Early Life of Khadija-tul-Kubra (AS)

Khadija in was born in Mecca.  She was the daughter of Khuwayled bin Asad bin Abdul Uzzabin Qusayy.  Khadija’s (AS) fathers and forefathers made her a collateral member of Bani Hashim.  Her honorable family was notably known for its nobility in all of Arabia.  Virtue and character distinguished Khadija (AS) and her family from the rest of the people of the time.  Khadija’s (AS) father, Khuwayled, like many during his time, was a merchant, and so made a living through foreign trade.  His caravans carried the produce of the desert and the goods manufactured in Mecca, and sold them in the markets in Syria and Yemen.  Not only did Khadija’s (AS) father buy and sell goods, he also pedigreed horses in Syria. Khadija’s (AS) mother died sometime around A.D. 575.  Her father died ten years later in A.D.585. 

Upon Khuwayled’s death, his children inherited his fortune and divided it up amongst themselves.  Wealth has its own perils.  Unfortunately, it can tempt one to live a life of idleness and luxury.  However, Khadija’s (AS) subconscious understood the ambivalent character of wealth, and so she made up her mind as to not let it make her an idler.  Allah bestowed Khadija (AS) with extraordinary intelligence and character, that she overcame the challenge of prosperity, and decided to build an empire upon her inheritance.  Khadija (AS) had many siblings, but she inherited Khuwayled’s ability to make a fortune.  After Khadija (AS) took charge of the family business, it was evident that even if she had not inheritedherfather’s fortune, she still would have made one for herself.
 

 After the death of Khuwayled, Khadija (AS) took charge of the family business, and as a result, it rapidly expanded.  With the profits she made, Khadija (AS) helped the poor, the widows, the orphans, the sick and the disabled.  If there were any poor girls, Khadija (AS) married them off, and gave them dowry. Although some family members acted as Khadija’s (AS) advisors on business matters, she trusted her own judgment, yet she still welcomed their advice and considered it.  Most merchants who had cargo to sell in Syria or Yemen, such as Khadija (AS), didn’t have any interest in traveling with their caravans.  So someone called an agent, was sent in the merchants place.  The man chosen for the job was usually well known for his responsible business sense.  Khadija (AS) hired an agent whenever her caravan was equipped and ready to away.  She gave him the responsibility of carrying and selling her merchandise in the foreign markets.  By wisely selecting smart agents, and selling and buying at the right time and the right place, Khadija (AS) made fantastic profits, which made her the richest merchant in Mecca.  Whenever caravans of the Meccan merchants set out on their journey, the cargo of Khadija (AS) alone was equal to the cargo of all the other merchants of the Quraysh put together.  The citizens of Mecca referred to Khadija (AS) as the Princess of Quraysh because she demonstrated the proverbial "golden touch," which implied that whatever she touched practically turned into gold.
 

During Khadija’s (AS) time, people worshipped many fetishes idols, who were believed to have the power to bring good fortune to them.  Their idolatry was crude and primitive, and their habits, customs and characteristics were repulsive.  Drunkenness and gambling were major flaws of the idol worshippers.  However, not everyone at that time worshipped idols.  Those who didn’t were called Hanifs.  Khadija  (AS) and some of the members of her clan were considered Hanifs.  Khadija (AS) followed the path of the prophets Ibrahim (AS) and Ismael (AS), and therefore was a Muwahhid (monotheist).  She did not associate any partner(s) with the Creator.  Khadija (AS) felt nothing but contempt for the idols and the idolaters.  They not only believed in polytheism, but they were also ruthless drinkers who had a hideous custom of killing female infants alive.  So during Khadija’s (AS) time, it was very rare to find a woman that was well respected by people.  However, the Arabs had an insurmountable amount of respect for Khadija (AS).  They called her the Princess of Mecca because of her abundant wealth.  From her home, Khadija (AS) controlled an ever-growing business which spread into the neighboring countries.  She succeeded in something that would have been remarkable and practically impossible for anyone else to achieve.  But her achievement is doubly remarkable because Khadija (AS) lived in an anti-woman Arab society.  Even though Khadija (AS) lived in a society that criticized and put her gender down, her intelligence, will to strive, and extraordinary character allowed her to overcome all of the female discrimination.  Not only was Khadija (AS) named the Princess of Mecca, but she was also called  "al-Tahira" (the pure one).  The same Arabs that were proud of their male chauvinism gave Khadija the title of "al-Tahira."  Khadija’s (AS) conduct was so consistently exemplary that it won recognition even from the idolaters themselves.  It was the first time in the history of Arabia that a woman was called the Princess of Mecca and "al-Tahira."
 

 It was inevitable that Khadija (AS) would attract Arab nobles and princes.  Many of them sent proposals of marriage to her.  But Khadija (AS) did not consider any of them.  She wasn’t interested in men strictly dominated an anti-woman society.  Khadija’s (AS) repetitive marriage refusals of high and mighty Arabs gave rise to the question as to what kind of man she would like to marry.  It was a question that Khadija (AS) herself couldn’t answer.  But her destiny knew her answer. One day, she would ultimately marry a man who was not only the best in all Arabia but was also the very best of all of Allah’s creations.  It was her destinywhich prompted her to turn down offers of marriage sent by wealthy men of high status.

Muhammad Mustafa (S) walks into Khadija-tul-Kubra’s (AS) life

Mecca was dominated by the Quraysh tribe, which was composed of twelve clans, one of which was the Bani Hashim  clan.  Each clan had its own leader.  Abu Talib ibn Abdul Muttalib ibn Hashim ibn Abd Manaf ibn Qusayy was the leader of the Bani Hashim clan.  Abu Talib had a younger brother named Abdallah.  Abdallah was married to Amina bint Wahab.  While traveling on a journey from Syria, Abdallah became ill and died  at the age of seventeen.  Before he went on his journey, his wife, Amina, was pregnant and living in the home of her brother-in-law, Abu Talib.  Two months after her husband’s death, Amina had a new born baby boy.  The infants grandfather, Abdul Muttalib, gave him the pious name Muhammad (Sallallah-yalehee-wa-a’llahee wa-salam).

Muhammad (S) was six years old when his mother passed away from an illness that incapacitated her.  After she died, Muhammad’s (S) grandfather, Abdul Muttalib, took him to his home.  But two years later Abdul Muttalib also died.  Upon Abdul Muttalib’s  death, Abu Talib, one of his ten sons, became the new chief of the Bani Hashim clan and the legal guardian of Muhammad (S).  Abu Talib brought Muhammad (S) into his home.  Abu Talib and his wife showered Muhammad (S) with their love. When Muhammad (S) was born in their home, it had brought with it many blessings.  When Muhammad (S) was a child, he, unlike other children of his age, didn’t show any interest in the toys and games they liked to play.  As he reached boyhood, he didn’t show any interest in games and sports.  Muhammad (S) didn’t even want to be in the company of other boys of his own age.  As young as he was, he preferred solitude to company.  He preferred to be alone so he contemplate the beautiful wonders of his Creator.
 

Like Khadija (AS), Abu Talib also sent his merchandise to Syria and Yemen every year.  Sometimes he went in person with the caravans, and at other times, he sent an agent on his behalf.  In the spring of A.D. 595, the merchants of Mecca assembled their summer caravan to carry their merchandise to Syria.  Khadija (AS) also had her merchandise ready but she had no agent to go on her behalf.  A few names were mentioned to her but she did not consider them acceptable.  Abu Talib got word that Khadija (AS) was in need of an agent.  It occurred to Abu Talib that his nephew, Muhammad (S), who, at the time, was 25 years old, would qualify for the job.  He was anxious to find employment for him.  Abu Talib knew that his nephew had no experience as an agent, but he also knew that Muhammad’s (S) exceptional talents would more than just make up for responsibilities of an agent.  Therefore, in agreement with Muhammad (S), Abu Talib talked  to Khadija (AS) about Muhammad (S) being her new agent.
 

Like most of the other citizens of Mecca, Khadija (AS) had also heard about Muhammad (S).  One thing she knew that she could not question was his integrity.  Khadija (AS) sensed that she could trust Muhammad (S) completely.  She therefore agreed to appoint Muhammad (S) as her agent, without even considering the fact that he wasn’t the least bit experienced for the job.  As Muhammad (S) signed the contract of agreement, Khadija (AS) informed him of his duties in the trade.  Without an ounce of confusion, Muhammad (S) completely understood the trading procedures.  Due to his amazing intelligence, Muhammad (S) comprehended everything the first time around.  Khadija (AS) was completely blown away by Muhammad’s (S) character, personality, and intelligence that she paid him double of what she normally paid her other agents.
 

 Along with Muhammad (S), Khadija (AS) sent her slave, Maysara, an experienced traveler.  After a month of traveling in the heat, Muhammad (S) and the caravan reached their destination.  Even though it was his first traveling venture, Muhammad (S) sold all of Khadija’s (AS) cargo and bought her new fascinating cargo from Syria to sell back in Mecca.  Once Muhammad (S) finished Khadija’s (AS) selling and purchasing transactions, and bought presents for friends and family members back home, the caravan headed back to Mecca.  Upon entering Mecca, Muhammad (S) first visited the Kaaba and made the customary seven circuits.  Afterwards, he went to Khadija (AS) and gave her a detailed account of his journey and the business transactions that took place.  Although Muhammad (S) told Khadija (AS) only about the business venture, Maysara had another story to tell Khadija (AS).  He was fascinated by Muhammad’s (S) capacity to perform the functions of a regular agent, if not a hundred times better.  Anyone who meets Muhammad (S) is blown away because of his character and humbleness.  Maysara was awe-struck.  With his lack of experience in the trade, Muhammad (S) surprised Maysara with his knowledge and professionalism in the transactions.  Maysara told Khadija (AS) of Muhammad’s (S) insight as a negotiator and his astuteness as a salesman.  In business transactions, Muhammad (S) not only protected the interests of Khadija (AS), but those of the customers also.  Even though Muhammad (S) looked out for the customers, he still brought Khadija (AS) outstanding profits.  As a matter of fact, he brought Khadija (AS) more profits than she had ever made in the past.  Maysara was also overwhelmed by Muhammad’s (S) character and personality.  At all times, Muhammad (S) was friendly, courteous, and pious.  Maysara told Khadija (AS) that Muhammad’s (S) foresight was reliable, his judgment was infallible, and his perception was precise.  Khadija (AS) was deeply moved by what Maysara had to say about Muhammad (S).  She was fascinated by the outstanding  comments Maysara had to say about her wonderful agent.  Khadija (AS) asked Maysara many questions about Muhammad (S).  On the following day, Khadija (AS) told her cousin, Waraqa bin Naufal, about Muhammad’s (S) remarkable qualities.
 

 Muhammad’s (S) charm and charisma had a big impact on Khadija (AS), as it did with many people.  Just like Maysara, Khadija (AS) also grew to admire Muhammad (S) and his worthy qualities.  As Khadija (AS) learned more and more about Muhammad (S), she saw him as a gentle, modest, quiet, and a humble young man.  In assessing Muhammad (S), Khadija (AS) realized that he was not a unrealistic dreamer, but instead a practical man of affairs.  Muhammad’s  (S) astounding qualities prompted Khadija (AS) to make Muhammad (S) the manager of all of her business affairs for future expeditions.

The Marriage of Muhammad Mustafa (S) and Khadija (AS)

 Nafisa, a close and personal friend of Khadija (AS), had been aware of all of the marriage proposals that Khadija (AS) had turned down.  Nafisa knew that Khadija (AS) was not influenced by a man’s wealth and status.  Instead, she admired only a man of moral and ethical principles.  Nafisa knew that Muhammad (S) was the only man in Mecca who possessed those pious qualities.  Upon returning home one day from the Kaaba, Muhammad (S) was stopped by Nafisa.  She asked him why he was still single.  Muhammad (S) replied because of his financial status.  He felt that he was not wealthy enough for marriage.  However, Nafisa asked Muhammad (S) if he would marry a woman of beauty, wealth, status, and great honor, regardless of his financial status.  Muhammad (S) asked Nafisa  who could be such a woman.  Nafisa told him Khadija (AS).  Muhammad (S) was surprised.  He asked Nafisa why would Khadija (AS) want  to marry him when she has turned down so many marriage proposals from powerful and rich men.   Nafisa told Muhammad (S) not to worry about Khadija’s (AS) decision in the matter if he is willing to marry Khadija (AS).  Muhammad (S) wanted to inform and consult with his uncle, Abu Talib, about Nafisa’s marriage proposal on behalf of Khadija (AS) before he gives Nafisa an answer.  Abu Talib knew Khadija (AS) just as well as he knew his nephew.  He was very pleased with Khadija (AS).   So he gave Muhammad (S) his blessings for the marriage.  Afterwards, Muhammad (S) told Nafisa that he would agree to marry Khadija (AS).  He gave Nafisa permission to talk to Khadija (AS) about the marriage on his behalf.
 

 Abu Talib sent his sister, Safiya, to talk to Khadija (AS) about the marriage.  Khadija (AS) was expecting Safiya, a visitor from the house of her future in-laws, because Nafisa had informed Khadija (AS) about the conversation she had with Muhammad (S) and his agreement to marry her.  When Safiya arrived, Khadija (AS) generously welcomed her into her home.  Khadija (AS) told Safiya that she chose Muhammad (S) to be her life long partner without an ounce of hesitation or uncertainty.  Safiya was very pleased with Khadija (AS) and extremely happy for the marriage agreement between Muhammad (S) and Khadija (AS).  Khadija (AS) generously gave Safiya an exquisite robe before she left.  When Safiya returned blissfully happy from her visit with Khadija (AS), Abu Talib decided to comply with the traditional customs of marriage.  Abu Talib, along with his brothers, Abbas and Hamza, visited Khadija (AS) to discuss the marriage proposal between her and Muhammad (S).  Khadija (AS) undoubtedly accepted the marriage proposal that Abu Talib set forth on behalf of Muhammad (S).  She also accepted the wonderful gifts that Abu Talib showered her with.  Khadija (AS) and Muhammad’s (S) three uncles set a wedding date.
 

 Abu Talib wanted to take care of all of the preparations for the marriage of his beloved nephew, Muhammad (S).  For the joyous occasion, he brought out all of  the family heirlooms and the sacred relics, which included the late Abdul Muttalib’s cloak and staff.  Muhammad (S) wore the cloak and honorably held the staff in his hand.  Abu Talib put the Bani Hashim black turban on Muhammad’s (S) head, and he placed a ring of green agate on his finger, which belonged to Muhammad’s (S) great-grandfather.  Khadija (AS) was the most radiant bride.  She wore a beautiful crown glazed with gold and pearls.  Her dress, in astute shades of emerald and crimson, was sprinkled with gold, and was set with pearls and diamonds.  Not only did Khadija’s (AS) wedding dress show her beauty, but her virtue and piouty illuminated from her face, making her the loveliest bride ever to be.

 Khadija (AS) ordered special outfits for all of her household workers.  The men handsomely wore sparkled turbans and scarlet tunics, with black sashes around their waist.  The women wore decor-blending costumes which trickled with gold and glitter.  They also wore crowns construed with ropes of pearls and rivers of crystals. Khadija’s (AS) house was illuminated by hundreds of lamps.  Chandeliers hung on golden chains from the ceiling.  The hangings of silk and embroidery, in many delicate tints, draped the walls.  A white velvet carpet covered the floor.  The wedding chamber was finished with a beautiful aroma that rose from a silver sparkling goblet  that was drenched with diamonds, blue sapphires, and rubies. The chief stewards of Khadija’s (AS) house formed into a wedding committee for the wedding reception.  As guests arrived in the evening, Khadija’s (AS) wedding committee guided them into the wedding chamber.  The guests comfortably sat on rugs and cushions anxiously awaiting the matrimonial bond between two righteous and pious exquisite people.  Once all of the guests, and the groom and his family arrived, Abu Talib rose to read the wedding sermon:

"All glory and all praise to Allah, the Creator of Heavens and earth, and all thanks to Him for all His blessings, bounties and mercy.  He sent us into this world in the posterity of Ibrahim and Ismael.  He put us in charge of the Mosque and made us guardians of His House, the Kaaba, which is a sanctuary for all His creatures." "My nephew, Muhammad ibn Abdallah ibn Abdul Muttalib, is the best individual in all mankind in his intelligence, in wisdom, in purity of lineage, in purity of his personal life, and in distinction of family.  He has all the markings of a man destined to be great.  He is marrying Khadija, the daughter of Khuwayled, against a meher of four hundred pieces of gold.  I declare Muhammad and Khadija husband and wife.  May Allah bless them both, and may He be their Protector." After Abu Talib concluded his sermon, Waraqa bin Naufal rose to read the marriage sermon on behalf of Khadija (AS): "All praise and glory to Allah.  We testify and we affirm that the Bani Hashim are just as you have claimed.  No one can deny their excellence.  Because of their excellence, we cherish the marriage of Khadija and Muhammad.  Their marriage unites our two houses, and their union is a source of great happiness to us.  O lords of Quraysh, I want you to be witnesses that I give Khadija in marriage to Muhammad ibn Abdallah against a meher of four hundred pieces of gold.  May Allah make their marriage a happy one.

Khadija’s (AS) aged uncle, Amr bin Asad, also spoke on her behalf.  He affirmed in his own words, what Waraqa had said.  Amr bin Asad, Khadija’s (AS) guardian, gave her away to Muhammad (S). After relatives spoke on behalf of the newly married couple, Muhammad (S) and Khadija (AS), the guests began congratulating Muhammad (S) for his splendid marriage. They also congratulated Abu Talib because Muhammad was like a son to him, if not even more.  Once the congrats finished, the wedding feast  began.  The extraordinary wedding banquet was one that was never ever seen before in all of Mecca.  The guests feasted on delicious food that illuminated the mouth.  After the feast, Muhammad (S) and Khadija (AS) honorably gave each guest a robe, which was one of the Arabian marital customs.  Khadija (AS) was ready to depart the wedding reception to go with her husband and his family to Abu Talib’s home.  An audacious she-camel, carrying a white gazebo on her back, was waiting at the gate of Khadija’s (AS) house.  All of the guests assembled in the lobby to watch Khadija (AS) being escorted to the gate.  Khadija’s (AS) maids helped her climb onto the bridal gazebo.  One of Khadija’s (AS) maids rode along with her in the gazebo.  Muhammad (S) and his family also mounted their horses to head back to Abu Talib’s home.  Muhammad’s (S) and Khadija’s (AS) beautifully torch-lit wedding procession was as lovely as the joining of their two humble souls.  Once the procession arrived, Abu Talib’s wife and sisters helped Khadija (AS) descend from the she-camel.  The two most virtuous servants of Allah strolled into the house, which marked the beginning of a harmonious marriage.  The marriage of Muhammad (S) and Khadija (AS) was the first and the last of its kind in the world.  It was and always will be the only marriage in the entire world that was abounded with heavenly blessings from the Creator. Muhammad (S) and Khadija’s (AS) Life Together   Khadija (AS) brought so much dowry into Muhammad’s (S) house once they were married.  No woman in all of Arabia has ever done that.  Khadija’s (AS) dowry included slaves, real estate property, pasture lands, herds of camels and horses, flocks of goats and sheep, her personal wardrobe, priceless heirlooms, precious metals and stones, and masses of gold and silver coins.  Khadija (AS) wanted everything that belonged to her to also belong to her precious and beloved husband.  Khadija’s (AS) dowry, as big as it was, was not a gift from her uncles or siblings.  It was all a product from her own hard work.  She produced it by her own mentality, intelligence, industry, prudence, and foresight.  Although Khadija (AS) had a lot to bring with her, she had other riches to also offer Muhammad (S).  Khadija (AS) gave Muhammad (S) the richness of her heart and mind.  Muhammad (S) and Khadija (AS) enriched each others lives with their humble hearts, massive minds, and sensational souls.  Before Khadija (AS) got married, she had so much focus and responsibility in the mercantile business.  She was always occupied in business ventures.  However, that all changed once she got married to Muhammad (S).  The marriage changed Khadija’s (AS) character of her dedication and commitment.  She lost interest in the mercantile ventures that used to be her main focus.  Muhammad (S) was Khadija’s (AS) greatest treasure.  When Muhammad (S) walked into Khadija’s (AS) life, not gold, silver or diamonds could amount to her greatest treasure of all…Muhammad (S).  He was her main object of affection, attention, and devotion.  Muhammad (S) was Khadija’s (AS) grandest jewel.  Khadija (AS) never lost her unique intelligence for the business ventures.  But instead of applying her genius and eloquence to her business, she applied it to her husband.  Khadija (AS) reorganized her life and goals around Muhammad (S).  She did that by phasing out the commercial operations.  She couldn’t abruptly put an end to something that her father founded.  Instead, Khadija (AS) stopped trying to expand her business ventures, as she did before she got married.  She continued in the ventures until she sold all of her merchandise and recovered all of her investments, but she didn’t buy more merchandise to expand her business.   While Khadija (AS) was phasing out the export and import business, Muhammad (S) continued to be her manager.  And as before, he continued to bring her superb profits.    From the first day of her marriage, Khadija’s (AS) primary focus was to make her husband’s life happy and pleasant.  Khadija (AS) and Muhammad (S) had the purest kind of happiness.  They had total and complete devotion to their Lord, and with that came a blessed marriage.  Khadija (AS) and Muhammad (S) were not only blessed in finding each other, but also in the children they brought into the world.  Their first born child was a boy, Qasim.  Muhammad (S) was called Abul-Qasim as a result.  Unfortunately, Qasim died shortly after he was born.  Their second son, Abdallah, also unfortunately died after birth.  Although Muhammad (S) and Khadija (AS) lost two children after birth, they were finally blessed with one last child, Fatimat-al-Zahra (AS), whom of which was the only child that survived.  Allah endowed many gifts upon Muhammad (S) and Khadija (AS), but none of them were as grand as the gift of Fatimah (AS).  She was their pride and joy.  They showered Fatimah (AS) with all of their love as she filled their home with hope, virtue, and bliss.    Muhammad’s (S) and Khadija’s (AS) lives were also enriched with another child, Ali-ibn-Abu-Talib (AS).  Ali (AS) was the youngest son of Muhammad’s (S) uncle and guardian, Abu Talib.  He came into their home at the age of five.  Ali (AS), like Fatimah (AS), brought joy and happiness into Muhammad’s (S) and Khadija’s (AS) lives.  They brought him up as if he were biologically one of their own.  Ali (AS) was surrounded by and grew up with the beliefs and morals that Muhammad (S) and Khadija (AS) carried in their hearts and souls. The Proclamation of Islam    During Muhammad’s (S) and Khadija’s (AS) time, idolatry, greed, drunkenness, ignorance, and adultery, among other sinful acts, inhabited practically everyone’s soul.  There was constant chaos and havoc between rival clans.  Yet the clans were of the same sinful and corrupt people.  Muhammad (S), Khadija (AS), Fatimah (AS), Ali (AS), and other Bani Hashimites, followed the path of Ibrahim (AS) and Ismael (AS).  Although Khadija (AS) and her family followed the monotheistic paths of the Prophets (AS), other people strayed away from the Muwahhid practice.    Muhammad (S) and Khadija (AS) were admired by many for their Muwahhid beliefs.  Yet the people who admired them wanted to put an end to them because Muhammad (S) and Khadija (AS) proclaimed a path that could put an end to the corruptness that showered Arabia.  To get away from all of the extraneous havoc, Muhammad (S) left Mecca and went to the hills and spent a lot of time in a cave called Hira.  Sometimes he went alone and other times Khadija (AS) and Ali (AS) joined him.  They would spend the day in Hira from dawn til dusk.  As Muhammad (S) spent long summer days in Hira, he reflected on his life and his Creator.  He reflected upon things that were extraordinary to him but unnoticeable to others.  Muhammad (S) sought answers to questions about human existence and the universe, which were considered mysterious to ordinary people.  While in Hira, Muhammad also glanced on the state of the Arabs.  He thought about how foolish the Arabs were.  He reflected on the emptiness and meaningless lives the Arabs led as they drove themselves to corruption from sin.  Not only did Muhammad (S) reflect on life, but he also spent many days and nights in worship and meditation.    One evening, while Muhammad (S) was in Hira, at the age of forty, Angel Gabriel (AS) appeared before him.  Muhammad (S), being the self-composed person that he was, was not overcome with fear or panic.  Instead he welcomed Angel Gabriel (AS) with open arms as if he were expecting him.  Angel Gabriel (AS) informed Muhammad (S) that Allah had chosen him to be  His Last Messenger to all of mankind, and he also congratulated him for being chosen by the Almighty.  As the Last Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad (S) was bestowed with the duty of distilling mankind from the state of sin, error, and ignorance that it was in.  Prophet Muhammad (S) was commanded by Allah, through Angel Gabriel (AS), to declare the Doctrine of Allah, which was Tauheed (monotheism). He was commanded to spread the word of Allah, which was Islam, to all of mankind.  Prophet Muhammad’s (S) message was intended to put an end to the wretchedness of the people by informing them of the Oneness of Allah.  After Angel Gabriel (AS) informed Prophet Muhammad (S) of his great and honorable duty, he told him to read five verses, which came to be one of the earliest verses of the Holy Quran.  The five verses were revealed to Prophet Muhammad (S) on the Night of Power in Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.  No evil could touch Prophet Muhammad (S).  Being the chosen messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad (S) was under His guardianship.  From the moment that he was declared the last Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (S) was under the jurisdiction of Allah at all times.  After Angel Gabriel (AS) left the Prophet (S) in the cave, he realized that he had a tremendous task before him.  Prophet Muhammad (S), confronted with a massive duty, had to now take on an immense and bold stance against the pagans of the whole world.  The Prophet (S) not only had the responsibility of preaching Allah’s message, Islam, but he also had to teach it and make people comprehend it.  Due to the overwhelming responsibility Prophet Muhammad (S) had, he was in a somber frame of mind when he left Hira to return home.  When the Prophet (S) arrived at his home, he asked Khadija (AS) to cover him with a blanket because of the anxiety that resulted from the monumental duty that laid before him.  As Khadija (AS) sat next to her beloved husband, he recanted the events that took place in the cave.  When Khadija (AS) heard Prophet Muhammad’s (S) story, she comforted and reassured him with her kind words that he is more than just capable of carrying out the task bestowed upon him by Allah.  Khadija (AS) reminded the Prophet (S) of the grand generosity and love that he showers his family, friends, neighbors, and even strangers with.  She also reminded him of the pious obedience and faith that he has in Allah.  When Prophet Muhammad (S) heard Khadija’s (AS) soothing and gentle words, he immediately felt the tension and anxiety within him dissipate.  Khadija (AS) was able to convince the Prophet that with Allah’s Love and Trust, he would rise to the standards set for him, and would therefore, overcome any obstacle that stood in his way.  In hearing what Khadija (AS) had to say, Muhammad realized that his wife was the mechanism through which Allah would reinforce his courage and spirit if it ever weakened.    Angel Gabriel (AS) visited the Prophet (S) once again in the cave.  The Angel (AS) presented Prophet Muhammad (S) with the second Revelation, which was the signal for him to begin his work as the messenger of Allah.  Angel Gabriel (AS) explicitly told the Prophet to destroy the worship of false gods by implanting Allah’s Doctrine, Tauheed, in the minds of the wrongdoers.  The Angel (AS) also told Prophet Muhammad (S) that once he demolishes the idolatry belief, he has to implant the true faith, Islam, in mankind’s mind, body, and soul.  Afterwards, the Angel (AS) and the Prophet (S) left the cave.  Angel Gabriel (AS) taught Prophet Muhammad (S) how to perform withuu (ablutions), purification before performing prayer.  When the Prophet (S) performed withuu, he and the Angel (AS) offered prayers to Allah, with the Angel (AS) leading the prayer.  Thereafter, Angel Gabriel (AS) bid Prophet Muhammad (S) farewell, and then disappeared as he ascended in the sky.  That evening, when Prophet Muhammad (S) returned home, he began his mission by preaching Islam in his own home.  He told Khadija (AS) about Angel Gabriel’s (AS) second visit, and the duty imposed upon him by Allah to invite her to Islam.  After Prophet Muhammad (S) explained to Khadija (AS) the meaning and practice of  Islam, she  immediately embraced and accepted Islam, without any doubt in her mind.  She sternly believed that the Creator was One and that Prophet Muhammad (S) was His messenger.  Khadija (AS) was the first Muslim that the Prophet won, and the first Muslima (female Muslim).   She was the first person to acknowledge and affirm the Doctrine of Tauheed.  The Prophet (S) taught Khadija (AS) how to perform withuu and how to offer prayer to her Creator.  Khadija (AS) performed withuu and then she and her husband offered prayer, with Prophet Muhammad (S) leading it.    The second Muslim that declared Islam as the divine path was Ali (AS), who, at the time, was ten years of age and still under the care of Khadija (AS) and the Prophet (S).  Little by little, the Prophet (S) won more and more converts to Islam.  However, the number of converts was so few, that they couldn’t openly pray in the Kaaba or in a public place, and they couldn’t announce there belief of Tauheed because of the large number of transgressors.  As years went by, Prophet Muhammad (S) won many more Islamic converts.  However, at the same time, the transgressors did all that they could to always make it hard on the Prophet (S) to win converts.  The wrongdoers began torturing and killing followers of Prophet Muhammad (S).  Eventually, the Prophet (S) and Khadija (AS), and all of their followers, fled their homes to find refuge in mountainous areas, which were unsuitable for human life.  The region in which they considered their hideout was not all that viable for living conditions.  In the past, Khadija (AS) and the other Muslims had to put up with mankind’s hostility, but now, they had to bear the hostility of nature.  The environment they had to call their home had no means of life.  The Muslims had to go about their owns means to make it through the ordeal.    Khadija (AS) was born into a noble and rich family.  Although she worked for every cent she had, she was accustomed to a life of luxury.  As a result, Khadija (AS) was an absolute stranger to a life of deprivation and hardship.  But being the virtuous and righteous woman that she was, Khadija (AS) willingly and cheerfully left her spacious home to live with her husband and his followers in a laborious bottomless pit.  Upon entering the desolate shriveled-up land, Khadija (AS) didn’t show any bewilderment or dismay.  She appreciated what Allah had to offer her and her people and adjusted quickly to her surroundings.  Khadija’s (AS) main concern wasn’t how luxurious her living status was.  Instead, she worked on preparing herself for the upcoming ordeals.  She pondered upon how to ease the Prophet’s (S) tensions as much as possible.  Khadija (AS) also tried to make the best use of the resources that Allah made available to her.    One of the major problems for Prophet Muhammad (S) and his followers was the lack of water.  The oppressors laughed aimlessly at the Muslims because they knew that the Muslims had no means of water without money.  However, Khadija (AS) solved that problem.  For three years, Khadija (AS) quenched the dry throats of the Muslim refuges.  She gave Ali (AS), who was about sixteen years old at the time, pieces of gold that she brought with her when she left her home.  Ali (AS) was able to buy water for the thirsty men, women, and children.  Khadija (AS) put the needs of the people before hers.  She made sure that everyone was well taken care of.  Above all, Khadija (AS) always made sure that her beloved Muhammad (S) had the moral support that he needed to make it through the oppressive ordeal.   Khadija (AS) tried to help her people and Prophet Muhammad (S) through worship.  Prayer was Khadija’s (AS) means to get through the terrible tribulation.  She prayed to Allah to invoke His mercy and help upon her people.  Prayer became a regular form of sanctuary for Khadija (AS).  Prayer empowered Khadija (AS) to meet the unavoidable challenges and hard tasks that she encountered during the oppressive assaults led by the tyrants.  While Prophet Muhammad (S) was the tribe’s leader, Khadija (AS) was the celestial spirit that guarded the tribe.  Khadija’s (AS) positive character, overwhelming endurance, and vibrant spirit, was felt by all of the Muslims in the tribe.  The power and support that Allah gave Khadija (AS), which allowed her to make it everyday, encouraged the Prophet’s (S) followers to continue on striving, even in the harshest conditions.  Through prayer, Khadija (AS) not only found help from the Almighty, but also courage, perseverance, strength, peace of mind, serenity, and comfort.    Every day of the siege was surmounted with perils and hardships.  Khadija (AS) and the tribe didn’t know what the oppressors would bring the next day.  Every day was worse than the other.  However, Khadija (AS) didn’t spend her time in a frame of anxiety and tension.  She preferred and wanted nothing more than just feeling and being close to Allah, which enabled Khadija (AS) to erase all of the tension and suspense that would seep into her mind.  Khadija’s (AS) greatest moments of anxiety were when she heard the cries of the hungry and thirsty young children.  Khadija (AS) always nourished the hunger and thirst of the children.  Whenever a child cried, she fed and nourished him/her.  Khadija (AS) put the needs of the children ahead their parents, and she put the needs of the parents ahead of her own needs.  She made everyone feel like they were family.  During the cold, blistering winters, when water wasn’t a major problem, Khadija (AS) distributed clothes and firewood to protect the children from the ravage cold.    Khadija’s (AS) faith, kindness, and charity were well-known to everyone.  However, no one had really seen the full side of Khadija (AS) until she and her family were practically run out of their homes.  While her life and everything that she loved was under siege, Khadija’s (AS) patience and will to fight was stronger than ever.  Khadija (AS) went through some of the harshest conditions.  Yet, she persevered and remained remarkably patient.  Khadija (AS) struggled, but she never gave up the endurance that gave her the will to fight.  The siege on Prophet Muhammad (S) and his followers finally came to an end after three years.  Even though the assault lasted more than a thousand days, Khadija (AS) and her fellow Bani Hashimites never cracked or gave up.  They were under non-stop tension and anxiety, but they always had hope in Allah, and so they made it through the horrendous adversity.  The days in exile turned into weeks; the weeks turned into months; and the months turned into years.  However, their everlasting courage got them through the siege because they had Allah as their watcher, Muhammad (S) as their leader, and Khadija (AS) as their backbone.    Khadija’s (AS) fortune was overwhelmingly large.  However, it ran out during the three year siege because she financially supported the Prophet (S) and his followers.  Khadija (AS) invested her entire fortune into Islam.  When she got married to the Prophet (S), she told him that everything that was hers was also his.  In order to provide for their  followers in time of need (and any other time), Prophet Muhammad (S) and Khadija (AS) shared their fortune with them.  They fed and protected their fellow Muslims through their own money because Allah would vastly, by far and large, multiply their fortune in the Hereafter, since Allah is the only and real Benefactor in the world to every living being.    When Allah’s Divine Doctrine, Islam, came under scrutiny and oppression from ignorant transgressors, Khadija (AS) sacrificed her comfort, wealth, and home for it.  The siege took a lot out of Khadija (AS). She didn’t really look after herself.  She provided Prophet Muhammad (S) with all of the encouragement and moral support that he needed to have the courage to spread the Message of Allah.  Khadija (AS) also emotionally and physically attended to the needs and wants of the men, women, and children in her tribe.  She gave up her wealth in exchange for the well-being of her fellow Muslims.  A smile from a child who had just quenched his/her thirst because of Khadija’s (AS) doing was worth more than all of the gold in the world to Khadija (AS).   Khadija (AS) not only gave up her comfort and wealth, in the end, she also gave up her life for the dignity of Islam.  If Khadija (AS) hadn’t left her luxurious home, surrounded with servants and bountiful resources, to be with her husband, she would have survived many more years than she did.  However, Khadija (AS) didn’t care about the materialistic things in life.  She preferred to fight in the way of Allah and to stand by Prophet Muhammad’s (S) side.  In doing so, Khadija (AS) not only had to endure the agony of hunger and thirst, but also the extremely hot summers and the bitterly cold winters.  Her body took a hard blow in the three year siege.  Yet, Khadija (AS) never complained to the Prophet about her aches and pains.  Instead, she kept quiet and turned to the Almighty for solitude.  After the end of the siege, Khadija (AS) became very ill.  Her body was succumbed by a fever, which it couldn’t fight off.  Since she had spent all of her money during the siege, she didn’t even have a cent left for medicine.  The Prophet (S) kept a night long vigil, as he stayed at her bedside.  He told her that Allah has promised Eternal Bliss for her in the Hereafter.  Prophet Muhammad (S) also told Khadija (AS) that the Almighty built a palace of pearls in Paradise for her.  As dawn approached, Khadija’s (AS) body could no longer withstand the fever that attacked her body.  Her virtuous soul left the earth for its destination in Heaven in the tenth of Ramadan in 10AH.   Since Khadija (AS) had no more money, the Prophet (S) didn’t even have a piece of clothing to cover her with.  So he took a cloak of his own to cover his wife with for her burial.  Khadija (AS) was buried in Hujun, which is above Mecca.  Before Khadija (AS) was buried in her grave, Prophet Muhammad (S) descended into it for a few moments.  Then he came out and sorrowfully assisted in lowering his beloved wife’s righteous body.  Once Khadija (AS) was buried, the Prophet (S) smoothed the earth on her grave. Khadija’s (AS) death was a tragic blow to the Prophet (S).  He never had to put his guard up because Khadija (AS) was always at his side with her guard up for the both of them.  She comforted him in time of need and distress.  Khadija (AS) was the first person in the world to accept Tauheed and Muhammad’s (S) Prophecy.  The Prophet (S) continued on with his mission, spreading the word of Allah.  He remarried other women, but none of them could ever live up to his one and only soul mate, Khadija (AS).  Prophet Muhammad’s (S) intention of marrying the other women was solely to unite bickering clans.  The Prophet joined his beloved soul mate in Heaven at the age of 63. The above material was extracted from:  Razwy, Sayed A.A.  Khadija-tul Kubra; A Short Story of Her Life.  Elmhurst, New York.  Tahrike Tarsile Qur’an, INC.:  1990.