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

2. Her Name and Family Sayyidatina Khadija (Rady Allahu Anha) 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 Qusaiy was also the ancestor of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam). Hence, both Sayyidatina Khadija (Rady Allahu Anha) and the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) inherited their ancestry from the same source.

4. Her Early Years Sayyidatina Khadija (Rady Allahu Anha) 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 (Rady Allahu Anha) 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 (Rady Allahu Anha) 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 (Rady Allahu Anha) was looking for a man with excellent character to look after her business. After learning about the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) she sent a message to offer him twice as much as others to take her merchandise to Syria. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) had heard a lot about Sayyidatina Khadija’s (Rady Allahu Anha) business and with his uncle’s approval accepted her offer.

7. Her Business The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) returned to Makkah from Syria after a successful journey. Sayyidatina Khadija (Rady Allahu Anha) was very pleased and impressed with Holy Prophet’s (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) behaviour and dealings.

8. Her Marriage to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) She took the initiative and sent the marriage proposal to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam). The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) 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 'alayhi wa Sallam) was 25 years old and she was 40 years old.

9. Her Acceptance of Islam When the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) 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. Sayyidatina Khadija (Rady Allahu Anha) was the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam). In the life of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) she played a vital role: – She trusted the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) 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. Married Life to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam)

11. She often used to accompany the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) 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, Sayyidatina Ruqayya, Sayyidatina Umm Kulthum and Sayyidatina Fatima (Rady Allahu anhunna) ; and two sons Qasim and Abdullah (who passed away in childhood). Married Life to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam)

12. All the Holy Prophet’s (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) children were from Sayyidatina Khadija (Rady Allahu Anha) except for Ibrahim, who was from Maria Qibtiyyah. She always kept the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) content and happy. There was mutual understanding, respect and love for each other.

13. Sayyidatina Khadija (Rady Allahu Anha) gave her wealth to spread Islam. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) and Sayyidatina Khadija (Rady Allahu Anha) used to offer prayers secretly for a long time. Married Life to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam)

14. Prophet’s Love for her The Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) loved and cared for Sayyidatina Khadija (Rady Allahu Anha) a lot and never let anyone say anything bad about her. Sayyidatina Aisha (Rady Allahu Anha) reports that the Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) 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 'alayhi wa Sallam) always maintained the highest regard for her friends and relatives.

15. Her Passing Away Sayyidatina Khadija (Rady Allahu Anha) 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 'alayhi wa Sallam) called the year in which Sayyidatina Khadija (Rady Allahu Anha) passed away 'Aam-ul-Huzn' meaning the ‘year of grief’. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) did not marry any other woman while he was married to Sayyidatina Khadija (Rady Allahu Anha) 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). Sayyidatina Khadija (Rady Allahu Anha) was instrumental in helping the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) spread the word of Islam especially in the early stages. She was such a great lady that even Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) sent blessings on her. One day, angel Jibreel (Alayhis salaam) came down and told the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) to convey peace and blessings of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) to Sayyidatina Khadija (Rady Allahu Anha).

17. Her Merits In a Hadith reported by Imam Al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) said “The noblest women of the world are Maryam and Khadija” (Rady Allahu Anhuma). The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) had great love for even the slaves of Sayyidatina Khadija (Rady Allahu Anha), whom she had freed and presented to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) Angel Jibreel (Alayhis salaam) said to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) to convey to Sayyidatina Khadija (Rady Allahu Anha) 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 'alayhi wa Sallam). Her other titles are: – 'al-Kubra' which means the Great. – 'Ameerat Quraysh' which means Princess of Quraysh. – 'al-Tahira' which means the ‘Pure One’. Sayyidatina Khadija (Rady Allahu Anha) is one of the four greatest ladies of Islam according to a Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam)