Khadija (RA) Biography: First Woman in Islam

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) married Khadijah (RA), a wealthy woman nearly 15 years older than he was at their marriage. She was in her  40s, but the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was just 25. She is not only the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) but also the first woman in history to embrace Islam. Together with the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), she was the mother of four girls. During our Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) early years of struggle to spread Islam to his people, she was always there for him to offer support and encouragement.

Khadijah (RA) was a widow, having lost her husband and father in war. Khadijah (RA) had to take over the family business after her father, a wealthy trader, was killed in a conflict. Therefore, she inherited all the wealth her father had accumulated, and she became involved in running and expanding her family business. According to history, Khadijah (RA) was married twice before marrying our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). She had several children, most of whom were her previous husbands’ daughters.

Khadijah (RA) was a member of a prestigious family among the Quersh tribe of Mecca. Her family was well-known for their ample wealth and trade in the area in which they lived and where they would go to conduct business with others. Her mother’s name was Fatimah, and her father’s name was Khuwaylid ibn Asad, who was a popular businessman and a famous leader in the Queresh tribe of Mecca. Everyone in their tribe used to treat them with high respect. After her father and husband were killed in a war, Khadijah (RA) took control of the business. He would employ and compensate her relatives, then send them to various locations to run the family business. It was seen as unreasonable for women to conduct business in other areas, which was the sole reason she didn’t go for business.

During this time, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was a shepherd who grazed sheep and goats in the nearby highlands. During that time, he was known as Ameen, which means truthful, because of his reputation for sincerity and honesty. Khadijah(RA) learned of him, and she invited him to conduct business on her behalf by travelling to other countries. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) accepted her offer, carried her business materials to different places, and returned to his native Mecca with a substantial profit. Khadijah (RA) was impressed by the profits that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) brought her. She sent her marriage proposal immediately to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), who accepted it. Khadijah (RA) was 40 years old, whereas the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was 25.

First, Our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) shared with Khadijah (RA) the incident in a cave called Hira, which was located on a mountain known as Jabal-un-Noor. She assured her husband that he would never be in danger because he always stood by the truth. She took him to her paternal first cousin, Warqa bin Nawfal, a priest. After listening to his story, the priest cautioned him that his people would soon force him to flee since Allah would give him a great responsibility very quickly. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) received the first revelation when he was grabbed by Arch Angel Jabreal, whom he initially misunderstood as a ghost. He trembled with fear, wondering that he might not be safe once he returned to his residence.

She was a mighty pillar of support for the Prophet Muhammad (saw) during her whole life and played a significant part in the spread of Islam throughout the early years of the faith. It is believed that she left this world in her 60s, with 63 being the age reported by some sources and 65 beings written by others. She gave all of her wealth to the cause of Islam. Prophet Muhammad (saw) loved her throughout his life, and would always miss her. Khadijah (RA), because she had given up everything for the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Islam, it was difficult for our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to bear her loss. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Khadijah (RA) gave birth to 6 children: 4 daughters and two sons (saw). They were known as Qasim, Zainab, Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthum, and Fatima. Abd Allah was also among them. Both of the sons passed away when they were still little.

In addition to being the first wife of our loved Prophet Muhammad, Khadija (RA) is also the first woman to join Islam. She did this before any other woman had accepted Islam. She was aware that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was heading in the right path because he was her husband, and who in the world is better than a wife who knows her husband, and who in the world knows a wife better than her husband? She knew that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was on the path of righteousness because she was married to him. She was very certain and convinced that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was a true Prophet and that he had received revelation from the almighty Allah when Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) came home with a shivering body fearing for his life.