Of all the Muslim women of the world, there is one in particular which seems to stand out if looked at closely. She was Khadijah bint Khuwaylid. Khadijah was the daughter of Khuwaylid, a wealthy merchant in Arabia. Khadijah’s father was “a successful businessman whose vast wealth and business talents were inherited by Khadijah and whom the latter succeeded with faring the family’s vast wealth” (The Wife of the Prophet Muhammad SAWAS). Khadijah was married twice, and twice she was widowed because her husbands died due “to the ravaging wars with which Arabia was afflicted” (The Wife of the Prophet Muhammad SAWAS). Khadijah is better known as the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) first wife. She should be looked upon as a role model, not only by Muslim women, but also by all women who feel oppressed throughout the world.
Khadijah was born in society which was “terribly male chauvinistic”. However, “she earned two titles: Ameerat-Quraysh, Princess of Quraysh (the tribe to which she belonged), and al-Tahira, the Pure One, due to her impeccable personality and virtuous character. She used to feed and clothe the poor, assist her relatives financially, an even provide for the marriage of those of her kin who could not otherwise have the means to marry” (The Wife of the Prophet Muhammad SAWAS).
As mentioned before, Khadijah is well known for her strong business character. However, she would never embark on her trades. She would always entrust someone with her caravans and with all her earnings that came with that trade. That person though would not listen to any male, but would only follow the orders of Khadijah because she was well-known for being quite independent, especially with her family business. “When Muhammad (PBUH) was still a young man, she entrusted him with some of her wealth, asking him to trade with it in Syria on her behalf. He was already well known for his honesty, truthfulness, and trustworthiness. He returned from Syria after making a large profit for Khadijah” (Khadija bint Khuwaylid). At that time, Muhammad was only 25 years of age and Khadijah was 40 “and considered the best of women in lineage” (Al-Mubarakpuri). After hearing about his honesty and his character and after have witnessed his dealings with other people, Khadijah “decided that he would make the best of husbands, even though many of the most important nobles of the Quraysh had already proposed to her, and had been refused” (Khadija bint Khuwaylid).
To put a twist on the story, Khadijah was the one to propose to Muhammad. Not only was she 15 years his senior, but she also had the nerve to go and propose to a man. This action certainly defied many of the traditions of Arabia, not only at that time, but until this day. She had all the other opportunities to choose a wealthy man, but instead she had chosen an illiterate orphan, who had nothing, all because she had fallen in love with him and with his values. “They lived happily for fifteen years, and Khadijah bore several children” (Khadija bint Khuwaylid). Khadijah was the only one of all Muhammad’s wives to give him children. They also shared much in common. Not only were their character’s and personalities very similar, but they both refused to worship idols- a common practice among Arabians during that time period. From this, come the revelations from the Angel Jibreel (Gabriel) to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Every Ramadan, Muhammad would seclude himself in a mountain on the outskirts of Mecca. He would seclude himself “in reflection” and to try to understand why he was put on this earth and his purpose. He was searching for a God. One day, Muhammad came running home from his seclusion screaming “Cover me! Cover me!” to his wife Khadijah. “Muhammad was swarmed with the trauma, and Khadijah consoled him and put him to sleep on her lap. When he recovered he related then related the story to his wife how Angel Jibreel came down from the sky and commanded him to “Read!”. Being the wonderful wife that she was, she didn’t call her husband crazy, as many of us might do in a situation like that, but rather, “she smiled and said. “Cheer up, my dear husband; for I hope that you are the prophet of this nation. Allah will never humiliate you, for you are good to your relatives, you are true to your word, you help those who are in need, you support the weak, you feed the guest and you answer the call of those who are in distress” (Ummnurah).
After this tremendous revelation, Khadijah became Muhammad’s “first convert. The faith of this mature wealthy woman of high standing the community must have influenced others to accept Islam” (Ahmed 47). She was also Muhammad’s best friend. Many of his future wives would become jealous of her. One in particular, Aisha, his last wife became very jealous of her. She stated that one day she said to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that Allah (God) has compensated him for the loss of Khadijah, who was only an “old woman with red eyes”. Muhammad got very angry at this statement and responded,, “No, indeed: He has not compensated me with someone better than 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”.
Khadijah not only received praise from Muhammad, but also from the Angel Jibreel. Gabriel once said to Muhammad (PBUH): “Oh Muhammad! Khadijah is bringing you a bowl of food; when she comes to you, tell her that her Lord greets her, and convey my greeting too, to her”. Also, after her death, a chapter of the Quran was revealed Muhammad in her honor. This chapter ends: “O soul that re at rest! Return to your Lord, well-pleased with Him, well-pleasing Him, so enter among My servants, and enter into My garden” (Quran, 89:27-30).
As can be seen, Khadijah was very much honored in her society. Even God and Angel Jibreel are very much pleased with her actions. All her money went to the sake of Islam and to feed and clothe the poor Muslim converts. “Her economic independence; her marriage overture, apparently without a male guardian to act as intermediary; her marriage to a man many years younger than herself” all prove to the world that Islam is a very equal religion (Ahmed 42). It was part of the prophetic mission of Muhammad (PBUH) to “invite people to the equality between men and women”. Khadijah was there to help him spread this mission. She was certainly independent, and she remains a role model to all young and old Muslim women throughout the world. Maybe one day, everyone will recognize the importance that women hold in Islamic society and throughout the world.
