Chapter 10 : Lady Khadija Flashcards
Who was Lady Khadijah
- Khadijah was the daughter of Khuwaylid and was a resident of Makkah
- She also belonged to the tribe of Quraysh
- Qusayy had many children of which 2 are noteworthy :-
i) Abd Manaf > Hashim > Abdul Muttalib > Abdullah > Muhammad
ii) Abd Uzza > Asa > Khuwaylid > Khadijah - Khadijah was held in high esteem by the Makkans because of her exemplary character and her business savviness
- Just as the Makkans called Muhammad “ Sadiq ( The Truthful One ) “ and “ Ameen ( The Trustworthy One ) “, they called Khadijah “ Tahira ( The Pure One ) “
- She was also known among the arabs as The Princess of Merchants
- Whenever the caravans left Makkah or returned to Makkah, they noted that her cargo was larger in volume than the cargo of all other merchants of Makkah put together
Regarding The Prophet’s business partnership with Lady Khadijah
- When Prophet Muhammad was 25 years old, his uncle Abu Talib suggested to Khadijah that she consider making him a partner in one of her caravans which was ready to leave Syria
- Incidentally, Khadijah was in fact need of someone to manage the caravan of goods
- Her servant Maysarah also accompanied him and served him as an aide
- This commercial expedition to Syria was successful and generated unprecedented profits
- On this journey, The Prophet took a similar route to the route that Abu Talib would take on his expedition
- They stopped at Bosra where another christian monk by the name of Nestor observed The Prophet and confided in Maysarah that the young merchant was destined to be a Prophet
- Upon returning to Makkah, Maysarah told Khadijah about Nestor’s prediction
- Khadijah approached her cousin Waraqah who corroborated the monk’s prophecy
- Maysarah also highlighted the truthfulness and integrity that he witnessed from The Prophet during their journey
- Upon seeing the astronomical profits The Prophet yielded, Khadijah offered him twice the rate that she would give to others who worked with her but The Prophet refused and insisted on receiving the standard rate
- The Prophet takes his earnings and gives it to Abu Talib since the latter was facing some financial hardships
Regarding the marriage of The Prophet and Lady Khadijah
- When Abu Talib sensed an attraction between Khadijah and Muhammad, he recommended his nephew to pursue a marital relationship
- Khadijah sent Nufaysah to propose to Muhammad on her behalf
- Imam Al-Sadiq narrates the following regarding the wedding of The Prophet and Lady Khadija :-
” When the Messenger of God wanted to marry Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid, Abu Talib proceeded with his household and some prominent members of the Quraysh until they reached the home of Waraqah Ibn Nawfal, the paternal cousin of Khadijah. Abu Talib initiated the conversation saying ‘ Praise is for the Lord of the Ka’bah who made us among the offspring of Abraham and the descendants of Ishmael and placed us in this safe sanctuary and made us rulers over people and blessed us in this city in which we live. Furthermore, this nephew of mine is a man who, if measured against any man of Quraysh, would tip the balance, who, if compared to any man would prove to be greater. No match has he among God’s creatures, though he is poor in wealth. But then wealth comes and goes, it is a fleeting shadow. He wants Khadijah and she wants him. Thus, we have come to ask you for her hand at her pleasure and request. The bridal gift, which you have demanded, that which is due immediately and that which is due later, is on me to be paid out of my holdings. By the Lord of this House, he ( The Prophet ) has great promise, a piety that is well known and an insight that is mature ‘. Then Abu Talib was silent. Then Khadijah’s uncle ( Amr ) tried to speak but was unable to match Abu Talib … So Khadijah stepped in and said ‘ O Uncle, while you are my guardian when i am absent, you are not my guardian when i am present. I hereby marry myself to you, O Muhammad, and the bridal gift is on me ‘. Khadijah’s uncle then said to the Prophet ‘ Please request your uncle to slaughter a camel and make a wedding feast ( Walimah ) of it, and you may take up residence with your wife ‘. Abu Talib then said ‘ Bear witness that she has accepted Muhammad and assumed the bridal gift on herself ‘. Some of the Quraysh said ‘ How strange ! Bridal gifts are now paid by the woman to the man ! ‘. Abu Talib stood and retorted angrily ‘ When the man is like my nephew, he is sought after with the most expensive gifts, but when the man is like you, no one marries him unless he gives her the most expensive gifts ! ‘. “
- After the death of Lady Khadijah in the 7th year after Hijrah, when The Prophet is given Fadak after conquering Khaybar as a settlement from the Jewish Tribes, the Quran commands The Prophet to give Fadak to Lady Fatima ( She was the only living descendant of Lady Khadija ) ). One of the reasons is to repay the mahr that was paid by Lady Khadijah
- The bridal gift was 12.5 purses of silver, each purse contains 40 dirhas ( Total around 500 dirhams )
- Al-Kafi, Volume 5, Page 374 - 375
