage, let alone here wealth. It’s rather because of her actions and good will.
Khadījah earns rewards for every good deed any Muslim carries out. This is for the unconditional support she rendered for Islam, morally and emotionally for the Prophet, and financially for strengthening and spreading of Islam.
Let me put it this way: if Khadijah was like the wife of Sayyidunā Nūḥ or the wife of Sayyidunā Lūṭ, the Prophet could have been demoralized the moment he returned home after his experience in the Cave. You could imagine her telling him off or doubting his judgement. Unlike the two Sayyidah Khadijah was that, whom you’ve known!
Khadijah’s Virtues
Once you understand Sayyidatunā Khadījah’s sacrifices for her husband, Muhammad, and subsequently for Islam, you understand how and why she has qualified to be the first mother of the believers.
In a hadith, reported by Imām al-Tirmidhī from the narration of Sayyidunā Anas ibn Mālik, Sayyidah Khadijah is one of four women whom a Muslim woman should look up to.
حَسْبُكَ مِنْ نِسَاءِ الْعَالَمِينَ مَرْيَمُ ابْنَةُ عِمْرَانَ، وَخَدِيجَةُ بِنْتُ خُوَيْلِدٍ، وَفَاطِمَةُ بِنْتُ مُحَمَّدٍ، وَآسِيَةُ امْرَأَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ.
“Sufficient for you among the women of mankind are Mariam bint ‘Imran, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, Fāṭimah bint Muhammad and Āsiyah the wife of Fir’awn.”
Also, in a hadith reported by Imām al-Bukhārī from the narration of Sayyidinā Abū Hurayrah raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu, Jibrīl once came to the Prophet and said:
يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَذِهِ خَدِيجَةُ قَدْ أَتَتْ مَعَهَا إِنَاءٌ فِيهِ إِدَامٌ أَوْ طَعَامٌ أَوْ شَرَابٌ، فَإِذَا هِيَ أَتَتْكَ فَاقْرَأْ عَلَيْهَا السَّلاَمَ مِنْ رَبِّهَا وَمِنِّي، وَبَشِّرْهَا بِبَيْتٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ مِنْ قَصَبٍ، لاَ صَخَبَ فِيهِ وَلاَ نَصَبَ.
“O Messenger of Allah! This is Khadījah coming to you with a dish having meat soup or some food or drink. When she reaches you, greet her on behalf of Allah and on my behalf, and give her the glad tidings of a palace in Paradise made from pearls wherein there will be neither noise nor fatigue.”
Allaaaaah… what a good news! To be told of your place, not only in the Hereafter, but in Paradise, while you’re still on the earth kicking!
Khadījah After her Passing
Sayyidah Khadijah passed on 10 years after the Prophet became a Prophet. That was three years before hijrah, and 25 years after her union with the Prophet. She was 65 years young of age.
The Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam continued to remember and appreciate every single moment he spent with Sayyidah Khadījah raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhā.
So much so, that Sayyidatunā ‘Aishah raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhā became jealous. Because the Prophet couldn’t stop the mentioning of his love, Sayyidah Khadījah raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhā. For that, Sayyidah ‘Āishah says:
مَا غِرْتُ عَلَى نِسَاءِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلاَّ عَلَى خَدِيجَةَ وَإِنِّي لَمْ أُدْرِكْهَا. قَالَتْ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا ذَبَحَ الشَّاةَ فَيَقُولُ ” أَرْسِلُوا بِهَا إِلَى أَصْدِقَاءِ خَدِيجَةَ ” . قَالَتْ فَأَغْضَبْتُهُ يَوْمًا فَقُلْتُ خَدِيجَةَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ” إِنِّي قَدْ رُزِقْتُ حُبَّهَا .ـ
“Never did I feel jealous of the wives of Allah’s Messenger but in case of Khadījah, although I did no, (have the privilege to) see her. She further added that whenever Allah’s Messenger slaughtered a sheep, he said: Send it to the companions of Khadījah. I annoyed him one day and said: (It is) Khadījah only who always prevails upon your mind. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger said: Her love had been nurtured in my heart.”
12 Facts About Khadījah
Everything about Sayyidatunā Khadījah is interesting. And each is worth a chapter in a book. Here are some 12 of them in brief.
- Sayyidah Khadijah was the first to embrace Islam.
- Sayyidah Khadijah was the first wife of the Prophet.
- Sayyidah Khadijah was the first mother of the believers.
- Sayyidah Khadijah was the daughter of Fāṭimah.
- Sayyidah Khadijah was the mother of Fāṭimah.
- Sayyidah Khadijah was the first to mother a child for the Prophet.
- Sayyidah Khadijah was the first in the Ummah to receive greetings from Allah.
- Sayyidah Khadijah was the first in the Ummah to receive greetings from Jibrīl.
- Sayyidah Khadijah was the first in the Ummah to receive glad news about his place in Jannah while still alive.
- Sayyidah Khadijah is one of four women for every Muslim woman to look up to.
- Sayyidah Khadijah was the one the Prophet remembered most after her passing.
- Every Muslim should be grateful to Khadijah. Because the Prophet was.
The Takeaway…
With or without Khadijah, the Prophet could have reached where he reached with Islam. But Allah has willed to honour Khadījah. And she wisely accepted the honour.
The honour? Yes.. the honour. But who rejects an honour upon himself? Many of us are given similar honour. But they choose to decline it. Just like the wives of Sayyidunā Nūḥ and Lūṭ did. Why? Because they expect it to be smooth sailing. They expect it to be luxurious.
But the truth is… in the journey to Allah, nothing is luxurious. Luxury only starts after you’ve met Allah and attained His Pleasure and forgiveness.
For you and me to achieve that, Allah has made some stars and put them up there for us to look up to. They are not only stars… They are Shining Stars…
Every child should look up to Khadijah to learn nobility, loyalty beyond love and to learn trustworthiness.
As a young man out there, if you want a wife like Khadijah, it’s not too late to develop the qualities of Muhammad, and I can comfortably assure you, that a woman like Khadijah will propose to you. Or you’ll be sent to a woman like Khadijah. Inshā Allah.
As a young man out there, if you want a wife like Khadijah, it’s not too late to develop the qualities of Muhammad, and I can comfortably assure you, that a woman like Khadijah will propose to you. Or you’ll be sent to a woman like Khadijah. Inshā Allah.
Likewise, as a single or unmarried woman, if you want a husband like Muhammad, develop the qualities of Khadijah, and your husband will be like Muhammad. Inshā Allah.
This was a glimpse of Sayyidatunā Khadījah raḍiya Allahu ‘anhā.
You can read everything said here on Al-Bushra by GSalam’s channel on YouTube
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Until we meet in our episode to take another glimpse of another shining star, I leave you in Allah’s protection.
Allah knows best.
Allahu Hafiz 🙂
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