Name :Bibi Khadija ibnt-e-Khawailadt (SA))Title : Umm-ul-Momineen Agnomen : Tahira Father : Khawailad ibn Asad Mother :Fatima Birth :at Makkah Death :10th Ramadan 2 years before Hejira at the age of 65 years. Buried in Meccah There are only four women in the entire world who measured up to the lofty standards of real greatness and perfection set by Islam. They are: 1. Bibi Asiya (SA), the God fearing wife of Pharaoh 2. Bibi Maryam (SA), the mother of Jesus (Isa) (AS) 3. Bibi Khadija (SA), the daughter of Khawailad 4. Bibi Fatima Zahra (SA), the daughter of Prophet Prophet Muhammad (SAW) Bibi Khadija (SA), the holy wife of The Lord of Prophets, Prophet Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and the mother of the Mistress of the Ladies of the Worlds, Bibi Fatima Zahra (SA), comibned in her person all those attributes, which add up to perfection. Malikatul Arab (SA) was the ideal woman, the ideal wife for The Seal of Prophets, Prophet Prophet Muhammad (SAW), and the ideal mother.
Early Life of Bibi Khadija-tul-Kubra (SA) After the death of Khawailad, Bibi Khadija (SA) took charge of the family business, and as a result, it rapidly expanded. With the profits she made, Bibi Khadija (SA) helped the poor, the widows, the orphans, the sick and the disabled. If there were any poor girls, Bibi Khadija (SA) married them off, and gave them dowry. Although some family members acted as Bibi Khadija’s (SA) 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 Bibi Khadija (SA), 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. Bibi Khadija (SA) 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, Bibi Khadija (SA) 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 Bibi Khadija (SA) alone was equal to the cargo of all the other merchants of the Quraysh put together. The citizens of Mecca referred to Bibi Khadija (SA) as the Princess of Quraysh because she demonstrated the proverbial “golden touch,” which implied that whatever she touched practically turned into gold. Bibi Khadija (SA) had a deep dedication to Islam, and love for and gratitude to Allah. She sacrificed all her wealth for Islam and stood by the side of her husband, the Messenger of Islam (SAW). Holy Prophet Prophet Muhammad (SAW) did not take another wife as long as Bibi Khadija (SA) lived. Muhammad ibn Ishaq, the biographer of the Prophet (SAW), says that when Divine revelation was resumed after its cessation following the first two visits of Gabriel, Bibi Khadija (SA) received a tribute and a salutation of peace from Allah Almighty. Gabriel communicated the message to Prophet Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and when he conveyed it to Bibi Khadija (SA), her words were: “Allah is Peace, and from Him is all Peace, and may peace be on Gabriel.” The Prophet (SAW) forever remembered Bibi Khadija (SA) with love, affection and gratitude. Her death filled his heart with deep pain and sorrow. Bibi Khadija (SA) expired on the 10 Ramadan of the 10th year of the Proclamation of Islam in 619, and was laid to rest in Hujun, Meccah Mukarramah. The Messenger of Allah himself descended into her grave to lay in it for a few moments. He (SAW) smoothed the earth on her grave after the burial. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was asked about his wife the great Muslim lady, ‘Bibi Khadija-tul Kubra (RA), he said: “When none believed me, Bibi Khadija (RA) did. She made me a partner in her wealth.” Bibi Khadija (RA), married the Holy Prophet (SAW) when she was 40 and he was 25. She stood by the Prophet (SAW) all the time. In moments of trial and difficulty the Prophet (SAW) used to come to her and she consoled and comforted her husband and encouraged him. Bibi Khadija’s (RA) wealth was used for the cause of Islam. The Prophet (SAW) remained busy in preaching Islam and his devoted and loving wife looked after the children and family affairs. In Mecca, the Quraysh did all they could to stop the Prophet (SAW) preaching Islam. Nothing worked. The Prophet (SAW) continued his mission, relying on Allah. Bibi Khadija (RA) was his source of encouragement and comfort. She also had to bear enormous strain and suffering during the boycott at Sha’bi (the valley of) Abu Talib for three years. The great Muslim lady Bibi Khadija (RA) passed away on10th Ramadan in the tenth year of Hejira, 620 CE, at the age of 65. Her death was a great loss to the Prophet (SAW). He said: “I cannot bear the scene, I believe that Allah has kept much good in it.” He loved Bibi Khadija (RA) so dearly that after her death he used to remember her often. Bibi Khadija’s (RA) status was such that the Angel Jibraeel (AS) used to bring salam (greetings) for her from Almighty Allah.
Her Marriage: The holy matrimony between the 25-year-old Prophet (SAW) and the noble lady 40-year-old Bibi Khadija (SA) marked the starting point of great transformations in Islamic history. (Kanzul-Daqaieq, vol. 1, p. 397). This felicitation and glorious wedlock provided the Prophet (SAW) with a strong financial backing to withstand the threats and economic sanctions of polytheists and to continue his mission unhindered. Above all, placed a sympathetic pious companion at his side in the difficult course of his Prophetic mission. (Muruj az-Zahab, Vol. 2, p. 284). Bibi Khadija (SA) so earnestly and with such great love and devotion rested full authority of all her wealth on the Prophet (SAW), to ease the difficulties and release the pressure on new Muslim converts, that Almighty God brought her great generosity to the attention of the Prophet (SAW) with the descending of the following Verse which says: “... and found you in poverty and made you free from need.”. (Biharul-Anwar, vol. 43, p. 34. Holy Qur’an “Wa Zuha”, Verse 8).
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and Bibi Khadija’s (SA) Life Together Bibi Khadija (SA) brought so much dowry into Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) house once they were married. No woman in all of Arabia has ever done that. Bibi Khadija’s (SA) 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. Bibi Khadija (SA) wanted everything that belonged to her to also belong to her precious and beloved husband. Bibi Khadija’s (SA) 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 Bibi Khadija (SA) had a lot to bring with her, she had other riches to also offer Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Bibi Khadija (SA) gave Prophet Muhammad (SAW) the richness of her heart and mind. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and Bibi Khadija (SA) enriched each others lives with their humble hearts, massive minds, and sensational souls. From the first day of her marriage, Bibi Khadija’s (SA) primary focus was to make her husband’s life happy and pleasant. Bibi Khadija (SA) and Prophet Muhammad (SAW) had the purest kind of happiness. They had total and complete devotion to their Lord, and with that came a blessed marriage. Bibi Khadija (SA) and Prophet Muhammad (SAW) 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. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) 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 Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and Bibi Khadija (SA) lost two children after birth, they were finally blessed with one last child, Fatimat-az-Zahra (AS), whom of which was the only child that survived. Allah endowed many gifts upon Prophet Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and Bibi Khadija (SA), but none of them were as grand as the gift of Fatima (SA). She was their pride and joy. They showered Fatima (SA) with all of their love as she filled their home with hope, virtue, and bliss. Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) and Bibi Khadija’s (SA) lives were also enriched with another child, Ali-ibn-Abu-Talib (AS). Ali (AS) was the youngest son of Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) uncle and guardian, Abu Talib. He came into their home at the age of five. Ali (AS), like Fatima (AS), brought joy and happiness into Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) and Bibi Khadija’s (SA) 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 Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and Bibi Khadija (SA) carried in their hearts and souls. Young Muslim Sisters should know how devoted Bibi Khadija (SA) was to her husband and how much she did for him for the cause of Allah. Any Muslim of today would feel proud to have such a wife. The world could be changed by great Muslim ladies like Bibi Khadija (SA).
Source Bibi Khadija tul Kubra , A Short Story of Her Life, by Syed A.A Razwy , Published by: Tahrike Tarsile Qur’an Publishers and Distributors of Holy Qur’an P.O Box 1115 - Elmhurst NY 11373-1115
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