OVERVIEW
Her acceptance of Islam
Her support of the Prophet ﷺ and her we commitment to Islam.
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- Khadeejah fully supported her husband in whatever he did because she trusted him. Khadeejah knew that Muhammad ﷺ was a special person with a great mission.
- The marriage between Khadeejah and Muhammad ﷺ proved to be very successful. In fact it was an exemplary one. Muhammad and Khadijah loved and cared for each other dearly. They lived in happiness and harmony and had great respect for and trust in one another.
- Muhammad ﷺ was still uncomfortable about his surroundings in Makkah and the activities of the Makkans. He felt that there was something missing in his life. He became restless and agitated towards the lifestyle of the people of Makkah. As a result he isolated himself for long periods from the people of Makkah. He would quietly retire to the cave of Hiraa to dedicate himself fully to prayer and meditation. Khadeejah fully backed him in this.
- She even encouraged him to go out in search of the truth. She was understanding and sup- portive to the extent that she would send her servant to the cave, located in the outskirts of Makkah, with food for her husband.
- Just before the first revelation took place Muhammad ﷺ increased his time in the cave and intensified his meditation. Muhammad ﷺ was 40 years old, already married for 15 years to Khadeejah, when he received the first revelation, in the cave of Hiraa.
- Muhammad ﷺ was surprised and astounded at what he had experienced. He grappled to understand what was happening to him. In a state of shock and awe, perspiring with a fever, trembling from the bewildering experience, he rushed home to Khadeejah as fast as he could. The home was not close and the journey down the mountain was difficult but he quickly returned to his Khadeejah who alleviated his apprehension.
فقال: زَمُلُونِي زَمُلُونِي فَزَمُلُوهُ حتى ذَهَبَ عنه الرَّوْعُ ، فقال : ياخديجة مالي وأخبرها الْخَبَرَ، وَقَالَ: لقد خَشِيتُ على نفسي. فقالت له: كلا أبشر فوالله لا يُخزيك الله أبدًا ، إِنَّكَ لَتَصل الرحم ، وتصدق الحديث وتحمل الكل ، وتقري الضيف ، وتُعين على نوائب الحق (البخاري)
He hurried to his bed saying, “Cover me, cover me!” Khadeejah sat beside him and asked him to explain what had happened. After sharing his experience, she consoled him telling him not to fear for Allah would never disgrace him. She told him to take it as a glad tiding from Alah. She said, “… have glad tidings, for by Allah, Allah will never disgrace you as you keep good relations with your kith and kin, you speak the truth, you help the poor and the destitute, you serve your guest generously and you assist the deserving. calamity-afflicted ones.” (al-Bukhaan)
- On a previous occasion, Khadeejah’s cousin Waraqah ibn Nawfal had informed her of the great possibility that Muhammad ﷺ was a prophet of Allah. Waraqah was a learned Christian scholar, who had profound knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. Therefore, after the experience in the cave she immediately took Muhammad ﷺ to Waraqah.
فَأَخْبَرَهُ رسول الله ﷺ خَبَرَ ما رَأَى، فقال له وَرَقَةً، هذا النَّامُوسُ الذي نَزَّلَ الله على مُوسَى، يَا لَيْتَنِي فِيهَا جَدَعِ، لَيْتَنِي أكُونَ حَيًّا إِذْ يُخْرِجُكَ قَوْمُكَ، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أو مخرجي هم، قال: نعم لم يَأْتِ رَجُلٌ فَطْل بمثل ما جلْتَ بِهِ إِلا عُودِي، وَإِنْ يُدْرِكْنِي يَوْمُكَ أَنْصُرُكَ نَصْرًا مُؤَزَرًا …(البخاري)
Muhammad ﷺ explained in detail what he had seen. Waraqah responded by affirming the Prophethood of Muhammad and said, “This is the same Namus (i.e., Gabriel) whom Allah ﷻ had sent to Moses. I wish I were young and could live up to the time when your people would turn you out.” Allah’s Messenger ﷺ asked, “Will they turn me out?” Waraqah replied in the affirmative and further said: “… If I should remain alive till the day when you will be turned out then I would support you strongly.” (al-Bukhaari)
- After the meeting with Waraqah, Khadeejah’s heart was filled with joy. Only the day before she was the wife of the honest, good mannered man from Quraysh, and now she was the wife of a prophet. This was a great honor for her, something that any woman would die for. Khadeejah, however, also realized that their lives would never be the same again. They both had to be strong.
- Allah ﷻ had especially chosen her to be the support behind His future messenger. She made her declaration of faith and thus committed herself to the message and effort of the Prophet Muhmmad. Khadeejah was thus the first person to embrace Islam.
- The Prophet’s ﷺ words to ‘Aa’ishah one day, in awe of Khadeejah, were,
وقال عنها رسول الله للسيدة عائشة والله ما أبدلني خيرا منها: آمنت بي حين كفر الناس، وصدقتني إذ كذبني الناس، وواستني بمالها إذ حرمني الناس ورزقني منها الولد دون غيرها من النساء (ابن عبدالبر) .
“I have not yet found a better wife than her. She had faith in me when everyone, even members of my own family and tribe did not believe me, and accepted that I was truly a Prophet and a Messenger of Allah. She converted to Islam, spent all her wealth and worldly goods to help me spread this faith, and this too at a time when the entire world seemed to have turned against me and persecuted me. And it is through her that Allah blessed me with children.” (Ibn Abdul-Barr)
- Khadeejah did not doubt her husband for a moment. She spent enough time with him to know what type of person he truly was. She was mature and wise enough to distinguish truth from falsehood. In this way she supported the Prophet ﷺ through difficulty and ease, spending all she had for the cause of Islam. In fact she gave up a life of luxury and an abundance of wealth for the sake of Islam. Her example and sacrifice is recorded as an example for men and women, old and young.
Learning from the lesson
- Khadeejah was fully supportive of her husband in all his endeavors.
- Khadeejah was the first woman to accept Islam.
- Khadeejah supported the Prophet ﷺ and made many sacrifices for the sake of Islam.
- She stood by the Prophet through all conditions.
- Allah ﷻ has granted her a great position because of her sincere dedication and committement.
