Khadija bt. Khuwaylid (a): Difference between revisions

'''Khadīja bt. Khuwaylid (a)''' (Arabic: {{iarabic|خَدیجة بنت خُویلد}}) (b. ? - d. [[4 BH]]/[[619 CE|619]]), known as '''Khadīja al-Kubrā (a)''' and '''Umm al-Mu'minīn''' (the Mother of Believers), was the first wife of [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] and the mother of [[Lady Fatima (a)]]. She married Prophet Muhammad (s) [[15 years before Bi'tha]] (595-96 CE) and was the first woman who converted to [[Islam]]. Khadija (a) dedicated her wealth for expansion of Islam. Prophet Muhammad (s) did not choose another wife during his marital life with Khadija (a). During her life and after her demise the Prophet (s) always praised Khadija (a).

The information on the personality of Khadija (a) prior to Islam is highly limited. According to sources, she was a wealthy merchant who worked in a [[mudaraba]]{{enote|Profit and Loss Sharing and also called PLS or participatory banking}}, she employed other people to work for her and she gained some parts of its profit.<ref>Ibn Kathīr, ''al-Bidāya wa l-nihāya'', vol. 2, p. 293; Ibn Sayyid al-Nās, ''ʿUyūn al-athar'', vol. 1, p. 63.</ref>  

[[Ibn Shahrashub]] quoted from [[al-Sayyid al-Murtada]] in ''[[Al-Shafi fi l-imama|al-Shafi]]'' and [[al-Shaykh al-Tusi]] in ''[[Talkhis al-shafi]]'' that Khadija (a) was a virgin when she married Prophet Muhammad (s).<ref>Ibn Shahrāshūb, ''Manāqib Āl Abī Ṭālib'', vol. 1, p. 159.</ref> In addition, considering the cultural and intellectual situation in [[Hijaz]] and high position and status of Khadija al-Kubra (a) among other people, it would be highly improbable that she marry men from Banu Tamim and Banu Makhzum (the two low tribes).<ref>ʿĀmilī, ''al-Ṣaḥīḥ min sīrat al-Nabī'', vol. 2, p. 123.</ref>  

As [[Ibn Kathir]] quoted from [[Ibn Ishaq]], when Khadija (a) became familiar with honesty, trustworthiness and ethical characteristics of Muhammad (s), she entrusted him her wealth. Then after Muhammad (s) came from a commercial travel from [[Syria]], Maysara (Khadija's (a) slave) reported the characteristics of Muhammad (s) to Khadija (a). Afterwards, she proposed marriage to Prophet Muhammad (s).<ref>Ibn Kathīr, ''al-Bidāya wa l-nihāya'', vol. 2, p. 293.</ref> Also, Ibn Sayyid al-Nas said, "when Khadija (a) was informed about the ethical characteristics and honesty of Muhammad (s), she proposed marriage to him".<ref>Ibn Sayyid al-Nās, ''ʿUyūn al-athar'', vol. 1, p. 63.</ref> Ibn al-Athir also mentioned the same thing in ''Usad al-ghaba''.<ref>Ibn Athīr, ''Usd al-ghāba'', vol. 1, p. 23.</ref>  

According to sources, Prophet Muhammad (s) and Khadija (a) had seven or eight children, or as some other sources said, six children. As [[Ibn Kathir]] quoted from [[Ibn Ishaq]] and [[Ibn Hisham]], they had seven children; all the children of Prophet (s) are from Khadija (a) except for [[Ibrahim Son of the Prophet (s)|Ibrahim]].<ref>Ibn Saʿd, ''al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā'', vol. 8, p. 174; Ibn Kathīr, ''al-Bidāya wa l-nihāya'', vol. 2, p. 294.</ref> He has quoted the names of six children.<ref>Ibn Saʿd, ''al-Ṭabaqāt al-kubrā'', vol. 8, p. 174; Ibn Kathīr, ''al-Bidāya wa l-nihāya'', vol. 2, p. 294.</ref> As Ibn al-Athir have quoted from al-Zubayr b. Bakkar, al-Tayyib and al-Tahir, Prophet's children, were named after Muhammad's (a) Prophethood.<ref>Ibn Athīr, ''al-Kāmil'', vol. 2, p. 307.</ref> Also other sources mentioned all the Prophet's children were from Khadija (a) except for Ibrahim.<ref>Ibn Kathīr, ''al-Bidāya wa l-nihāya'', vol. 5, p. 306.</ref> [[Ibn al-Athir al-Jazari]] has quoted from al-Zubayr b. Bakkar the names of eight children for Prophet Muhammad (s) and Khadija al-Kubra (a).<ref>Ibn Athīr, ''Usd al-ghāba'', vol. 6, p. 81.</ref>  

It seems some of the historians have confused the names and titles of children, hence the difference in the count. Therefore, they had six children including two sons, [[Al-Qasim Son of the Prophet (s)|al-Qasim]] and [['Abd Allah Son of the Prophet (s)|'Abd Allah]] (al-Tayyib and al-Tahir as 'Abd Allah's titles) and four daughters, ([[Zaynab bt. Muhammad (s)|Zaynab]], [[Ruqayya bt. Muhammad|Ruqayya]], [[Umm Kulthum bt. Muhammad|Umm Kulthum]], and [[Lady Fatima (a)]].<ref>Ziriklī, ''al-Aʿlām'', vol. 2, p. 302.</ref>  

Most of historical sources consider Khadija (a) as the first one who converted to [[Islam]].<ref>Ibn Kathīr, ''al-Bidāya wa l-nihāya'', vol. 3, p.23; vol. 4, p. 817.</ref> Even some sources claimed, it is agreed among all the researchers. Ibn Abd al-Barr claimed that [[Ali b. Abi Talib (a)]] was the first one after Khadija (a) who converted to Islam.<ref>Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, ''al-Istīʿāb'', vol. 4, p. 817.</ref> Sources which discussed the timing of [[sahaba]] in converting to Islam, have mentioned Khadija al-Kubra (a) and Ali b. Abi Talib (a) as the first two people who converted to Islam. They have mentioned they were the first two people who performed [[prayer]] alongside Prophet Muhammad (s).<ref>Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, ''al-Istīʿāb'', vol. 3, p. 1089. Ibn Athīr, ''Usd al-ghāba fī maʿrifat al-Ṣaḥāba'', vol. 6, p. 78.</ref>  

After the financial help from Khadija al-Kubra (a), [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] became financially privileged. As [[Allah]] mentioned the gift given to Prophet Muhammad (s): "Allah found you needy and made you prosperous."<ref>Qurʾān, 93: 8.</ref> Also Prophet Muhammad (s) always said: "No money was profitable for me the way the wealth of Khadija (a) was."<ref>Majlisī, ''Biḥār al-anwār'', vol. 19, p. 63.</ref> Prophet Muhammad (s) applied her wealth in paying the debts of debtors, and on orphans, and the poor.

When Meccan [[Boycott of Banu Hashim|boycotted Banu Hashim]], the wealth from Khadija al-Kubra (a) helped [[Banu Hashim]]. According to a narration: "Abu Talib and Khadija (a) dedicated all their wealth for protecting [[Islam]] and helping the boycotted Muslims."<ref>Majlisī, ''Biḥār al-anwār'', vol. 19, p. 16.</ref> Hakim b. Hizam, Khadija's (a) cousin, brought date, fruits and wheat with difficulties and in a dangerous situation for Banu Hashim.<ref>Ibn Hishām, ''al-Sīrat al-Nabawīyya'', vol. 1, p. 353-354.</ref> Such dedications and generosity by Khadija (a) was accepted by God and considered as gifts to Prophet Muhammad (s).<ref>Majlisī, ''Biḥār al-anwār'', vol. 35, p. 425; Ibn Shahrāshūb, ''Manāqib Āl Abī Ṭālib'', vol. 3, p. 120.</ref> Prophet always mentioned her dedication and appreciated her generosity.<ref>Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr, ''al-Istīʿāb'', vol. 4, p. 1817.</ref>

|quote=[[Allah]] did not grant me better than her; she accepted me when people rejected me; she shared her wealth with me when other people deprived me; and Allah has provided children for me from her, while He didn't provided children for me from other than her.

Khadija (a) was truly a knowledgeable and honorable lady. As [[Ibn al-Jawzi]] said: Khadija (a) was known for her knowledge, fairness, progress, and her desire for spirituality and perfection. Since her young ages she was an honorable and virtuous woman among Arabs in [[Hijaz]].<ref>Ibn al-Jawzī, ''Tadhkirat al-khawāṣ'', vol. 2, p. 300.</ref> Her unlimited spiritual wealth was more significant than her impressive wealth. Although different notable and wealthy men of Quraysh asked Khadija (a) for marriage but she rejected them and chose Muhammad (s) to guarantee her salvation in the [[Hereafter]] and rewards in [[Paradise]]. She was the first person who converted to Islam, who accepted his [[prophethood]] and performed prayer with Prophet (s).

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