The Noble Characteristics of Hazrat Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid (R.A)

Hazrat Khadijah (R.A) was born in Makkah in the tribe of Qureysh in 556 A.D. She belonged to a family named Banu Asad. Her mother`s name was Fatimah bint Zayd, and his father, Khuwaylid bin Asad was a well off businessman and a renowned leader of the clan. She has got the highest status in the religion of Islam for being the foremost Spouse of the Holy Prophet, Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH). She was regarded as one of the four greatest females among the whole creation. Abdullah bin Abbas (R.A) once narrated the Messenger (PBUH) of God saying as:

“Of all the women in Paradise, the most noble are Hazrat Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (R.A), Hazrat Fatimah tul-Zohra bint (R.A) Muhammad (PBUH), Hazrat Maryam bint Imran (A.S), and Hazrat Asiya (wife of Pharoah).” (Ahmad)

Before marrying Rasulullah (PBUH), she was first wedded to Abu Halah Malak bin Nabash and had two children between them, Halah and Hind. Unfortunately; he passed away after a few years. She was known for good character and was commonly known as the Pure and Chaste One among the Qureyshi people. After some time, she married to Atique bin Aith having a daughter named Hindah, but soon both got separated. While she used to run her trade, she noticed the dignified personality of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and soon married to him. She helped the Apostle (PBUH) of the Almighty throughout her life, and attained the great rank near Allah SWT.

Lifetime Instances of Hazrat Khadijah Tul Kubra

Some of the most important instances from her lifetime are as follows:

Carrying Out Trade

Hazrat Khadijah (R.A) was a brave woman. She continued the tradition of doing business in her family by herself alone. She would employ the most honorable people to carry out her trade. She would send her stuff to far off places like Syria to sell them, and buy goods from there in order to sell them in Makkah.

Coming To Know About Muhammad (PBUH) And Marrying Him

She had heard about the noblest qualities like truthfulness, honesty and integrity of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) from other people. She sent Him a job offer which He readily accepted. So, He (PBUH) was sent on the very first on the very first commerce tour to Syria right away, accompanied by the servant of Hazrat Khadijah (R.A), Maysarah, who was quite impressed from His (PBUH) immaculate ways of business dealings. On the way back, when Rasulullah (PBUH) sat under a certain tree for taking rest, a Jewish priest had recognized His special stature. When he enquired the slave about Muhammad (PBUH), he was told about His great Character. Thereby, the monk had acknowledged Him as the Last Spiritualist by adding that only the previous Prophets used to rest under this tree.

When her slave told Hazrat Khadijah (R.A) about the whole incident, she was greatly impressed and thought about marrying Him (PBUH) soon. One night, she saw a dream with a bright light descending from the heavens lightening her home. When she told her cousin, Waqarah bin Nawfal (a well known dream teller and an expert in previous Sacred Scriptures) about this, he congratulated her and told her about a blissful life ahead under the company of the Last Prophet. Her desire to wed Him (PBUH) increased more as she gained the peace of her mind. In the end, her close friend, Nafisah bint Manbah told Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) about a probable marriage proposal. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said if she is ready to marry Him, then He has no objection to it. Hence, both Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) and Hazrat Khadija (R.A) got married by mutual consent at the ages of 25 and 40 respectively. The Prophet (PBUH) did not marry any other woman as long as she (R.A) remained alive. They lived together for 25 years, having 6 children (2 sons and 4 daughters) between them, known as Qasim, Abdullah, Zaynab, Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthum and Fatimah. Both of their sons died at young ages. She remained an appropriate companion, trusted counselor and helper to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and even participated alongside Him in spreading of Islam.

Acceptance of Islam Right From First Revelation

When Rasulullah (PBUH) reached the age of 40, He would spend most of His time in the cave of Hira, in order to search for the true Creator of the Universe. One day, He received the very first Quranic revelation from Allah SWT. An angel, Jibrael (A.S) came to Him, and taught Him these lines:

“Recite in the name of your Lord who created – Created man from a clinging substance. Recite and your Lord is the most Generous – Who taught by the pen – Taught man that which he knew not.” [Quran, 96: 1-5]

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After that, Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) came straight to home, asked Hazrat Khadijah (R.A) to cover Him up with a blanked as He shivered and was frightened. She (R.A) comforted Him and said she believed in every word He (PBUH) has said and that she believed in His Prophet Hood. Thus, she (R.A) became the first ever person to embrace Islam.

Financial and Spiritual Support To The Prophet (PBUH)

As message of the Religion of Peace started spreading openly, and with the arrival of many new entrants to Islam, the non believers who were firm on their wrongful beliefs about many gods, opposed Muslims directly. They applied strict economic as well as relational sanctions against them, so Abu Taalib, the uncle of Rasulullah (PBUH), took them away from Makkans` oppressions in a nearby valley. There, Hazrat Khatijah (R.A) supported them financially with an open heart and spent generously and also bore the hardships herself along with them. She also backed the Holy Prophet (PBUH) monetarily and never reminded Him of her past favors.

Apart from fiscal support, Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) also got the spiritual backing from “the Mother of all the Faithful Ones”. She never let Him down despite all the opposition from disbelievers, and was always boosting His confidence in carrying out the process of Dawah (invitation towards Islam) to people. In short, she (R.A) all her life in the service of Islam by helping the Muslims in strict times, and standing by the Prophet`s (PBUH) side at every moment.

The Great Standing of Hazrat Khadija (R.A)

The prominence of Ummul Momineen, Hazrat Khatija (R.A) is reflected by the fact that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) did not marry any other woman as long as she was alive. Regarding her huge honor, Abu Hurairah (R.A) narrated the Apostle (PBUH) of God saying as:

“Jibreel came to the Prophet (PBUH) and said: ‘Here is Khadijah coming to you with a bowl of condiment or food or drink. When she comes to you, convey to her the greeting of peace from her Lord and from me, and give her the tiding of a house in Paradise built of Qasab wherein there will be neither any noise nor any fatigue (trouble)” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Hence, she was given the grand news of being awarded the best place in Jannah (paradise) while living on earth. The Messenger (PBUH) of Allah was so much pleased with and missed her after she died that He (PBUH) used to send gifts and meat of slaughtered animals to her loved ones in order to honor her. He was also observed very sad after losing her as she cared for Him throughout her life.

To sum up, Hazrat Khadija (R.A) was truly “A Mother of the Believers”, who did not only accepted the Message of Wisdom immediately but also was a true companion of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) on every occasion. She was kind hearted and a noble lady who sacrificed all her wealth and time in the rightful service of Islam.