Life of Khadijah bint Khuwaylid(RZ)
Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2025 10:06 am
Early Life and Noble Lineage
Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (رضي الله عنها) was born around 555 CE in the city of Makkah into the prestigious Qurayshi tribe of Banu Asad. Her father, Khuwaylid ibn Asad, was a respected leader and a successful merchant, while her mother belonged to a noble lineage as well. Khadijah (RA) was known for her nobility, wisdom, and high moral character, even before the advent of Islam. She earned the title “Tāhirah” (the Pure One) due to her upright conduct, generosity, and chastity.
From an early age, she demonstrated intelligence, integrity, and strong leadership qualities. These attributes later enabled her to rise as one of the most successful and influential women of her time.
A Successful Businesswoman
Khadijah (RA) took over her father’s trading business and successfully grew it into one of the most respected and thriving commercial enterprises in Makkah. She dealt in goods imported from Syria and Yemen and employed trusted agents to carry out her trading caravans. Despite the male-dominated society of pre-Islamic Arabia, Khadijah (RA) held her own as an astute and powerful business figure. She was well-known for her honesty and generosity toward employees and the poor.
Her sharp business insight, combined with her integrity and ethical dealings, earned her widespread respect and admiration throughout Makkah. It was through this business that she came into contact with Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who at the time had not yet received revelation.
Marriage to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
Khadijah (RA) first learned of Muhammad’s ﷺ trustworthiness and exemplary character through mutual acquaintances and decided to employ him to manage one of her trade caravans to Syria. Impressed by his honesty, diligence, and conduct, she later proposed marriage to him.
At the time, Khadijah (RA) was 40 years old and had already been widowed twice, while the Prophet ﷺ was 25. Their marriage was one of deep love, mutual respect, and spiritual partnership. Together, they had six children: two sons, who died in infancy, and four daughters—Zaynab, Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthum, and Fatimah (RA).
The First to Embrace Islam
When Prophet Muhammad ﷺ received the first revelation in the Cave of Hira at the age of 40, he returned home shaken and deeply moved by the experience. Khadijah (RA) immediately comforted and reassured him with unwavering faith and support. She was the first person to believe in his Prophethood, making her the first Muslim in history.
She took him to her cousin, Waraqah ibn Nawfal, a Christian scholar, who confirmed that Muhammad ﷺ had indeed encountered the Angel Jibreel (Gabriel), and that he was the awaited Prophet foretold in earlier scriptures.
Support During Times of Trial
Khadijah (RA) played a crucial and foundational role in the early development of Islam. She stood firmly beside the Prophet ﷺ when he was rejected by his people, mocked by the Quraysh, and endured boycott and persecution. She provided both emotional and financial support, using her wealth to protect and assist the early Muslim community.
Her home became a safe haven for the Prophet ﷺ and his followers. Her generosity extended to freeing slaves who had accepted Islam and assisting the poor and oppressed.
Death and Legacy
Khadijah (RA) passed away in the 10th year of Prophethood (619 CE), at the age of 65, shortly after the end of the economic and social boycott placed on the Muslims in the Valley of Abu Talib. Her death deeply grieved the Prophet ﷺ. That year became known as the “Year of Sorrow” (‘Ām al-Huzn) because of the profound grief caused by the consecutive deaths of his beloved wife Khadijah (RA) and his uncle Abu Talib.
The Prophet ﷺ never forgot Khadijah (RA). Even years after her passing, he would speak of her with immense love and admiration. He said:
Though Khadijah (RA) is not widely recorded as a teacher or narrator of Hadith due to the early period in which she lived, her influence on Islamic scholarship is immense through indirect means:
(a) Spiritual Mentorship: She provided emotional and intellectual support to the Prophet ﷺ during the critical early period of revelation.
(b) Role Model: Her life remains a benchmark for Muslim women in faith, piety, entrepreneurship, and resilience.
(c) Legacy Through Family: She raised Fatimah (RA), who became the mother of the Prophet’s ﷺ noble descendants and married Imam Ali (RA). Her household nurtured leaders of Islam like Hasan and Husayn (RA).
Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (RA) was far more than the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ—she was a pillar of strength, a model of virtue, and a symbol of unwavering faith. Her contributions to Islam in its most vulnerable stages cannot be overstated. As the first believer, the Prophet’s greatest supporter, and a successful woman of her time, she continues to inspire millions around the world. She is honored by Muslims as Umm al-Mu’minin—the Mother of the Believers—and her legacy remains deeply embedded in the spiritual and moral fabric of Islam.
Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (رضي الله عنها) was born around 555 CE in the city of Makkah into the prestigious Qurayshi tribe of Banu Asad. Her father, Khuwaylid ibn Asad, was a respected leader and a successful merchant, while her mother belonged to a noble lineage as well. Khadijah (RA) was known for her nobility, wisdom, and high moral character, even before the advent of Islam. She earned the title “Tāhirah” (the Pure One) due to her upright conduct, generosity, and chastity.
From an early age, she demonstrated intelligence, integrity, and strong leadership qualities. These attributes later enabled her to rise as one of the most successful and influential women of her time.
A Successful Businesswoman
Khadijah (RA) took over her father’s trading business and successfully grew it into one of the most respected and thriving commercial enterprises in Makkah. She dealt in goods imported from Syria and Yemen and employed trusted agents to carry out her trading caravans. Despite the male-dominated society of pre-Islamic Arabia, Khadijah (RA) held her own as an astute and powerful business figure. She was well-known for her honesty and generosity toward employees and the poor.
Her sharp business insight, combined with her integrity and ethical dealings, earned her widespread respect and admiration throughout Makkah. It was through this business that she came into contact with Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who at the time had not yet received revelation.
Marriage to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
Khadijah (RA) first learned of Muhammad’s ﷺ trustworthiness and exemplary character through mutual acquaintances and decided to employ him to manage one of her trade caravans to Syria. Impressed by his honesty, diligence, and conduct, she later proposed marriage to him.
At the time, Khadijah (RA) was 40 years old and had already been widowed twice, while the Prophet ﷺ was 25. Their marriage was one of deep love, mutual respect, and spiritual partnership. Together, they had six children: two sons, who died in infancy, and four daughters—Zaynab, Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthum, and Fatimah (RA).
The First to Embrace Islam
When Prophet Muhammad ﷺ received the first revelation in the Cave of Hira at the age of 40, he returned home shaken and deeply moved by the experience. Khadijah (RA) immediately comforted and reassured him with unwavering faith and support. She was the first person to believe in his Prophethood, making her the first Muslim in history.
She took him to her cousin, Waraqah ibn Nawfal, a Christian scholar, who confirmed that Muhammad ﷺ had indeed encountered the Angel Jibreel (Gabriel), and that he was the awaited Prophet foretold in earlier scriptures.
Support During Times of Trial
Khadijah (RA) played a crucial and foundational role in the early development of Islam. She stood firmly beside the Prophet ﷺ when he was rejected by his people, mocked by the Quraysh, and endured boycott and persecution. She provided both emotional and financial support, using her wealth to protect and assist the early Muslim community.
Her home became a safe haven for the Prophet ﷺ and his followers. Her generosity extended to freeing slaves who had accepted Islam and assisting the poor and oppressed.
Death and Legacy
Khadijah (RA) passed away in the 10th year of Prophethood (619 CE), at the age of 65, shortly after the end of the economic and social boycott placed on the Muslims in the Valley of Abu Talib. Her death deeply grieved the Prophet ﷺ. That year became known as the “Year of Sorrow” (‘Ām al-Huzn) because of the profound grief caused by the consecutive deaths of his beloved wife Khadijah (RA) and his uncle Abu Talib.
The Prophet ﷺ never forgot Khadijah (RA). Even years after her passing, he would speak of her with immense love and admiration. He said:
Her Scholarly Influence and AchievementsShe had faith in me when others doubted, embraced Islam when people turned away, and supported me with her wealth when no one else offered help-(Musnad Ahmad)
Though Khadijah (RA) is not widely recorded as a teacher or narrator of Hadith due to the early period in which she lived, her influence on Islamic scholarship is immense through indirect means:
(a) Spiritual Mentorship: She provided emotional and intellectual support to the Prophet ﷺ during the critical early period of revelation.
(b) Role Model: Her life remains a benchmark for Muslim women in faith, piety, entrepreneurship, and resilience.
(c) Legacy Through Family: She raised Fatimah (RA), who became the mother of the Prophet’s ﷺ noble descendants and married Imam Ali (RA). Her household nurtured leaders of Islam like Hasan and Husayn (RA).
Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (RA) was far more than the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ—she was a pillar of strength, a model of virtue, and a symbol of unwavering faith. Her contributions to Islam in its most vulnerable stages cannot be overstated. As the first believer, the Prophet’s greatest supporter, and a successful woman of her time, she continues to inspire millions around the world. She is honored by Muslims as Umm al-Mu’minin—the Mother of the Believers—and her legacy remains deeply embedded in the spiritual and moral fabric of Islam.