Naeem Kandwal
Today, Islam is the greatest force in the world. Islam is the most powerful religion. Its enemies cannot do it any harm. It is like a mighty oak which the storms of the world cannot uproot. Yet there was a time when this mighty oak was a tiny sapling, and desperately needed someone to protect it from the hurricanes of idolatry and polytheism which threatened to uproot it. Islam cannot forget that in its infancy, it were Abu Talib ( a.s ) and Khadija ( s.a ) who protected it. They made Islam powerful. Khad?ja bt. Khuwaylid (a) known as Khad?ja al-Kubr? (a) and Umm al-Mu’min?n (the Mother of Believers), was the first wife of Prophet Muhammad (s) and the mother of Lady Fatima (a). She was born in Makkah. Her father name Khawailad Ibn Asad. Her mother name was Fatima. She married Prophet Muhammad (s) 15 years before Bi’tha (595-96 CE) and was the first woman who converted to Islam. Khadija (a) dedicated her wealth for expansion of Islam. Prophet Muhammad (s) did not choose another wife during his marital life with Khadija (a). During her life and after her demise, the Prophet (s) always praised Khadija (a). Her birth is said to be fefteen years before ‘Am al-Fil in Mecca. She was the mother of Hazrat Fatimah Zahra (s.a.). Hazrat Khadijah (s.a.) inherited a lot of wealth from her father. She ran a flourishing trading business and there were many people under her employment. She had more than 80,000 camels. Her business interests extended up to Ethiopia and Egypt. Managing such a huge business underlines her business acumen and managerial capabilities. Selecting the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), who was known for his trustworthiness, for her business manifests her judgment of character. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) traveled to Syria for business at the age of 25 years. Selecting a person devoid of worldly embellishments as her husband underscores that despite being wealthy, Hazrat Khadijah (s.a.) was not inclined towards the world; rather, she was predisposed towards ethics and spirituality and hence chose the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), who outranked all men in Arabia on this count. The marriage ceremony was held under the auspices of the Holy Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) guardian and uncle, Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.). He (a.s.) performed the marriage rites on behalf of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), while Waraqah b. Naufal did so on behalf of Hazrat Khadijah (s.a.). Hazrat Abu Talib’s (a.s.) role in the Holy Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.) marriage is a direct response to those who are skeptical about his faith. He was a monotheist and if he was anything else, Allah and His Prophet (s.a.w.a.) would never have allowed him to be associated with the latter’s marriage to Hazrat Khadijah (s.a.). Ameerul Momineen Ali b. Abi Talib (a.s.) says: “In those days Islam was observed only in one house, in which Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and Hazrat Khadijah (s.a.) resided and I was the third one (in the house).” (Nahjul Balagah, Khutbah-e-Qase’aa) Khadija irrigated islam with her wealth. Protecting Islam was, for Abu Talib and Khadija, their foremost duty. Islam was their first love, and it was a love which they passed on, as their “legacy” to their children. If they – Abu Talib and Khadija – had protected the tree of Islam from its enemies in the lifetime of Muhammad Mustafa, and had “irrigated” it with vast quantities of gold and silver, their children and their grandchildren protected it, from its enemies after his death, and irrigated it with their blood. Their blood was the most sacrosanct blood in all creation. After all, it was the blood of Muhammad Mustafa himself – the Last and the Greatest of all Messengers of Allah, and the Chief of all Apostles and Prophets. Hazrat Khadijah (s.a.) offered her wealth without a moment’s hesitation to the Holy Prophet’s (s.a.w.a.). She never demanded anything in return and never interfered in his (s.a.w.a.) decisions. On the contrary, she supported him at each and every step. History does not mention a single incident wherein she spoke arrogantly about her wealth or embarrassed the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) by reminding him (s.a.w.a.) about her favors. None can deny the role of Hazrat Khadijah’s (s.a.) wealth in the propagation of Islam. This is the reason that the famous Maaleki scholar Muhammad b. Ilamovi claimed: “Islam was established with the sword of Ali (bravery) and the wealth of Khadijah” Khadija was an “eye-witness” of the birth of Islam. She nursed it through its infancy, through its most difficult, and through its most formative years. Islam was given shape and design in her home. If any home can be called the cradle of Islam, it was her home. She “reared” Islam. If any home can be called the “axis” of Islam, it was her home; Islam revolved around her home. Her home was the “home” of Quran Majid -the Book of Allah, and the religious and political code of Islam. It was in her home that Gabriel was bringing Revelations from Heaven for ten years. Hazrat Khadijah (RA) passed away on 10th Ramadhan. At that time, Islam and Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) suffered a dual setback with the demise of Hazrat Abu Taalib (a.s.) and Hazrat Khadijah (s.a.). This calamity was so great that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) named the year “Aamul Huzn” (Year of Grief). Over the last fourteen centuries, we have seen many personalities who have served Islam but we are hard pressed to find anyone more exemplary than Hazrat Khadijah (s.a.).
