Rubab Mehdi Rizvi
HAZRAT Khadija (RA) was the first wife of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). She was born in Makkah. Her father’s name was Khuwaylid bin Asad and he was a wealthy trader. The name of Bibi Khadija bint e Khawailad (RA) Her Title in Islam Umm ul Momineen and Agnomen is Tahira, Her Father Name was Khawailad Bin Asad and Her Mother Name Fatemah Bint e Zaedeh. Her Place of Birth is Makkah and Her Death 10th Ramazan 03 years before Hijrah at the age of 64 years also Buried in Makkah. The Geneology of both Holy Prophet (PBUH) and Hazrat Khadija (RA) was the same reaching up to Qusayy. Her mother and father both died within 10 years of each other. Their wealth was divided amongst the children but it was Hazrat Khadija (RA) who took over the family business and expanded it.
With the profit she made she helped the poor, widows, orphans, sick and the disabled people of Makkah. She had a cousin called Waraqa bin Naufal who was very learned man and who was not an idol worshipper. Both Waraqa and Hazrat Khadija were monotheists and believed in one Allah. Because of her excellent Akhlaq the Arabs (who at that time used to look down upon women) called her Tahira – the pure one. She was also known as the ‘Princess of Makkah’ because of her wealth. A lot of Arab nobles and princess wanted to marry her but she refused all of them. In 595 AD, Hazrat Khadija was looking for someone to be in charge of her caravan to Syria. Hazrat Abu Talib (RA) suggested the Holy Prophet (PBUH) to her. She had heard of his trustworthiness and agreed to employ him although he did not have much trading experience. To help him she sent her slave Maysara.
The trading caravan was a great success and when Hazrat Khadija (RA) heard of the Prophet’s skills and excellent conduct, she became his admirer. Soon it was arranged for Hazrat Khadija (RA) to be married to the Holy Prophet (PBUH). At that time, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was aged 25 and Hazrat Khadija (RA) was 40 years of age. According to Shiite tradition, this was her first marriage and that she was not a widow as is narrated by non-shiite sources. Hazrat Abu Talib (RA) read the Nikah on behalf of the Prophet whilst Waqara bin Noufal read it for Hazrat Khadija. Hazrat Abu Talib (RA) paid the mehr for his nephew and fed the people of Makkah for 3 days in celebration. Hazrat Khadija too fed the people.
The marriage was a very happy one and their first child was a son called Qasim. The second was Abdullah. Both died in infancy. Their third and last child was Hazrat Fatema Zahra (RA). When the Prophet used to go to meditate in the cave of Hira on Jabel-e-Noor, it was Hazrat Khadija (RA) herself who would climb up there to give him his food and necesseries. She was the first person to accept Islam as taught by the Holy Prophet (PBUH). In 616 AD, the Quraish isolated the Bani Hashim (the family of the Prophet) and they took refuge in a ravine called Shib-e-Abu Talib. Hazrat Khadija (RA) was there too and it was her wealth (which she donated for Islam) that sustained the Muslims at that time. The siege lasted for 3 years during which time they experienced hunger, thirst, and the cold and heat of the desert. Hazrat Khadija (RA) was married to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) for 25 years. Shed died in 619 AD on the 10th of Rmazan 3 years before the Hijrah. When she died nothing was left of her wealth – all of it was served for the propagation of Islam. She was buried in Makkah in a cloak of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Hazrat Abu Talib (RA) died in this year too. The Prophet (PBUH) called the year Aam-ul-Huzn (the year of grief). While Hazrat Khadija (RA) lived, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) did not marry another woman and in later years he always said that she was the best of his wives. He also said that she was one of the four perfect women who had ever lived. The other three are Hazrat Aasiya, the wife of Firaun, Hazrat Maryam, the mother of Prophet Isa(AS), and Hazrat Fatima Zahra(RA).
—The writer is Barrister, based in Islamabad.
