Wife of the Prophet
Khodijah Siti

Khadijah bint Khuwailid or known as al-Kubra and Ummul Mukminin is the wife of Prophet Muhammad SAW and from Fatimah Az-Zahra, married to the Prophet before Bi’tsah and the first woman who believed in him.

Khadijah expended all his wealth for the spread of Islam. The Prophet in honor of Khadijah did not marry another woman while Khadijah was still alive. And after he died, the Prophet always remembered him with kindness.

The Prophet of his marriage with Khadijah had two sons named Qasim and Abdullah and a daughter named Sayyidah Fatimah, Zainab, Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthum.

Khadijah died in Mecca three years before the Hijrah at the age of 65. The Prophet buried Khadijah's body in al-Ma’la cemetery.

Khadijah was born to a father named Khuwailid bin Asad bin Abdul ‘Uzza bin Qushai, from the family of Quraysh and from a mother named Fatimah bint Zaidah. He was born in Mecca about three or four decades before the Prophet of Islam was sent to be a prophet (bi’tsah) and in the same city, at his father's house, he grew up.

Before marrying the Prophet, Khadijah had been married twice and he had children from each of his marriages. Most Sunni historical sources accept this Khadija marriage and cite the names of their husbands and children.

All sources state that Khadijah was the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad, and most mention that the Prophet was 25 years old when he married Khadijah. Regarding the age of Khadijah when married to the Prophet there is no similar opinion. There are many disagreements expressed by historians, ranging from 25 to 46 years. Many sources believe that Khadijah was 40 years old when he married the Prophet. By nosediving from others, Mas’udi also provides possibilities in addition to the age mentioned. Some sources say that Khadijah married the Prophet at the age of 25, and some believe to be 28 years old .

Research conducted to determine the exact age of Khadijah when marriage with the Prophet is a little difficult. But given that Khadijah's family life with the Prophet was only 25 years long –15 years before the Prophet was sent and 10 years after the Prophet was sent– and according to some historical sources it is also said that at death Khadijah was 65 years old or according to Baihaqi was 50 years old, thus, it is likely that the age of Khadijah when married to the Prophet Muhammad is in accordance with one of two opinions, namely 40 or 25 years. If Khadija when he died was 50 years old, then when married was 25 years old. This view is more accepted by some researchers.

Khadijah after marriage to the Prophet was the best wife for the Prophet. She did her duty as the Prophet's wife with sincerity and love. It brings calmness in the family as every couple seeks in their lives. All of it was offered to the Prophet, and it was done without any purpose except to get the pleasure of Allah. Therefore, during Khadijah's life, the Prophet did not remarry and took no other wife. And the descriptions which state that Khadijah had a special position on the side of the Prophet, perhaps the most accepted picture of Khadijah is like some narrations which mention that Khadijah was the best of friends, honestly the companion, the place of grievance and the bearer of peace for the Prophet saw.

Khadijah was truly a wise and honorable woman. Ibn Jauzi wrote of her, “Khadijah is a woman of knowledge and clean personality and she is a spiritual person who is fascinated with human rights, seeks primacy, loves innovation, and loves human rights, happy with excellence, perfection and progress is included from its properties. Since her youth she was one of the virtuous women, famous and has a famous virtue in Hijaz and Arab.”

More important than his material standing was his endless spiritual treasures. By refusing the request of the officials and dignitaries of Quraysh who came to marry her and chose the Prophet Muhammad as her husband, he has perfected the enjoyment of material wealth with the assurance of happiness in the hereafter and eternal enjoyment in heaven. He showed his intelligence to everyone. To achieve this blessed pleasure, he had become the first Muslim. He was the first to justify the teachings of the Prophet and establish the first prayer with Prophet Muhammad.

According to sources, Khadijah as the first person to convert to Islam is believed to be accepted and known. Evidence suggests that Khadijah was believed to be the first person to know Islam. Even some opinions state that this has a high commitment. Ibn Abdul Bar believed that Ali was the first to profess his faith in the Prophet after Khadijah.

Noting other sources that mention the first people who converted to Islam, it is known that Khadijah and Ali as are counted as the first people who claimed to believe in Allah. Similarly, it has been hinted about the precedence of Khadijah and Ali as in establishing prayers with the Prophet Muhammad. They are known as the first Muslims in the world to establish prayers.

@ahmad_zaki