Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid: Ancestry and Attributes 5


Khadijah bint Khuwaylid in Pre-Islamic Society 6


Her Early life: 6


Khadijah "The Pure" and "The Lady of Quraish" 8


Her Acceptance of Islam 10


Her Virtues 13


The Patient Khadijah 14


The Departure to the Hereafter 16


Khadijah bint Khuwaylid in Brief: 18


PROJECT - Just One Message 20


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As if the world was created but only for people who struggled


and fought for the sake of the true religion, and has endured


suffering and pain, until Allah guided people, thus they entered


Islam in crowds.


The world is inspired with them, and have written their


situations, including what they have done over the ages and


times, repeated through days and narrated through years, just as


an inscribed book, followed as an example, and wandered by


every fond who reflected his love of Allah in fidelity to Him.


Likewise, following the Sunnah and the approach of His Prophet


May Allah bless him and grant him peace, dedicated to adhere


to his orders, self-sacrificing as well as all precious possessions


until he meets Lord Almighty with pure and sincere faith,


bearing a deep conscious of .. why this world is created? And


who is the winner at the end? And the greatest reward of loyalty,


love, and sacrifice.


This life is a combination of emotion and mentality, when


emotion is reasonably accompanied with mentality by following


the commands of God and clinging to His guidance, then


unprecedented happiness will be attained. How pleasant is the


Faithfull's emulation, who are trying to follow the right path and


hooked up with the sincere formers who performed their


messages to Allah just for the sake of His good pleasure. They


sacrificed all the pleasures of this world in order to increase their


profit, and reach the highest position in the Hereafter. !!


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The biography of the companions of the Prophet Mohammad


(prayers and peace be upon him) represents the model, the


instance, the method, and the right path to follow, may Allah be


pleased with them all. Thus, the biography of the first Mother of


the Believers Khadijah Bint Kuwaylid comprises the best route


for those seeking goodness and happiness in this world and the


Hereafter. In each phase of their life there is a bright cresset, and


guidance for those faithful hearts and pure souls.


It is the biography of the greatest woman in history, who acted


upon her mission the best way possible. Sponsored the


prerogative of the Creator the Almighty, and followed all His


commands revealed to the Prophet Mohammad (prayers and


peace be upon him). She followed the right path towards herself


and towards those under her guard, assuming full responsibility,


what a great responsibility! She did a great endeavor toward her


husband (the Prophet Mohammad prayers and peace be upon


him), toward his mission, and toward her home and her pure


progeny.


We present this eternal biography as the first issue of this series,


aiming at elucidating and explicating some of its feature to be an


inspiration and model deeply required to find the right way


towards our religion. !!


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Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid: Ancestry and Attributes


She was the Mother of the Believers and the leader of the


women of all the world of her time. She was the mother of Al-


Qasim, the daughter of Khuwaylid bin Asad from the Quraish


tribe and from the Asad clan. Khadijah was the mother of the


children of Allah's Messenger, she was the first person to have


an abiding faith in the utterances of the Prophet (peace and


blessings be upon him) and to accept Islam as her religion and


her way of life.


Khadijah was born in Makkah in the year 555 CE\ 68 BH. Her


mother's name was Fatimah bint Zayd, and her father's name


was Khuwaylid bin Asad. She came from a noble family, and she


was raised on praiseworthy characteristics and was well-known


and praised for her intelligence, firmness, chastity, and


prudence.


Her virtue were many, as she is one of the women who attained


perfection. She was intelligent, honorable, devoted, virtuous,


and generous. She is from the people of Paradise. The Prophet


(prayers and peace be upon him) used to praise her above the


rest of the Mothers of the Believers. !!


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Khadijah bint Khuwaylid in Pre-Islamic Society


Her Early life:


Khadijah grew up in the lap of luxury, purity, and generosity. Her


father Khuwaylid was a very popular leader among the tribe of


Quraysh, and a very prosperous businessman. He died while


fighting in the famous battle of 'Fujjar'. She married Abu Halah


bin Zarrarah and they got two children, Halah and Hind. She


wanted to see her husband prosper and financed him in setting


up a big business. But unfortunately he passed away. Sometime


later the young widow married 'Atique Al-Makhzumi, and she


gave birth to a daughter named Hindah, but soon her second


husband passed away.


Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) has a good fortune


and a widespread business, which was incessant between


Makkah and Madinah. Thus, above her noble state she was a


wealthy well known businesswoman in Makkah. In pre-Islamic


era, and before meeting with prophet Mohammad (prayers and


peace be upon him), Khadijah was a successful businesswoman.


Her policy was to employ hard working, honest and


distinguished managers, who traveled far and wide on her


behalf. She exported her goods to far away markets like Syria,


and her managers bought goods from those markets to be sold at


home. !!


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Khadijah had heard of the integrity, honesty and principled


behavior of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and


sent a job offer to him to head her trading caravans. He gladly


accepted the offer and started working for her. Khadijah sent him


on a business trip; her old and trusted slave Maysarah being


delegated to accompany and serve him.


Maysarah was impressed by the Prophet's integrity, strength of


character, adherence to principles, his amicable dealings and his


business abilities. On the way back from Syria, the Prophet


(peace and blessings be upon him) lay down under a tree to rest


for a while. Nestora, a Jewish monk, noted for his knowledge of


religion and for his insight saw him and asked Maysarah who he


was. Maysarah told him all about Muhammad (peace and


blessings be upon him) and his reputation for honesty and


intelligence. Nestora then told him that this man would be


elevated to Prophet hood in the future, as no man had ever


rested under that particular tree but Prophets.


Maysarah also saw two angels bearing a cloud over Prophet's


head to protect him from the glare and heat of the sun. When he


returned home Maysarah reported to Khadijah all that had taken


place on the trip to Syria. !!


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Khadijah "The Pure" and "The Lady of Quraish"


Her wide virtues were not limited to wealth and beauty, as her


biography surpasses to be an instance for every woman.


Khadijah was well known as "the pure" and "the Lady of Qiraish"


, and these are the blessings of Allah. Khadijah was prepared to


be the first one to enter Islam, the first Mother of the Believers,


the best woman of mankind, and the struggling tolerant wife.


Many of the leading chiefs of Quraish desired to marry Khadijah


but she declined and rejected all their proposals. However, she


found what she sought and desired in our leader Mohammad


(prayers and peace be upon him). She disclosed what she was


turning in her mind to her friend, Nafisah.


Nafisah went straight to the noble Prophet to speak to him about


marrying Khadijah. She said: "O Mohammad! What prevents


you from marrying?" He replied: "What do I have with which to


marry?" Nafisah further said: "Won't you respond if you were


invited to marry someone who is beautiful, rich, honorable and


suitable?" He asked: "Who is she?" "Khadijah", she replied. "How


am I going to accomplish that?" He asked. "Leave that to me,"


Nafisah said. "In that case, I shall do it (i.e. marry her)," the


Prophet said.


Nafisah returned to Khadijah bearing the news of her success in


her endeavor and she informed her of the news of Mohammad's


acceptance of the marriage proposal. Khadijah sent to her uncle


Amer bin Asad requesting him to attend this event, and he


came. The Noble Mohammad (Prayers and peace be upon him)


also came to Khadijah's house with the family of Abdul


Muttalib. !


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Abu Talib got up and delivered a delightful speech. We cite an


extract from it. He said:


"Praise be to Allah who made us from the descendant of Ibrahim


and the seed of Ismail. He also made us (to live in the) the


presence of His House and managers of His sacred precinct that


is secured. Furthermore, verily, this son of my brother,


Mohammad bin Abdullah is not measured against any man of


Quraish in terms of nobility, distinction and excellence except


that he outstrips him. Mohammad is someone you all know his


pedigrees, he has interests in Khadijah bint Khuwaylid and she


also has similar desire for him. Whatever you would like (to


take) as dowry is upon me to pay."


Her uncle agreed to the marriage and he was a very old man.


He said: "He is the stallion whose nose cannot be ringed." [It is a


traditional proverb, i.e. Mohammad is an efficient and generous


man].


In consequence, the blessed marriage took place, fifteen years


before the Mission. The Prophet (prayers and peace be upon


him) was 25 years old, while Khadijah (may Allah be pleased


with her) was about 40 years old. The couple spent a happy


contented life, and Allah Has blessed them with six children: Al-


Qasim, Abdullah, Zainab, Ruqayah, Umm Kulthum and


Fatimah. !


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Her Acceptance of Islam


Aishah the Mother of the Believers (May Allah be pleased with


her) narrated: "The first (form) in which the revelation to the


messenger of Allah was started was the true vision in sleep. And


he would not see any vision but it came true like the bright


gleam of dawn. Then solitude became dear to him and he used


to seclude himself in the cave of Hira', where he would engage


in tahannuth ( and that is a worship for a number of nights)


before returning to his family and getting provisions again for


this purpose. He would then return to Khadijah and take


provisions for a like period, till Truth came upon him while he


was in the cave of Hira'.


There came to him an Angel and said: "Read", to which he


replied: "I am not lettered". "He took hold of me," Mohammad


said, and "pressed me, till I was hard pressed. Then he let me go


and said: 'Read.' I said: 'I am not lettered'. He then again took


hold of me and pressed me for the second time till I was hard


pressed and let me off and said: 'Read', to which I replied: 'I am


not lettered'. He took hold of me and pressed me for the third


time, till I was hard pressed and then let me go and said:


{Read! in the name of your Lord Who has created (all that


exists) * He has created man from a clot (a piece of thick


coagulated blood) * Read! And your Lord is the most Generous


* Who has taught (the writing) by the pen * He has taught man


that which he knew not} (Al-Alaq: 1-5)."


!


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Then the Prophet (prayers and peace be upon him) left the cave


immediately going straight home with his heart trembling until


he entered upon Khadijah bint Khuwaylid saying: "Wrap me up,


wrap me up!" So she warped him till the fear left him. He then


said to Khadijah: "O Khadijah! What has happened to me?" and


he informed her of the incident, saying: "I fear for myself."


She said to him: "It can't be. Be happy. I swear by Allah that He


shall never humiliate you. By Allah, you join ties of kinship, you


speak the truth, you bear people's burden, you help the


destitute, you entertain guests, and you help against the


hardships which affect people."


Khadijah then took him to Waraqa bin Naufal, Khadijah's


cousin, who had embraced Christianity in the days of ignorance


(i.e. before Islam) and he used to write books in Arabic and,


therefore, wrote the Bible in Arabic as Allah willed that he


should write. He was very old and had became blind. Khadijah


said to him: " O uncle! Listen to the son of your brother."


Waraqa said: " O my nephew! What did you see?" The


Messenger of Allah informed him what he had seen, and Waraqa


said to him: "That is the Angel that Allah sent down to Musa.


Would that I were then (during your Prophethood career) a


young man. Would that I were alive when your people would


expel you!" The Messenger of Allah said: "Will they drive me


out?" Waraqa said: "Yes. Never came a man with a like of what


you have brought but met hostilities. If I live to see your day I


shall help you wholeheartedly." It was not long thereafter when


Waraqa passed away and revelation ceased. !


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The status of his wife Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her)


was one of the noblest status that could be used to praise any


woman past or present. She smoothed him when he was


perturbed. She made him rest when he was exhausted and she


reminded him of the virtues of his character, emphasizing that


righteous people like himself could never be humiliated and that


when Allah molded a man with the most excellent traits of


character, it was to bestow honor and kindness on him. With this


well-balanced opinion and purity of heart, Khadijah deserved


the best salutation sent to her by the Lord of the world through


the faithful Spirit (Angel Gabriel ). !


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Her Virtues


Anas narrated that the Prophet (prayers and peace be upon him)


said: "It suffices to say that the best of the women of the world


are Maryam bint Imran, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, Fatimah bint


Mohammad, and Asiyah wife of Fir'awn (Pharaoh)."


Furthermore, Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him)


narrated: "Gabriel came to the Prophet and said: 'Here is


Khadijah coming to you with a bowl of condiment or food or


drink. When she comes to you, convey to her the greeting of


peace from her Lord and from me, and promise her with a house


in Paradise built of gold wherein there will be neither clamor nor


tiredness." !


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The Patient Khadijah


The mother of the believers set an example of patience and she


earned by that resounding success in the very first steps toward


advancing the prophetic message. The Prophet (prayers and


peace be upon him) never heard anything detesting to him from


rejection and belying that grieved him except that he was


consoled by her.


When the Prophet (prayers and peace be upon him) came out


with his call in the open, the Quraish excommunicated Banu


Hashim. The crisis came to a head and the effects of the


banishment became fatal. Affairs degenerated between the


message of Allah's Messenger (prayers and peace be upon him)


and the oppression of idolatry personified by the aristocrats of


the Quraish. Their intellect became befuddled in their empty


heads except for injustice, oppression, and subjugation of the


weak ones. Their idle minds shuddered except for corruption


and idol worshipping. However, the Muslims exercised graceful


patience.


Khadijah remained solidly behind the Messenger of Allah,


girding his side and sharing with him in bearing the harm of his


people with patience and equanimity in expectation of reward


until Allah implemented His Decree on this oppressive and


persistent boycott which was fatal for the believers who were


under siege.


When the siege ceased, the Pure Khadijah came out


triumphantly with the outgrowth of her patience, prosecuting


with the Messenger of Allah, her journey through life as a


faithful wife. !


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Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) spent close to a


quarter of a century under the patronage of Allah's Messenger.


Throughout that period she discharged her obligation as a


righteous wife to her husband. She shared with him his moments


of joy, caring for his pleasures and happiness and devoted to


what brings life to them.


It is clear from her generosity that when the people were


afflicted with a period of drought after her marriage to Allah's


Messenger, Lady Halimah As-Sadiyyah, foster mother of the


Prophet, visited Makkah. She went back with camels loaded


with water and forty heads of goat from the wealth of Khadijah. !!


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The Departure to the Hereafter


After she came out of the blockade, Khadijah lived only for a


little while before she answered the call of her Lord. Her pure


soul soared to the heavens well-pleasing and well-pleased unto


Allah.


Orwah said: "She died three years before the Migration to


Madinah, and she was buried in Makkah at Hujun." True is the


statement of the one who said:


If women were like the one we missed,


women would have been given preference above men. !


Her death left an indelible mark in the heart of the Messenger of


Allah. She was always remembered by him and her name was


constantly mentioned. He loved those who loved her and he


honored those who honored her.


Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "Allah's Messenger


mentioned Khadijah one day and I said something about her. I


said: 'Such and such old woman! Allah has replaced her for you


with someone better!' He responded: 'Allah has not replaced


her for me with someone better. She believed in me when the


rest of people disbelieved. She gave me a share in her wealth


when the rest of the people denied me (theirs). Allah provided


me children from her while He denied me other than her.' I said:


'I shall not blame you regarding her anymore." !


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Once an elderly woman from the friends of Khadijah came to


the Prophet after her death and the Prophet (prayers and peace


be upon him) greeted her warmly and honored her. He spread


his cloth for her to sit on. He kept inquiring about her condition.


Then Ishah said after she had left: "How come you received her


with such warmth?" And the Prophet responded: "She used to


visit us in the lifetime of Khadijah and being good in


remembering covenant is part of faith."


With that ends the shining page of her glorious history.


However, her scented biography and noble deeds remain a


guiding light for those who seek guidance. !


May Allah be pleased with the Mother of the Believers Khadijah


bint Khuwaylid and may Allah bliss her. !


!!


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Khadijah bint Khuwaylid in Brief:


The Mother of the Believers and the leader of the women of all


the world of her time. She was the mother of Al-Qasim, the


daughter of Khuwaylid bin Asad from the Quraish tribe.


Khadijah was the mother of the children of Allah's Messenger,


she was the first person to have an abiding faith in the utterances


of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and to accept


Islam as her religion and her way of life.


Khadijah was born in Makkah in the year 555 CE\ 68 BH. She


came from a noble family, and she was raised on praiseworthy


characteristics and was well-known and praised for her


intelligence, firmness, chastity, and prudence. As she was called


"the pure". Her virtue were many, as she is one of the women


who attained perfection. She was intelligent, honorable,


devoted, virtuous, and generous. She is from the people of


Paradise.


!


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The mother of the believers Khadijah set an example of patience


and she earned by that resounding success in the very first steps


toward advancing the prophetic message. Khadijah (may Allah


be pleased with her) spent close to a quarter of a century under


the patronage of Allah's Messenger. Throughout that period she


discharged her obligation as a righteous wife to her husband.


Due to her noble character and purity of heart, Khadijah


deserved the best salutation sent to her by the Lord of the world


through the faithful Spirit (Angel Gabriel ). Besides, she deserved


to be the best woman of all mankind.


She died three years before the Migration to Madinah.


May Allah be pleased with her and bliss her.


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PROJECT - Just One Message


!


Contacts


Project Manager Kamal Ahmad


Contact Person Obaida Alramahi


Imam (Arabisk talande) Ahmad Alsaegh !English interpretation Clark Gilliam !Translation by Manal Qutub !


Email


info@justonemessage.com


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