Grace Thompson
Muhammad's first wife, Khadija bint Khuwaylid, was a wealthy businesswoman and entrepreneur. She was approximately 40 years old when she married the 25-year-old Muhammad in 595. Khadija is honoured by Muslims as the Mother of the Believers and is considered one of the four ladies of heaven. She was the only wife of Muhammad until her death in 619, after which he married several other women. While some sources state that Khadija was previously married twice, her marital history before Muhammad is unclear. She is known for her generosity, religious convictions, and her role as the first female to accept Islam. Lady Maria, a Coptic Christian, is also mentioned as one of Muhammad's wives, but her status as a wife or concubine is disputed.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Khadija bint Khuwaylid |
| Religion | Muslim |
| Nicknames | Khadījah al-Kubrā (Khadījah the Great), Mother of the Believers, Lady Khadija |
| Age at Marriage to Muhammad | 28 or 40/41 |
| Age at Death | 52 or 65 |
| Year of Marriage to Muhammad | 595 or 610 AD |
| Year of Death | 619 (Year of Sorrow) |
| Duration of Marriage | 24 years |
| Previous Marriages | Two or three |
| Children with Muhammad | Six biological children: two sons and four daughters |
| Children's Names | Qasim, Tahir, Tayyib, Zainab, Rockeya, Fatimah, Omm Kulthum |
| Other Notable Information | Khadija was Muhammad's employer, and she became his first follower when he began preaching Islam. She was a wealthy businesswoman and spent her money helping Muhammad's mission, freeing imprisoned Muslims, and feeding and clothing the poor. |
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What You'll Learn
Khadija bint Khuwaylid was Muhammad's first wife
Khadija bint Khuwaylid, also known as Khadījah bint al-Khuwaylid, was the first wife of Prophet Muhammad. She was born circa 554 and died in November 619. Khadija was a wealthy merchant in her own right, inheriting her wealth and continuing to trade after the death of her parents and, according to Sunni tradition, of her first two husbands. She was known for her noble personality within her tribe.
Khadija was a distant cousin of Muhammad and employed him when he was in his early 20s to manage a trade caravan to Syria. She then proposed to him through a friend, Nafisa. When Muhammad hesitated due to his lack of wealth, Nafisa asked if he would consider a woman who could provide for herself. After meeting, they consulted their uncles, who agreed to the marriage. Muhammad's uncles accompanied him to make a formal proposal, and Khadija's uncle accepted.
Khadija is honoured by Muslims as one of the "Mother of the Believers" and is considered one of the four "ladies of heaven", alongside Fatima, Asiya (wife of the Pharaoh), and Mary, the mother of Jesus. She is praised as being one of the four best women in the world and is said to have confirmed and supported Muhammad's prophethood, being the first person to believe in his message.
Khadija bint Khuwaylid died before the establishment of the Muslim community in Medina, and Muhammad faced persecution from opponents and former followers after her death. He eventually migrated to Yathrib, later named Medina.
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Khadija was a wealthy and successful merchant
Khadija bint Khuwaylid, the first wife of Prophet Muhammad, was a wealthy and successful merchant in her own right. She was born into an aristocratic clan of the Quraysh, the tribe that ruled Mecca. Khadija's father, Khuwaylid ibn Asad, was also a merchant and a leader.
Khadija inherited her wealth and continued to conduct trade successfully after the deaths of her parents and, according to Sunni tradition, of her first two husbands. She is described as having a noble personality and commanding significant respect within her tribe. Khadija bore the honorifics 'The Pious One', 'Princess of Quraysh' (Ameerat-Quraysh), and 'Khadija the Great' (Khadija al-Kubra). She is also remembered for her charitable acts, such as feeding and clothing the poor, assisting her relatives financially, and providing marriage portions for poor relations.
Khadija's success as a merchant is evident in the scale of her trade caravans. When the Quraysh's trade caravan travellers embarked on their summer journey to Syria or winter journey to Yemen, Khadija's caravan was said to equal the caravans of all other Qurayshi traders put together.
In his early 20s, Prophet Muhammad was employed by Khadija to manage a trade caravan to Syria. Impressed by his skills, she subsequently proposed marriage to him, which he accepted. Their marriage took place around 595 CE, when Muhammad was between 22 and 25 years old, and Khadija was approximately 40 years old, according to most sources.
Khadija's wealth and support were instrumental in Muhammad's early prophethood. Her financial resources allowed him the leisure to meditate, and she reassured him of the authenticity of his revelations. She is thus considered the first person to have believed in Muhammad's message and helped spread Islam. Khadija also used her wealth to ransom Muslim slaves and feed the Muslim community during times of persecution.
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Khadija was the first female to accept Islam
Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, born in 555 CE in Makkah or Mekka, was the first woman to accept Islam. She was born into a wealthy family and could have lived a life of leisure. However, she chose to help her father with his prosperous business. After her father's death, she continued to run the business, and it thrived under her leadership.
Khadijah hired the young Muhammad, who was in his early twenties at the time, for a trade journey to Syria. Upon returning, Khadijah's servant Maysarah gave accounts of the honourable way in which Muhammad had conducted his business, bringing back twice as much profit as expected. This earned Muhammad the honorifics of al-Sadiq ('the Truthful') and al-Amin ('the Trustworthy').
Khadijah and Muhammad eventually married, and their union became a model for a successful Islamic marriage. Muhammad meditated in a cave outside Mecca from time to time, and on one occasion, he returned home exhausted and frightened, claiming that the angel Gabriel had spoken to him with a message from God. Khadijah was the first to accept this message, comforting Muhammad and assuring him that Allah would protect him from any danger. She became the first convert to Islam and remained Muhammad's staunchest believer, ally, and friend.
Khadijah encouraged Muhammad to devote himself fully to preaching and supported him financially. She also used her influence and political prestige to protect him and the early Muslim community, who were facing increasing opposition and danger. Despite the challenges, she never complained nor begrudged the depletion of her fortune in support of Islam. Khadijah passed away in 619 CE at the age of 65, after enduring rugged living conditions and harsh treatment at the hands of the city's elite. Her devotion to Islam and her partnership with Muhammad make her a revered figure in Islamic history.
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Muhammad and Khadija had a 24-year-long marriage
Khadija bint Khuwaylid, also known as Lady Khadija, was the first wife of Prophet Muhammad. She was a wealthy businesswoman and entrepreneur, known for her honesty, fairness, and generosity in her business dealings. She was also highly regarded as one of the "'Mother of the Believers'" and one of the four "Ladies of Heaven" in the Islamic faith.
Khadija was approximately 40 years old when she married the Prophet Muhammad, who was around 22 to 25 years old at the time. Their marriage lasted for 24 years, from 595 until Khadija's death in 619, also known as the "Year of Sorrow." During their marriage, Khadija bore Muhammad two sons and four daughters, with only their daughter Fatimah surviving into adulthood.
Khadija played a significant role in supporting and believing in Prophet Muhammad, becoming his first follower when he began preaching the message of Islam. She used her wealth to support his mission and help Muslims in need, even during challenging times of poverty and hunger in Mecca. Khadija's death deeply affected Muhammad, and he faced persecution and ridicule from opponents and former followers.
After Khadija's death, Muhammad migrated to Yathrib, later named Medina, where he actively practiced polygyny and acquired about one wife per year. However, their 24-year-long marriage remained the most significant in his life, as Khadija was the only wife during that period, and they shared a deep devotion and companionship.
While there is no clear indication that Khadija was Catholic, she is often revered and respected by Muslims for her virtues, generosity, and support of Islam.
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Khadija was praised as one of the four best women in the world
Khadija bint Khuwaylid, the first wife of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, is revered in Islamic tradition for her exemplary character and her crucial role in the early history of Islam. She was a successful businesswoman and is known for being the first person to accept the prophet Muhammad's message and become a Muslim.
Islamic tradition holds Khadija in high esteem, and she is often praised as one of the four best women in the world, alongside Mary, the mother of Jesus; Asiah, the wife of Pharaoh; and Fatima, the daughter of Muhammad and Khadija herself. This distinction underscores Khadija's significance in the Islamic faith and her role as a role model for Muslim women.
One of the reasons Khadija is revered is her unwavering support for Muhammad during the early days of his prophethood. When Muhammad first received revelations from God through the angel Gabriel, it was Khadija who provided comfort, reassurance, and validation. She was the first person to believe in Muhammad's message and played a crucial role in strengthening his confidence in his prophetic mission.
Khadija's marriage to Muhammad lasted for 25 years, and she bore him several children, including Fatima, who would later become a pivotal figure in her own right. Khadija is described in Islamic sources as intelligent, wise, and compassionate. She was known for her generosity and used her wealth to support the less fortunate. Her social status and business acumen also contributed to the growth and stability of the early Muslim community.
The Prophet Muhammad himself is reported to have spoken highly of Khadija on numerous occasions, expressing his deep love, respect, and gratitude for her. He often praised her many virtues and held her up as an example for other women to emulate. Muhammad's appreciation for Khadija continued even after her death, as he fondly remembered her and honored her memory.
In conclusion, Khadija's status as one of the four best women in the world reflects her profound impact on the life of the Prophet Muhammad, the early Muslim community, and her enduring legacy in Islamic tradition. Her faith, support, and exemplary character have earned her a revered place in the hearts of Muslims worldwide.
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Frequently asked questions
Muhammad's first wife was Khadija bint Khuwaylid, also known as Lady Khadija.
No, Khadija bint Khuwaylid was Muslim. She was the first female to accept Islam and is honoured by Muslims as one of the "Mother of the Believers".
After Khadija, Muhammad went on to marry ten more women: Sawdah bint Zam'ah, Aisha bint Abi Bakr, Hafsah bint Umar, Zaynab bint Khuzayma, Hind bint Abi Umayya, Zaynab bint Jahsh, Juwayriya bint al-Harith, Ramla bint Abi Sufyan ibn Harb, Safiyya bint Huyayy, and Maymunah bint al-Harith.
Yes, Muhammad had seven biological children, six of whom were with his first wife, Khadija.
