The marriage of Lady Khadijah to Prophet Muhammad is a cornerstone event in Islamic history, symbolizing loyalty, mutual respect, and spiritual partnership. This union not only influenced their personal lives but also significantly impacted the early development of Islam. Lady Khadijah, a wealthy and respected businesswoman in Mecca, was renowned for her integrity and wisdom. Her marriage to Hazrat Muhammad, who would become the Prophet of Islam, brought together two exceptional individuals, fostering the spread of the Islamic faith. This study aims to examine the personality of Lady Khadijat, the circumstances surrounding her marriage and the marriage proposal to the Prophet of Islam.
Her Lineage
Lady Khadijah (peace be upon her) was the daughter of Khuwaylid who died around 585 A.D., and belonged to the clan of Abd al-`Uzza of the Quraysh tribe. Like many other Qurayshi, he was also a merchant, a successful businessman whose vast wealth and business talents were inherited by Khadijah and whom the latter succeeded in faring with the family’s vast wealth. Her mother, who died around 575 A.D., was known to be Fatima the daughter of Za’ida ibn al-Asam of Banu `Amir ibn Lu’ayy ibn Ghalib, also a distant relative of Prophet Muhammad.
Lady Khadijah was a distant cousin of the Messenger of God (PBUHH) from her father’s side, and both were related to Quṣayy the son of Kilāb. She was from the main and noble Meccan families. Hence, when she grew up, she had many suitors. According to the historians, Khadijah married ‘Atīq ibn ‘Ᾱ’id Makhzūmi, but not many years had passed since he passed away, and thereafter, she married another husband, whose name was Abu Hālah ibn Munzir Asadi. Her second husband also passed away after a few years and she decided henceforth not to marry again until she was forty years old. Khadijah had a daughter from her second husband, who was named Hind, and because of this, she was called the mother of Hind.
Her Noble Status
It is worthy of mentioning that even though the society in which Lady Khadijah was born and raised was male chauvinistic, she ably earned for herself two noble titles just as the Meccans referred to Muhammad before his prophethood as the ‘Truthful’ [al-Ṣādiq] and the ‘Trustworthy one’ [al-Amīn]. The titles are, the ‘Pure One’[i.e., al-Ṭāhira] due to her impeccable personality and virtuous character, and the ‘Princess of Quraysh’ [i.e., Amīrat Quraish] this was because whenever the caravans left Mecca or returned, they noticed that her cargo was larger in volume than the cargo of all other merchants of Mecca altogether. She used to feed and clothe the poor, assist her relatives financially, and even provide for the marriage of those of her kin who could not otherwise have had the means to marry.
Her encounter With Muhammad
When Hazrat Muhammad was 25 years old, his uncle and guardian, Abu Talib suggested to Khadijah to employ him as her agent in one of her caravans, which was ready to leave for Syria. Lady Khadijah who was actually in need of an agent at that very moment agreed and appointed Muhammad as her agent. Hazrat Muhammad therefore took charge of her merchandise, and the caravan set out for Syria.
When the trading was over, the caravan returned from Damascus. The profits Khadijah reaped from that trip were twice as much as she had anticipated. Maysarah was more fascinated by Muhammad (PBUHH) than by anything related to the trip. Maysarah explained thereafter the trip to Khadijah in detail, reporting the huge, unprecedented profits they had gained. She also spoke about the Prophet’s excellent character and his generosity, as well as his many other virtues manifested during this journey.
This commercial expedition to Syria was successful beyond expectations, and Lady Khadijah was so happy and impressed by her agent’s ability and integrity that she decided to put him in charge of all her future business transactions. The expedition also proved to be the prelude to their marriage.
Her Marriage Proposal
It is pertinent to mention that Hazrat Muhammad suffered just such hard conditions. Due to financial problems, he was unable to take a wife until he was at the age of 25. Thus, he found it advisable to temporarily refrain from marriage and to wait for a suitable occasion when life’s conditions would allow the formation of a family. (A’yan ul-Shi’ah, Vol. 2, p. s; Sirihi Halabiyih, Vol. 1, p.152)
Lady Khadijah was a lady of supreme character. According to reports, she had been twice married, and twice widowed. Though she was forty years old, her enormous wealth, popularity, and prestige had led many wealthy and powerful Quraysh to propose to her in marriage, but she did not accept any of them as her husband and avoided marriage, for she knew well that they either were interested in her wealth or were men whose character she detested. (Bihar ul-Anwar, Vol. 16, p.12; Tarikh Tabari, Vol. 3, p.1127)
It is mentioned that it was Lady Khadijah who proposed to Prophet Muhammad in marriage through one of her close and trusted friends, called Nafisa. She met the Prophet and discussed Khadijah’s intention to marry him. (Sirihi Halabiyih, Vol. 1, p.152; Ayan ul-Shi’ah, Vol. 2, p.8)
In some of the historical records, Abu Ṭālib set Khadijah’s dowry as twenty camels, and in another record, it is said that the dowry was five hundred dirhams. On the occasion of the engagement of the Prophet Muhammad and Lady Khadijah, Abu Talib made a speech saying: “Praise be to Allah, Who has made us from the progeny of Abraham and the offspring of Ishmael, and made for us an inviolable country, and a House of pilgrimage, and made us the rulers over people. Then, Muhammad bin Abdullah, my nephew, is one that no one of the youth of Quraysh is compared to him unless he is preferred to him by his piety, virtue, determination, reason, discernment, and nobility, though he is of little money, but money is a transient shadow and a loan that shall be given back. He has a wish towards Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, and she has like that. Whatever dowry you would like I shall pay…”
This sermon and the speech of Abu Talib during the marriage of Muhammad and Khadijah prove beyond any reasonable doubt that he was a monotheist. He began the speech in the “Muslim” style by offering thanks and praise to Allah for His mercy and His countless gifts and blessings, and he concluded by invoking His mercy and blessings upon the newlyweds.
The marital relationship between the Prophet and Khadijah was based on love, kindness, and sincerity. It was the best marital life in Mecca. Khadijah was so sincere to the Prophet and he also found with her all the love and care that he had missed because of the death of his parents whom he had lost since his early childhood.
The marriage of Hazrat Muhammad and Lady Khadijah was the most successful. It was blessed with felicity unlimited for both husband and wife. Allah blessed Khadijah with two sons and four daughters. The sons were Qāsim and Tahir who passed away as infants in Mecca while the daughters were Zaynab, Umm Kulthum, Ruqayah and Fatimah Zahra who was the most prominent and honoured of them all. The birth of Lady Fatimah Zahra was a special gift of Allah to the noble family and there was none that they treasured more than her. This is because Lady Fatimah was the “light of the eyes” of her father, the future “Lady of Heaven” and “the mother of her father”. The father and mother lavished their love on her, and she brought hope happiness and the mercy and blessings of God with her into their home.
Lady Khadijah dedicated her life to the service of her husband and of Islam. She spent all her vast wealth in strengthening Islam, and on the welfare of the Muslims. The Prophet spent 25 years of his life with Khadijah, who was not only a loving wife for him, but also his best and most helpful mate. This period is considered to be the best period of his married life. Lady Khadijah was the first woman who believed in the Prophet’s divine message. She put all her wealth at his disposal to propagate and promote Islam.
In spite of conspicuous differences in age, Prophet Muhammad’s love for Khadijah never wavered. When death parted her from the Prophet, after having shared with him for years the trial and reproach which greeted him the first years of his preaching, he deeply mourned her death. Once ‘Aisha asked him if she had been the only woman worthy of his love, Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) replied in an honest burst of tender emotion: “She believed in me when none else did, she embraced Islam when people disbelieved me, and she helped and comforted me when there was none to lend me a helping hand.”
Consequently, due to the unique devotion and rare sympathy and sacrifice of Lady Khadijah for Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) and for the promotion of his religion not only did he love her dearly and respect her highly during her lifetime, but even after her death. And each time he remembered her, his blessed heart filled with sorrow and he wept at her loss (Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 16, pp.8, 13). This grateful and affectionate remembrance of her by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) persisted till the very end of his life. The Prophet (PBUHH) out of her love was also kind to all her friends and occasionally sent them gifts.
Conclusion
The marriage of Lady Khadijah to Prophet Muhammad was a transformative alliance that significantly influenced the early trajectory of Islam. Their union exemplified profound mutual respect, unwavering support, and a shared commitment to spiritual and ethical principles. Lady Khadijah’s financial independence, wisdom, and dedication provided critical support to Muhammad during the formative years of his prophetic mission. This partnership not only solidified the social and economic foundation for the nascent Muslim community but also set a powerful example of marital harmony and cooperation. The legacy of their marriage continues to inspire and resonate within the Islamic tradition, underscoring the pivotal role of Lady Khadijah in the success and spread of Islam.
So educative
Thanks so much