The Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ was born in Mecca, a city in the present day’s Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He belonged to the Hashimi clan of the Quraysh tribe. The Arabs, including the Quraysh of Mecca, were badly indulged in all sorts of evil practices, such as idolatry, untruthfulness, deceitfulness, and many other mischievous activities. They used to fight with each other and outsiders, even on petty issues.
They often robbed the traders and even physically harmed them. But Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ never involved in any such activities. He spent most of his time in isolation, away from the town, in search of the truth, right from a very early age. He never worshiped the idols, as was the practice and norm then. He always followed the straight path.
His conduct and dealings with others were so good, trustworthy, and truthful that he got the title As-Sadiq (truthful) and Al-Amin (trustworthy) in his early youth, and that too in a culture where everyone was ever ready to deceive others, especially in financial matters.
Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا Assigns Her Trading Matters to Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ
Just around that time, Hazrat Khadija Bint Khuwaylid Ibn Asad was a famous female trader. She was also known for her good character and generosity. She used to assign her trading affairs to some other trader. When she heard about the truthfulness and trustworthiness of Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, a young member of the Hashim Clan, she decided to entrust her trading affairs to him, which he accepted. Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا deputed her servant Masara to accompany Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ on the trading trip to Damascus, Syria.
It was a unique experience for Masara. He witnessed some extra ordinary events, while accompanying Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. Per some traditions, Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ stopped under the shadow of a tree to avoid the scorching heat of the Sun. A Christian monk saw him under that tree and told Masara that traditionally, the Prophets used to stay under this tree.
As per another tradition, Masara observed that when Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ traveled during the hot sunny days, he was covered by clouds (or Angels), which suddenly appeared from nowhere. And above all, the trading of Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, on behalf of Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا was enormously profitable. He earned double the profit, which was traditionally unexpected from trading this scale.
Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا Was Impressed
After the successful trading trip of Damascus, Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ returned back to Mecca along with Masara. Masara shared everything, what happened during this tour with Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا, especially the words of the monk and other extraordinary happenings. Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا was quite impressed and, at the same time, was very happy and satisfied with the volume of profit earned by Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ during this trading event. Apart from the profit, she was particularly impressed by his personality and conduct.
Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا Was Convinced to Marry Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ
Nafisa was one of the closest friends of Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا. She used to share everything with Nafisa. So, she told her the entire story of the trading trip to Damascus and the conduct and character of Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. At that stage Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا was around 40 years old. It is believed that she was twice widowed by that time, though some scholars disagree with it.
Being a rich woman of her time, many of the notable Meccans were interested in taking her hand in marriage. Still, she refused them because she hated their character and very well knew that they were just after her wealth than anything else. So, Nafisa suggested that she should marry Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ.
Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا was already much impressed by the conduct of Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ as well as his personality, she agreed with this suggestion and assigned this task to her friend Nafisa to talk to Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ about this proposal. Nafisa met Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ and explained the entire matter to him. After a brief discussion he agreed on this proposal.
Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ Discusses The Offer of Marriage With His Uncle Abu Talib
Abu Talib was the guardian and real uncle of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. After the death of his grandfather, Abu Talib took the responsibility of young Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. So, he shared the marriage proposal with Abu Talib.
He agreed with this suggestion and took Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ to the father of Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا, where the marriage was formally agreed between both families. Some scholars are of the view that the father of Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا had died before this marriage in 585 CE, so it was her uncle who finalized and handled the affairs of this marriage. However, there is no authentic evidence of it.
Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ was 25 years old at this point in time, whereas Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا was 40. After the marriage, the Prophet shifted to the residence of Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا.
25 Years of Married Life of Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ And Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا
The marriage of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ with Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا proved a remarkable success. Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا was a wise and loving woman. She extended all sorts of help and cooperation to her husband in all situations and circumstances. They spent together almost 25 years. During this period, Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ did not marry any other woman. All his other marriages took place after the death of Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا. Many important events happened during this period, the most significant being the first divine revelation on the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ.
It was the year 610 CE, and Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ was on his routine meditation in a cave on Mount Hira, away from Mecca, when the first divine revelation was revealed upon him through the Angel Gabriel. This was an extraordinary happening, which affected him a lot. He immediately returned home and told the whole story to his wife, Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا. At this crucial time, Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا gave him moral support. She opined that since you are a truthful person, Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ will not let you down.
She, then shared this with her cousin Warqa Ibn Naufal, who was an expert on the Jewish and Christian scriptures. After listening to the whole story, he opined that Muhammad had been chosen as Prophet, which was mentioned in the previous Holy Books.
So, Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا not only helped Muhammad come out of the initial shock and fear but she was also the first to embrace Islam. She also assisted the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ morally and financially in spreading the message of Islam.
After a successful companionship spanning around 25 years, Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا died in the year 619 CE. Abu Talib, uncle of the Prophet, also died in the same year. Both of them had been great supporters of the Prophet; hence, it is often termed “the Year of Sorrow” (Am al-Huzn) in the life of the Prophet. This was the 10th year of his Prophethood. Within a few years after this happening, the situation worsened for the Prophet, in Mecca. Eventually, he had to migrate to Medina.
Children of Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ And Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا
The married life of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ with Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا was a great success by all means. During this time, they had six children; two sons and four daughters. Their first son was Qasim, who died at the age of around three years. Then their four daughters were born, Zaynab, Ruqayya, Kulsum, and Fatima. Their last child was their son Abd Allah, commonly known as Tahir. He died in his early childhood. So, both the sons of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ died as infants.
All the children of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ were born to his first wife, Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا except his last son Ibrahim, which was born to his wife Maria Al-Qibtiya. Ibrahim also died as an infant. So, all the surviving daughters of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ were born to his first wife Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ. However, there is a difference of opinion on this issue between the Sunni and Shia Scholars.
Unlike the majority of the Sunni Scholars, Shia Scholars are of the view that the first three daughters of Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا were from her previous marriages, and only Fatima رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا was the daughter of the Prophet. However, the majority of the Islamic commentators agree that all four were the daughters of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ.
Marriages of The Daughters of Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ
Zaynab was married to Abu al-As Ibn al-Rabi, who was a companion of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. Ruqayya was married to Uthman Ibn Affan رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ (who was the third Rashidun Caliph) one of the close companions of the Prophet. After her death, another daughter of the Prophet Kulsum was married to Uthman رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ. That’s why he is also known as “Zunnurain” (ذوالنورین), which means “Possessor of Two Lights”.
The last and the fourth daughter of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, namely Fatima رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا was married to Ali رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ, cousin of the Prophet and one of his closest companions. Fatima رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا is the most prominent among the daughters of the Prophet, whom he loved so much. The term “Ahl al-Bayt” (أَهْل ٱلْبَيْت) or the “People of the House” is commonly referred to as the descendants of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, his daughter Fatima رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا and her husband Ali رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ, along with their sons Hassan and Hussayn رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُمَا.
Fatima رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا and her mother Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا are among the four most revered females, commonly referred to as “Four Ladies of the Heavens”. The other two are Asiya (wife of Pharaoh) and Maryam (mother of the Prophet Isa عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ).
The Burial Place of Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا, The First Wife of The Prophet
Hazrat Khadija, the first wife of the Prophet died in Mecca in 619 CE. She was buried in the famous cemetery, Jannat al-Muallaa, which was situated in Mecca. A mausoleum was also built at that place. However, the cemetery of Jannat al-Muallaa was later on demolished in the 1920s by the then King Ibn Saud, as per their religious beliefs and policy of the Kingdom.
 to Khadijah, a union built on love, respect, and mutual support. Learn about their relationship and its significance in Islamic history.){kind=link}