The Mothers of the Believers: Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid

It was narrated by Ibn Abbas that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ drew four lines on the ground and said, “Do you know what this is?” They said, Allah and his Messenger know best. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “The best of women among the people of Jannah are: (1) Khadijah b. Khuwaylid, (2) Fatimah b. Muḥammad, (3) Asiyah b. Muzaḥim, the wife of Pharaoh, and (4) Maryam daughter of Imran.” (Admed, 2668)

The best woman at her time

Narrated Ali: I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, “Mary, the daughter of Imran, was the best among the women (of the world of her time) and Khadija is the best amongst the women. (of this nation).” (Bukhari, 3432)

• She was born in Makkah, her father was Khwaylid bin Asad, and her mother was Fatimah bint Zaed.
• She was an honorable wealthy businesswoman, and she employed the Prophet (ﷺ)  to do trade on her behalf and they will share the profits. 
• She was the first wife of the Prophet (ﷺ) and his only wife during her lifetime.
• She bore him six children, two sons who died at a young age and four daughters.
• She was the first person to accept Islam as her religion. 
•  She supported and encouraged the Prophet (ﷺ) in his mission with her wealth, emotional and physical presence. Moreover, she was a great supporter to Islam. 
• She was kind and comfort to the Prophet (ﷺ) and when the Prophet (ﷺ) met Angel Jibreel in the cave, he was frightened, and Khadijah was to the one to comfort his with kind and reassuring words and she took him (ﷺ) to her cousin. 

Wrap me! Wrap me!

Jabir bin Abdullah [may Allah be pleased with him] said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah – and he was narrating about the pause in Revelation – so he said in his narration: “I was walking, when I heard a voice from the heavens. So, I raised my head, and there was an angel, the one that had come to me at Hira, sitting upon a chair between the heavens and the earth. I fled from him out of fear, and I returned and said: ‘Wrap me up! Wrap me up! So, they covered me.” Then Allah, Most High revealed: ‘O you who are wrapped up! Arise and warm.’ Up to His saying: ‘And keep away from the Rujz!’ before the Salat was made obligatory.” (Tirmidhi, 3325)

After experience this, he (ﷺ) went to Khadijah and asked to be covered 

Beloved to The Prophet (ﷺ)

Narrated Aisha: “I did not feel jealous of any of the wives of the Prophet (ﷺ) as much as I did of Khadija though I did not see her, but the Prophet (ﷺ) used to mention her very often, and whenever he slaughtered a sheep, he would cut its parts and send them to the women friends of Khadija. When I sometimes said to him, “(You treat Khadija in such a way) as if there is no woman on earth except Khadija,” he would say, "Khadija was such-and-such, and from her I had children.” (Bukhari, 3818)

A palace in Paradise 

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said that Gabriel said, “Here is Khadija coming to you with a dish of food or a tumbler containing something to drink. Convey to her a greeting from her Lord (Allah) and give her the glad tidings that she will have a palace in Paradise built of Qasab wherein there will be neither any noise nor any fatigue (trouble).” (Bukhari, 7497)

Support and kindness

Narrated Aisha: The Prophet (ﷺ) returned to Khadija while his heart was beating rapidly. She took him to Waraqa bin Naufal who was a Christian convert and used to read the Gospels in Arabic, Waraqa asked (the Prophet), "What do you see?" When he told him, Waraqa said, "That is the same angel whom Allah sent to the Prophet) Moses. Should I live till you receive the Divine Message, I will support you strongly." (Bukhari, 3392)

When the Prophet (ﷺ) received the first revelation, he (ﷺ) came to Khadijah frightened, she consoled him and took him to his cousin Waraqa, who was a knowledgeable man. Waraqa informed them that the Prophet (ﷺ) saw the same angel whom Allah sent to Prophet Musa. 

“Then Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)  returned with that experience; and the muscles between his neck and shoulders were trembling till he came upon Khadija (his wife) and said, “Cover me!” They covered him, and when the state of fear was over, he said to Khadija, “O Khadija! What is wrong with me? I was afraid that something bad might happen to me.” Then he told her the story. Khadija said, “Nay! But receive the good tidings! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you, for by Allah, you keep good relations with your Kith and kin, speak the truth, help the poor and the destitute, entertain your guests generously and assist those who are stricken with calamities.” Khadija then took him to Waraqa bin Naufil, the son of Khadija's paternal uncle.” (Bukhari, 4953)

The death of the beloved

Narrated Hisham’s father: “Khadija died three years before the Prophet (ﷺ) departed to Medina. He stayed there for two years or so and then he married Aisha when she was a girl of six years of age, and he consummated that marriage when she was nine years old.” (Bukhari, 3896)

Khadijah passed away three years before the Hijrah to Madinah. The Prophet (ﷺ) grieved the death of his beloved wife. The year of Sorrow was the year that the prophet (ﷺ) lost his beloved wife, the greatest supporter and protective uncle Abu Talib. It was the same year that the Prophet (ﷺ) visited Taif and the Taif incident took place. 

Khadijah was the beloved wife of the Prophet (ﷺ), the mother of his children except Ibrahim and the mother of the believers. She was an honorable woman and the greatest supporter of Islam. Khadijah was a loving, caring and wise woman; she always stood by the prophet's side at the time of ease and difficulty.