Khadija: 'Al-Tahira'
Khadija al-Kubra daughter of Khuwaylid ibn Asad ibn Abdul-`Uzza ibn Qusayy was from the Banu Hashim clan of the tribe of Banu Asad. Khadija stands out in Islamic history not only for her loving support for her husband, but because her very existence continues to defy popular perceptions of women’s roles in Islam. She was not a woman who was oppressed, submissive, or subjugated. On the contrary, in her day she was a successful businesswoman, who achieved her wealth by hiring agents whom she entrusted to travel with her caravan and trade on her behalf. In fact, Khadija's caravan equaled the caravans of all other traders of the people of Quraysh combined.
Khadija was a kind-hearted, giving woman known to frequently assist the poor and needy, assist relatives financially, and those who could not afford marriage. It was in 595 A.D. that Khadija began enquiring about employing an agent to travel to Syria for trade. A relative, Abu Talib, recommended that she employ her distant relative Muhammad ibn Abdullah (pbuh). At that time, Muhammad (pbuh) was known throughout as 'Al-Amin', the trustworthy. Khadija met Muhammad (pbuh) when she was a widow and it was through their work arrangement that Khadija came to know Muhammad (pbuh) and became so impressed by his honesty and sincerity that she offered her hand in marriage. Khadija was 40 years old and Muhammad (pbuh) was 25.
In 610 A.D., at the age of 40, Muhammad (pbuh) received his first revelation from the Angel Gabriel in a cave at Mt. Hira and was given instructions on his prophethood. His wife Khadija was to become the first woman to convert to Islam. Khadija was the love of Prophet Muhammad’s life and his strongest supporter and confidante. She gave him 6 children: Al-Qaasim, 'Abdullah, Zaynab, Ruqayyah, Um Kulthoom, and Fatimah. After 24 years of marriage, Khadija died from a high fever during the month of Ramadan at the age of sixty-five.
Long after her death, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) used to speak lovingly of her and said of her, “She believed in me when all others disbelieved; she held me truthful when others called me a liar; she sheltered me when others abandoned me; she comforted me when others shunned me; and Allah granted me children by her while depriving me of children by other women."
Khadija was a pillar of strength for her husband and the early Muslim community. Her love and devotion to the Prophet and strong faith and belief in God set her apart from all others in the annals of Islamic history. Khadija was an exceptional woman and as the first person to accept Islam, she was to be the most perfect Muslim role model for future generations of Muslim men and women. For Muslim women -- the proud descendents of Khadija -- she is an inspiration. She is an exemplary symbol of the Muslim woman and her status under Islam. Although many great Muslim women have walked in her footsteps, Khadija: 'Al-Tahira', will remain the most highly regarded woman throughout the Islamic world.
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