Sayyidah Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (R.A)
Sayyidah Khadijah’s Name and lineage
Khadijah bint Khuwaylid ibn Asad ibn ‘Abd al ‘Uzza ibn Qusay.
Qusay is the grandfather of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. In terms of lineage, she is second from the Ummahat al Mu’minin who has the closest ancestry to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam through his father. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam did not marry any other from the progeny of Qusay except Sayyidah Umm Habibah bint Abi Sufyan radiya Llahu ‘anha.[The ancestry of Sayyidah Umm Habibah radiya Llahu ‘anha meets with that of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam at ‘Abd Manaf ibn Qusay, while the ancestry of Sayyidah Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha meets with the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam at Qusay. As for the other Ummahat al Mu’minin their ancestry meets with the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam after Qusay: Murah, Ka’b, Lu’ay, Khuzaimah, Ilyas, and Mudar.]
Sayyidah Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha was highly regarded in society with noble ancestry, amazing qualities, and the richest from all the women of the Quraysh. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam married her when he was twenty-five years old, after Abu Halah ibn Nabash ibn Zurarah al Tamimi.
Sayyidah Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha believed in the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and assisted him in his mission. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam would say that she is the most virtuous of all women of the world.[In other words the most virtuous of all women in her time. She is amongst four women who the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam mentioned to be the most superior of all women of their time. They are: Asiyyah bint Muzahim—the wife of Firoun, Maryam bint Imran, Khadijah, and Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anhunna.] All the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam children were from her except Ibrahim radiya Llahu ‘anhu, whose mother was Sayyidah Mariyyah radiya Llahu ‘anha. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam did not take any other wife during her lifetime. She passed away three years before hijrah.
Sayyidah Khadijah’s Virtues and Status
She is amongst the forerunners to embrace Islam and in fact the very first person to bring faith in what Allah revealed. She thus receives the reward for her iman and of all those who embraced Islam through her efforts after her.[This is owing to the fact that she is the first woman to accept Islam. Whoever initiates a good practice will receive its reward coupled with the reward of all those who practice upon it. The one who points out a good action is like one who carries it out, with regards to reward. Whoever calls towards guidance will receive a reward equal to the reward of all those who followed it, without their reward being diminished in the least. Study further details of this issue in Fath al Bari, chapter on the virtues of Khadijah; al Tahtawi: Nihayat al Ijaz fi Sirat Sakin al Hijaz; and Sharh al Nawawi li Sahih Muslim.]
The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam did not take any other wife during her lifetime. Thus for twenty-five years she remained the only wife of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
The love which the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam had for her was a special gift from Allah, which Allah bestowed upon His Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Thus loving her is a virtue.[Sahih Muslim, Kitab Fada’il al Sahabah, Bab Min Fada’il Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha, Hadith: 5342, in the hadith the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam says, “Verily I have been bestowed with love for her.” Thus having love for Sayyidah Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha is a gift from Allah.]
The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam would talk of her often, praise her, enumerate her virtues, and maintain ties with her family members and friends.
Sayyidah Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha said:
I never became envious of any of the Prophet’s wives as I was envious of Khadijah; on account of how he would constantly talk about her, and I never saw her.[Sahih Muslim, Kitab Fada’il al Sahabah, Bab Min Fada’il Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha, Hadith: 5342.]
She was the best of all the women from the ummah of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
Al Bukhari has reported with his chain of narration from Sayyidina ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu:
I heard the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam saying, “The best of women was Maryam and the best of women was Khadijah.”[Sahih al Bukhari, Kitab Manaqib al Ansar, Bab Tazwij al Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, Hadith: 3815.]
Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala sent greetings to her and gave her the glad tidings of a Palace in Jannat, where she will hear no noise or experience any fatigue.
Al Bukhari and Muslim both narrate with their respective chains of transmission from Sayyidina Abu Hurairah radiya Llahu ‘anhu:
أتى جبريل النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال يا رسول الله هذه خديجة قد أتت معها إناء فيه إدام أو طعام أو شراب فإذا هي أتتك فاقرأ عليها السلام من ربها ومني وبشرها بيت في الجنة من قصب لا صخب فيه ولا نصب.
Jibril ‘alayh al Salam came to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and said, “O Allah’s Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam! This is Khadijah coming to you with a dish having meat soup (or some food or drink). When she reaches you, greet her on behalf of her Rabb and on my behalf, and give her the glad tidings of having a Qasab (gold and silver) palace in Paradise wherein there will be neither any noise nor any fatigue (trouble).”[Sahih al Bukhari, Kitab Manaqib al Ansar, Bab Tazwij al Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, Hadith: 3820.] Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala blessed the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam with children from her, and he was not granted any children from his other wives.
The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
Allah granted me children from her and He did not grant me children from others beside her.[Tabarani: Mujam al Kabir, no.22, Bab Dhikr Azwaj Rasul Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam wa minhun Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, vol. 23 p.13.]
Khadijah bint Khuwaylid ibn Asad ibn ‘Abd al ‘Uzza ibn Qusay.
Qusay is the grandfather of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. In terms of lineage, she is second from the Ummahat al Mu’minin who has the closest ancestry to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam through his father. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam did not marry any other from the progeny of Qusay except Sayyidah Umm Habibah bint Abi Sufyan radiya Llahu ‘anha.[The ancestry of Sayyidah Umm Habibah radiya Llahu ‘anha meets with that of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam at ‘Abd Manaf ibn Qusay, while the ancestry of Sayyidah Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha meets with the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam at Qusay. As for the other Ummahat al Mu’minin their ancestry meets with the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam after Qusay: Murah, Ka’b, Lu’ay, Khuzaimah, Ilyas, and Mudar.]
Sayyidah Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha was highly regarded in society with noble ancestry, amazing qualities, and the richest from all the women of the Quraysh. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam married her when he was twenty-five years old, after Abu Halah ibn Nabash ibn Zurarah al Tamimi.
Sayyidah Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha believed in the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and assisted him in his mission. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam would say that she is the most virtuous of all women of the world.[In other words the most virtuous of all women in her time. She is amongst four women who the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam mentioned to be the most superior of all women of their time. They are: Asiyyah bint Muzahim—the wife of Firoun, Maryam bint Imran, Khadijah, and Fatimah radiya Llahu ‘anhunna.] All the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam children were from her except Ibrahim radiya Llahu ‘anhu, whose mother was Sayyidah Mariyyah radiya Llahu ‘anha. The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam did not take any other wife during her lifetime. She passed away three years before hijrah.
Sayyidah Khadijah’s Virtues and Status
She is amongst the forerunners to embrace Islam and in fact the very first person to bring faith in what Allah revealed. She thus receives the reward for her iman and of all those who embraced Islam through her efforts after her.[This is owing to the fact that she is the first woman to accept Islam. Whoever initiates a good practice will receive its reward coupled with the reward of all those who practice upon it. The one who points out a good action is like one who carries it out, with regards to reward. Whoever calls towards guidance will receive a reward equal to the reward of all those who followed it, without their reward being diminished in the least. Study further details of this issue in Fath al Bari, chapter on the virtues of Khadijah; al Tahtawi: Nihayat al Ijaz fi Sirat Sakin al Hijaz; and Sharh al Nawawi li Sahih Muslim.]
The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam did not take any other wife during her lifetime. Thus for twenty-five years she remained the only wife of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
The love which the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam had for her was a special gift from Allah, which Allah bestowed upon His Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Thus loving her is a virtue.[Sahih Muslim, Kitab Fada’il al Sahabah, Bab Min Fada’il Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha, Hadith: 5342, in the hadith the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam says, “Verily I have been bestowed with love for her.” Thus having love for Sayyidah Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha is a gift from Allah.]
The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam would talk of her often, praise her, enumerate her virtues, and maintain ties with her family members and friends.
Sayyidah Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha said:
I never became envious of any of the Prophet’s wives as I was envious of Khadijah; on account of how he would constantly talk about her, and I never saw her.[Sahih Muslim, Kitab Fada’il al Sahabah, Bab Min Fada’il Khadijah radiya Llahu ‘anha, Hadith: 5342.]
She was the best of all the women from the ummah of the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
Al Bukhari has reported with his chain of narration from Sayyidina ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu:
I heard the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam saying, “The best of women was Maryam and the best of women was Khadijah.”[Sahih al Bukhari, Kitab Manaqib al Ansar, Bab Tazwij al Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, Hadith: 3815.]
Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala sent greetings to her and gave her the glad tidings of a Palace in Jannat, where she will hear no noise or experience any fatigue.
Al Bukhari and Muslim both narrate with their respective chains of transmission from Sayyidina Abu Hurairah radiya Llahu ‘anhu:
أتى جبريل النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال يا رسول الله هذه خديجة قد أتت معها إناء فيه إدام أو طعام أو شراب فإذا هي أتتك فاقرأ عليها السلام من ربها ومني وبشرها بيت في الجنة من قصب لا صخب فيه ولا نصب.
Jibril ‘alayh al Salam came to the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and said, “O Allah’s Messenger salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam! This is Khadijah coming to you with a dish having meat soup (or some food or drink). When she reaches you, greet her on behalf of her Rabb and on my behalf, and give her the glad tidings of having a Qasab (gold and silver) palace in Paradise wherein there will be neither any noise nor any fatigue (trouble).”[Sahih al Bukhari, Kitab Manaqib al Ansar, Bab Tazwij al Nabi salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, Hadith: 3820.] Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala blessed the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam with children from her, and he was not granted any children from his other wives.
The Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
Allah granted me children from her and He did not grant me children from others beside her.[Tabarani: Mujam al Kabir, no.22, Bab Dhikr Azwaj Rasul Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam wa minhun Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, vol. 23 p.13.]