Lessons from the life of Hazrat Khadija: Hazrat Khadijah was the first woman to embrace Islam and become the first wife of our Holy Prophet Muhammed (PBUH). Her name was Khadijahtul-Kubra Bint Khuwailid . She is also called “Ummaha Tul Momineen” (Mother of the Believers).
Hazrat Khadija As A Role Model
All “Ummas” see her as an ideal and role model for living a holy, peaceful, and Islamic way of life. She was firmly committed to Allah (S.T.) and his Messenger. She devoted her whole fortune to the cause of Islam. She was happy and loved our Prophet (PBUH).
Hazrat Khadijah (RA) was always more important to our Prophet (PBUH) than any other woman. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) spent a significant amount of his happy life married to her, and anybody who has read the Seerah (biography of the Prophet) can see his profound regard, love, and respect for her.
Hazrat Khadijah was the eyewitness to Islam’s founding. She backed Hazrat Muhammad and Islam from the very beginning, through the thick and thin when there were not enough supporters of Islam and Prophet of Allah till Islam stood strong as well as Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). She was the Prophet’s first supporter when the revelation began in Makkah, and the early years of Islam unfolded in her home and under her care, until her death a few years before the Hijrah. The Prophet (PBUH) did not marry any other wife during her lifetime.
Hazrat Khadijah was a well-known trader. When the Quraysh’s trade caravan travelers assembled to start on their summer voyage to Syria or their winter trek to Yemen, historians report that Hazrat Khadijah’s trade was among the largest in Makkah, with her caravans said to equal those of many other Quraysh traders combined.
Why Was She Called Khadijah-Tul-Kubra?
She was rich and kind. She fed and clothed the destitute, offered financial assistance to her family, and supplied marriage parts for needy relatives due to her great contribution and kindness towards the poor she was called Khadijah-Tul-Kubra which literally means Khadijah the Great. Hazrat Khadijah (RA) was claimed to have never worshipped or believed in idols, which was unusual in pre-Islamic Arabian society. Jibril (AS) conveyed to the Prophet (PBUH) the greetings of peace from Allah to her, with the glad tidings of a house of pearl in Paradise free of noise and toil (Bukhari, Muslim).
What We Can Learn From The Life of Hazrat Khadija?
Hazrat Khadijah spent many years of her life with Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) till her death, her life is a role model for many of us. The following are important lessons we can all take from Hazrat Khadijah’s life:
1: How To Stand Beside Your Loved Ones.
The most important lesson one can learn from the life of Hazrat Khadijah is how to be a rock for your family.
Hazrat Khadijah stayed firm as a pillar of support for her husband even though society was against him and refused to give up. Even though Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) married numerous additional wives in subsequent years, Hazrat Khadijah always retained a particular place in his heart due to her wonderful disposition. Her demise has left an indelible mark.
With her excellent character and temperament, a lady may pleasantly enrich the ambiance of her house. “Life’s pleasures are multiplied with a dedicated and pious partner,” as the saying goes.
2: Loyalty
Throughout her life, Hazrat Khadijah stayed loyal to her better half and the cause (read more about the rights of wives in Islam). Due to her loyalty, Islam grew stronger in the most devastating times and she was the biggest support of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
When one’s partner is having troubles, a decent husband or wife soothes the other rather than aggravating the situation by raging and criticizing. Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) was the purest of creation, and Allah provided him with a companion who matched his exalted rank in terms of purity, and who served as his pillar of strength at one of Islam’s most critical moments.
3: Kindness
Hazrat Khadijah gladly embraced Islam as a faith that does not discriminate between the affluent and the poor. When a perfect chance to transfer riches to needy, unemployed individuals she did not turn it down. She even assisted young females in getting married by arranging endowments for them. Her generosity is a reminder of the rewards of charity in Islam.
Hazrat Khadijah is counted among the best women of all time, as the Prophet (PBUH) said that the best of the women of the world are Maryam bint Imran and Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (Bukhari, Muslim). Even now, she continues to inspire those who learn more about her and her relationship with Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
4: Taqwa
Hazarat Khadijah was a very rich and successful businesswoman, she could have led a luxurious life but Allah chose her to the better half of his beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) she happily sacrificed her ease and comfort for the sake of Allah (S.T.) and his messenger.
Hazrat Khadijah possessed such a high characteristic of taqwa that Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) characterized her in a hadith as “the best amongst the women” (Bukhari)
5: Financial Independency
Hazrat Khadijah’s example should inspire us- the female of the society, we should know that a woman can be a great wife, mother, and daughter but at the same time she can work, do business, and Excel in her career.
Hazrat Khadijah belonged to the noble Quraysh clan of Asad in Mecca and, after inheriting wealth from her father and earlier husbands, built her own successful trading business. Despite the fact that society at the time was overwhelmingly and dangerously male-dominated, she went about her job and gradually rose to prominence.
She would trade goods and hire men to defend her company as they traveled from Mecca through Yemen and then to Syria. As a result, her business grew to be larger than all of the Quraysh tribe’s combined organizations, which she achieved just via reasonable deals in spectacular items.
Conclusion
Islamic history is full of stories of independent, empowered women, as we discussed in our previous post on The Most Influential Women in Islamic History. Hazrat Khadijah’s life teaches us that a woman can be the reason for the strongest person’s strength either as a daughter, wife, or mother. Sometimes we might have to leave either a lifestyle or things that are favorable to us to lead a life that is favorite to Allah Almighty. Her life can be taken as a model to follow, in order to live a life that will lead to success in this life and the hereafter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (RA)?
She was a respected and wealthy businesswoman of Makkah, the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the first to believe in his message. She is known as one of the Mothers of the Believers.
Was Khadijah (RA) the first Muslim?
Most scholars say she was the first person to accept Islam after the Prophet (PBUH), though a few narrations mention others; Allah knows best. What all agree on is that she supported him from the first moment of revelation.
How did Khadijah (RA) support the Prophet (PBUH)?
She comforted him after the first revelation, spent her wealth for the cause of Islam, and stood by him during the boycott in the valley of Abu Talib. See also our post on Islamic quotes about love.
What did the Prophet (PBUH) say about Khadijah (RA)?
He said that she believed in him when others rejected him, and supported him with her wealth when others withheld, and that Allah granted him children from her (Ahmad). He also continued to remember her kindly long after her death.
How many children did Khadijah (RA) have with the Prophet (PBUH)?
Scholars generally agree that she bore the Prophet’s children, including Qasim, Abdullah and four daughters: Zaynab, Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthum and Fatimah (RA). For details, please consult reliable seerah books or a qualified scholar.