(Sayyidah Khadeejah [radhiyallahu ‘anha] – Part One)
From all our respected mothers (i.e. the pure and blessed wives of Rasulullah [sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam]), Sayyidah Khadeejah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) had the privilege of being the first of his wives, hence our first mother. This privilege made her enjoy a very special position in the sight of Allah Ta‘ala, as well as His Beloved Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) once explained that Sayyidah Maryam (‘alaihas salaam) was the best woman of her time and Sayyidah Khadeejah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) was the best woman of hers. (Saheeh Bukhaari #3815 and Fat-hul Baari)
On another occasion Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) mentioned, “Khadeejah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) has been favoured over the women of my Ummah as Maryam (‘alaihas salaam) had been favoured over the women of the worlds.” (Tabraani and Bazzaar – Majma‘uz Zawaaid #15260)
On one occasion, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) drew four lines on the ground. He then asked the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), “Do you know what this is?” They replied saying that Allah and His Rasool (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) know best. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then explained his illustration saying, “The best women of Jannah are: Khadeejah bintu Khuwailid, Faatimah bintu Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), Aasiyah bintu Muzaahim, the wife of Fir‘aun, and Maryam bintu ‘Imraan (radhiyallahu ‘anhunna). And the superiority of ‘Aaishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) over all other women (in the comprehensiveness of her nature, temperament and personality) is like the superiority of the thareed dish over all other foods.” (Musnad Ahmad #2668)
Sayyidah Khadeejah’s (radhiyallahu ‘anha) father’s name was Khuwailid bin Asad who was a respected person of his tribe. He married a woman by the name of Faatimah bintu Zaa-idah. From this union Sayyidah Khadeejah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) was born, fifteen years prior to the famous incident of the elephants that appears in Surah Feel of the Quraan Majeed. (Tabaqaat vol. 8, pg. 14 & 16)
Even in the days of ignorance, when various vice and indecent acts were commonly practiced in the community of Makkah Mukarramah, Sayyidah Khadeejah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) was so chaste that she earned the title “Taahirah” (the pure woman). She was given this title because of her chastity and because she would not engage in the shameful acts which the women of jaahiliyyah would carry out. (Sharhuz Zurqaani vol. 4, pg. 363)
Initially there was talk of her marrying her cousin, Waraqah bin Naufal, but she did not end up marrying him. (Al-Isaabah vol. 8 pg. 100) Instead, she married Abu Haalah, Nabbaash bin Zuraarah. From this union she had two sons; Hind and Haalah. Both of them had accepted Islam and were blessed with the companionship of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
When Abu Haalah passed away, Sayyidah Khadeejah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) married ‘Ateeq bin ‘Aabid. From him she had given birth to one daughter, Hind (radhiyallahu ‘anha), who was a Sahaabiyyah as well. Later, her second husband also passed away and she was widowed for the second time. Finally she married Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) after being learning about his noble and beautiful qualities when she had employed him. (Sharhuz Zurqaani vol. 1, pg. 373)
Lesson:
When a person keeps himself/herself pure and chaste, Allah Ta‘ala will grant them a spouse who is pure and chaste as well, as Allah Ta‘ala says in the Quraan Majeed, “The pure women are for the pure men, and the pure men are for the pure women.” (Surah Noor v26) Sayyidah Khadeejah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) protected herself from the shameless environment present at the time and remained chaste and pure; therefore, Allah Ta‘ala blessed her with the pinnacle of purity and chastity – Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).