The Relationship between Khadeejah & the Prophet ﷺ In praise of Khadeejah The Death of Khadeejah
Ulama Institute #1
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- Khadeejah shared a very special bond with the Prophet ﷺ . The Prophet ﷺ was very fond of her and loved her dearly. He especially expressed his fondness and love for her after her death. He was in the habit of mentioning her name frequently with love and respect, to the extent that ‘Aa’ishah, got very resentful. “Aa’ishah once said to the Prophet ﷺ .
هل كانت إلا عجوزا قد أبدلك الله خيرًا منها، فغضب ثم قال: لا والله ما أبدلتي الله خيرا منها، آمنت إذ كفر الناس وصدقتني إذ كذبني الناس، وواستني بمالها إذ حرمني الناس، ورزقني منها الله الولد دون غيرها.
“She was but an old women, and in whose place Allah ﷻ has given you someone better than her?” The Prophet ﷺ becom anjry he replied, “No, by Allah ﷻ , Allah ﷻ has not given me a better one in her place. She believed me when people belied me. She consoled me with her money when people deprived me, and from her alone I had children.”
- On another occasion, the Prophet ﷺ said,
حَسَيْكَ مِنْ نِسَاءِ الْعَالَمِينَ مَرْيَمُ ابْتَهُ عِمْرَانَ وَخَدِيجَةُ ابْنَةً خَوَيْلِهِ وَفَاطِمَةً بِنْتُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآسِيَةً…(الترمذي)”
Among the women of the universe, Maryam, daughter of Imraan (mother of ‘Isaa), Khadeejah, daughter of Khuwaylid, Faatimah, daughter of Muhammad ﷺ , and Aasiyah, the wife of Pharaoh are enough for you.” (al-Tirmidhi)
- It is recorded in the books of hadeeth that on one occasion, Jibreel came to Allah’s Messenger ﷺ and said:
أتى جبريل إلى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال : يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، هَذه خديجة قد أنتِكَ وَمَعَهَا إِنَاهُ فِيهِ إِدَامُ ، أَوْ طَعَامَ أَوْ شَرَابٌ ، فَإِذَا هِي أنتَكَ فَاقِرًا عَلَيْهَا السَّلَامَ مِنْ رَبِّهَا عَزَّوَجَلَّ، وَبَشِّرُهَا بِبَيْتِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ مِنْ قَصَبٍ ، لَا صَحَبُ فِيهِ وَلَا نَصَبٌ (البخاري)
“Oh Allah’s Messenger, Khadeejah is coming to you with a vessel of seasoned food or drink. When she comes to you, offer her greetings from her Lord, and give her glad tidings of a palace of jewels in Paradise where there is no noise and no toil.” (al-Bukhaari)
- Khadeejah died a few months after the boycott of the Muslims. The Believers were forced to spend three years in a valley called the Shi’b (valley) of Abee Taalib, outside of Makkah, under the most harsh and heartbreaking circumstances. Their food supplies were cut off and they had to go without proper food for months. Nobody was allowed to enegage in business with them, nor was anybody allowed to offer any type of assiatnace or even communicate with them. Occasionally the Believers even ate the leaves of trees and skins of animals.
- Khadeejah and Aboo Taalib were especially affected by these difficult circumstances. Both of them passed away soon after the end of the boycott. First Aboo Taalib died and then about two to three months later, Khadeejah passed away in the month of Ramadan.
- Khadeejah passed away just three years before the Hijrah (migration) of the Prophet ﷺ She died at the age of about sixty five. For twenty five years she shared with the Prophet ﷺ the toils and trials of life, especially in the first ten years of Prophethood. When the Prophet ﷺ saw her in her throes of death he consoled her saying that Allah had so ordained it. Her eyes lit up as she looked at her beloved husband and then her soul left its earthly body. The Prophet ﷺ personally laid her down into her grave.
- This was a heavy blow to the Prophet ﷺ . In fact the year in which Khadeejah and Aboo Taalib died was referred to as ‘aam ul-huzn – the year of grief. At this time he was affected both in his public and private life. As the leader of the Muslims he had to witness the torture and oppression of his people. In his private life he had to deal with the loss of two of his key supporters, Khadeejah and Aboo Taalib.
- The Prophet ﷺ mourned the death of his loving wife Khadeejah who supported him in the most trying times and assisted him in fulfilling his mission. It was only natural that he was touched by her absence, as she had been a loving mother to her children; she had been a loyal and sympathetic wife who shared his inner secrets, and was there for him during his most difficult times.
- Khadeejah played a very important and meaningful role in the life of the Prophet and Islam. She was guaranteed Paradise because of her sacrifices for the sake of Islam. In many ways no woman in Islam hasmatched the character and personalityofKhadeejah. Forherstrengthand courage she was rightly awarded the title, Khadeejat al-Kubraa-Khadeejah the Great one.
Learning from the lesson
- Khadeejah attained a very noble position because of her dedication to the Prophet ﷺ and Islam.
- Because of Khadeejah’s commitment and strength in character Allah and the Prophet ﷺ praised her.
- She died a death of ease and accepted the Will of Allah.
