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The Mother of the Believers Hazrat Sayyidah Khadija-tul-Kubra (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) was the first wife of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). Her father’s name was Khuwailid and her mother’s name was Fatimah bint Zāidah. Sayyidah Khadijah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) belonged to a powerful, rich and respected family of the Quraish tribe and was given the title of Tāhirah by the people of Makkah due to her modesty and piety. She was the most beloved wife of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and he did not marry anyone else during her lifetime. {Seerat-e-Mustafa}
Hazrat Sayyidah Khadijah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) stood unwaveringly by the side of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), especially during the period before his announcement of Prophethood. She constantly revered and supported him, validating every word he spoke. She embodied true comfort, offering unfaltering compassion and genuine companionship. In the face of challenges, denials or objections from disbelievers, Sayyidah Khadijah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) became of pillar of strength for him and lightened the burdens of his trials. Amidst distress and uncertainty, her presence became a source of solace and tranquility. {Al-Isti’āb}
Imam Ahmed, Abu Dawood and Nasāi narrate from Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Abbas (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) that the most excellent of all women of Jannah are Sayyidah Khadijah, Fatimah, Maryam and Āsiyah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anhum). {Zarqāni}
Some Ahadith have also specifically mentioned her excellence. Hazrat Abu Hurairah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) narrates that Hazrat Jibreel (Alaihis Salaam) once came to Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and said, “Ya Rasoolallah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), soon Khadijah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) shall come to you with a bowl of food. Give her the Salām of her Creator and my Salām, as well as glad tidings of a house made of pearls for her in Jannah, which is free from disturbance and difficulties.” {Bukhari Shareef}
In reply to the Salām, Sayyidah Khadijah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) stated, “Allah is Salām and peace be upon Jibreel (Alaihis Salām) and to you (Ya Rasoolallah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)), and the mercy and blessings of Allah Ta’ala.” From this reply we come to understand the knowledge of Hazrat Khadijah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) because she did not reply to the Salām of Allah Ta’ala by saying, “Peace be upon Him.” Due to her knowledge and understanding she knew that the reply to the Salām of Allah Ta’ala cannot be given as it is given to His creation. ‘Salām’ is one of the names of Allah Ta’ala. Furthermore, with this word, the one we talk to is given the Dua for peace. Therefore, in reply to the Salām of Allah Ta’ala she praised Almighty Allah. She then humbly replied to the Salām of Hazrat Jibreel (Alaihis Salaam) and then the Beloved Rasool (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). From this it is clearly understood that the one who conveys Salām should also be given the reply to the Salām along with the one who sends the Salām. {Fath-ul-Baari}
Therefore if someone conveys another person’s Salām to us, we should first convey the Dua of peace to the one who is conveying the Salām and then to the one who has sent the Salām. We should therefore reply with, “Alaika wa Alaihis Salām.” {Bahār-e-Shariat}
With regard to this unique excellence of Sayyidah Khadijah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha), Sayyidi A’la Hazrat (Alaihir Rahmah) states,
عرش سے جس پہ تسلیم نازل ہوئی
اس سَرائے سلامت پہ لاکھوں سلام
From the sacred Arsh, upon whom descended salutations
Upon that palace of peace and protection, millions of salutations
Another beautiful quality of Hazrat Khadijah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) is that she was very generous and used to spend open-heartedly. Once, the foster mother of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), Hazrat Sayyidah Halīmah Sa’diyah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) mentioned to Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) about a drought and the death of cattle. When he mentioned it to Hazrat Khadijah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha), she presented 40 goats and a camel to Hazrat Halīmah Sa’diyah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha). {At-Tabqāt-ul-Kubra}
Once, Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said to Hazrat Aisha Siddiqah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha), “By Allah! I have not found a better wife than Khadijah. When everyone rejected me, she believed in me and when everyone denied me, she bore witness to me and when no one was ready to give me anything, she gave me all her things, and Allah Ta’ala has granted me children from her. {Al-Isti’āb}
Hazrat Aisha Siddiqah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) has stated, “The person I was the envious of the most from all the Azwāj-e-Mutaharāt (blessed wives of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)) was Khadijah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha), even though I had not seen her. The reason for this was that Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) would constantly praise and remember her, and whenever he slaughtered an animal, he would surely send some meat to some of her friends. I would become very annoyed with this and would sometimes ask, ‘Has Khadijah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) been your only wife in the world?’ to which he would reply, ‘Yes, yes, indeed she was a caring wife. It is from her that Allah Ta’ala has blessed me with children.’” {Bukhari Shareef}
It has also been narrated from Hazrat Aisha Siddiqah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) that Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) once fed Hazrat Khadijah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) a grape from Jannah. {Zarqāni}
Hazrat Khadijah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) was a very wealthy lady. If she wanted, she could have lived her life with much comforts and luxury, but instead she rejected the worldly comforts and spent her entire life serving Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), bearing troubles, hardships and difficulties. She taught us how to love Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) sincerely and how to be obedient to Almighty Allah and His Beloved Rasool (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) no matter how much hardships and difficulties one has to go through. We also learn from this that a wife must stand by her husband in times of poverty and prosperity. Instead of arguing and unnecessarily complaining, she should always remain patient and be thankful.
Hazrat Sayyidah Khadijah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) was blessed with serving Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) for a period of 25 years, and passed away in Makkah at the age of 65, during the month of Ramadān, three years before the Hijrat (migration). Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) himself went to her grave to place her in it, in Jannat-ul-Ma’la. No Janāzah Salāh was performed for her as it had not been commanded in the Shariah at that time. {Zarqāni}
Hazrat Sayyiduna Jābir (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) narrates that Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was asked about Hazrat Sayyidah Khadijah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) after she passed away and he replied, “I have seen her in a house made of pearls, which is located on one of the rivers of Jannah; there is no useless thing in it nor is there any form of difficulty.” {Al-Mu’jam-ul-Kabeer}
SubhānAllah! A’la Hazrat (Alaihir Rahmah) beautifully states regarding her status,
سیما پہلی ماں کہف امن واماں
حق گزار رفاقت پہ لاکھوں سلام
Especially the first pure mother, the peaceful sanctuary of fortification
Upon the one who fulfilled her duty of companionship, millions of salutations
May Allah Ta’ala grant us the Taufeeq to have sincere love for Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and to sacrifice our lives for him the way Hazrat Sayyidah Khadijah (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anha) did, Āmeen.