Islam : Course Content Significant People and Ideas –Explain the contribution to the development of Islam of Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid (555-619) –Analyse

Islam : Course ContentIslam : Course Content

Significant People and IdeasSignificant People and Ideas–Explain the contribution to the Explain the contribution to the development of Islam of Khadijah Bint development of Islam of Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid (555-619)Khuwaylid (555-619)–Analyse the effect of this personAnalyse the effect of this person

Islam : Khadijah Bint KhuwaylidIslam : Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid

Came from a noble familyCame from a noble family

Her father, Khuwayld, had Her father, Khuwayld, had been one of the most been one of the most honoured men in his tribe; honoured men in his tribe; he was killed in battlehe was killed in battle

Born in MeccaBorn in Mecca


Also known as al-Tahira meaning “The Pure Also known as al-Tahira meaning “The Pure One”.One”.

Was a rich widow who had been married Was a rich widow who had been married twicetwice

Many of the most important nobles of the Many of the most important nobles of the Quraysh had proposed to her, but she had Quraysh had proposed to her, but she had refused each of them.refused each of them.


It is said that when Quraysh’s trade It is said that when Quraysh’s trade caravans gathered to embark on their caravans gathered to embark on their lengthy and arduous journey either to Syria lengthy and arduous journey either to Syria during the summer or Yemen during the during the summer or Yemen during the winter, Khadijah’s caravans equalled all the winter, Khadijah’s caravans equalled all the caravans of all the other traders of Quraysh caravans of all the other traders of Quraysh put together.put together.


Hired Muhammad, Hired Muhammad, who was a distant who was a distant cousin, as her agent cousin, as her agent because of his because of his reputation for honesty reputation for honesty and trustworthiness.and trustworthiness.

He returned from his He returned from his trading in foodstuffs trading in foodstuffs and manufactured and manufactured clothing with a clothing with a handsome profit handsome profit


This business relationship This business relationship assisted in enhancing assisted in enhancing Khadijah’s wealthKhadijah’s wealth

It is said that Khadijah It is said that Khadijah used part of her money to used part of her money to clothe the poor, assist her clothe the poor, assist her relatives financially and relatives financially and even provide for the even provide for the marriage of some of her marriage of some of her kinkin


With the passing of time, this business With the passing of time, this business relationship developed into a more deeply relationship developed into a more deeply personal one.personal one.

When Muhammad was 25 and Khadijah When Muhammad was 25 and Khadijah was 40, she proposed the idea of marriage was 40, she proposed the idea of marriage to him. He accepted and they were wed in to him. He accepted and they were wed in 595.595.


Khadijah is honoured Khadijah is honoured for two reasons:for two reasons:

1.1. She was the first of She was the first of Muhammad’s wives Muhammad’s wives and supported him as and supported him as he was receiving the he was receiving the revelations from Allah revelations from Allah and spreading the and spreading the message of peaceful message of peaceful submission to Islamsubmission to Islam


2. 2. Within that support, Within that support, she was the first she was the first Muslim, the first Muslim, the first human, who followed human, who followed the call of the call of Muhammad to Muhammad to submit to the will of submit to the will of AllahAllah


According to Islamic tradition, Muhammad According to Islamic tradition, Muhammad loved Khadijah so much that he did not have loved Khadijah so much that he did not have any more wives (contrary to tradition) until any more wives (contrary to tradition) until after her death.after her death.

He is reported to have said “The best of the He is reported to have said “The best of the women of her times was Khadijah, daughter women of her times was Khadijah, daughter of Khuwaylid.”of Khuwaylid.”


They had six children, They had six children, 2 boys and 4 girls. 2 boys and 4 girls. Unfortunately only one, Unfortunately only one, Fatima, survived to Fatima, survived to have children herself. have children herself. So it is through her So it is through her family that the direct family that the direct line of Muhammad can line of Muhammad can be traced.be traced.


It became Muhammad’s It became Muhammad’s habit, in the month of habit, in the month of Ramadan, to go into Ramadan, to go into seclusion to reflect and seclusion to reflect and pray in a cave on Mt Hira pray in a cave on Mt Hira (the mountain of light) near (the mountain of light) near MeccaMecca

Tradition tells us that Tradition tells us that Khadijah provide food and Khadijah provide food and drink for Muhammad drink for Muhammad during this retreat period.during this retreat period.


At the end of one of these At the end of one of these times, when he was 40 times, when he was 40 and she 55, Muhammad and she 55, Muhammad returned home in a state of returned home in a state of fearfear

He explained how the He explained how the angel Jibril had appeared angel Jibril had appeared to him telling him to to him telling him to “Read”. Although unable to “Read”. Although unable to read or write, Muhammad read or write, Muhammad asked Jibril what to read. asked Jibril what to read. His reply was :His reply was :


““Read in the name of your Read in the name of your Lord who created, created Lord who created, created man from a clot, Read and man from a clot, Read and your Lord is the Most your Lord is the Most Gracious, who taught with Gracious, who taught with a pen, taught man what he a pen, taught man what he did not know.”did not know.”

Qur’an 96 : 1-5Qur’an 96 : 1-5

Khadijah was not afraid Khadijah was not afraid and reassured Muhammad and reassured Muhammad by responding :by responding :


““Allah would never Allah would never humiliate you, for you are humiliate you, for you are good to your relatives, you good to your relatives, you are true to your word, you are true to your word, you help those who are in help those who are in need, you support the need, you support the weak, you feed the guest weak, you feed the guest and you answer the call of and you answer the call of those in distress.”those in distress.”

Muhammad was known in Muhammad was known in Mecca as “al-Amin” – the Mecca as “al-Amin” – the trustworthy one.trustworthy one.

Shahada : “I testify that there is no god but God. And I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of God.”


This was the beginnings of This was the beginnings of the revelations of Allah to the revelations of Allah to Muhammad – the Muhammad – the beginning of the Qur’anbeginning of the Qur’an

Understandably Understandably Muhammad was fearful of Muhammad was fearful of the vision and the task the vision and the task before him and his ability to before him and his ability to fulfil God’s will.fulfil God’s will.


Khadijah supported him in this task, helping Khadijah supported him in this task, helping him realise that he was the chosen one.him realise that he was the chosen one.

She actively showed her support and She actively showed her support and expressed her faith in publicexpressed her faith in public

She witnessed that there was no god but She witnessed that there was no god but Allah and continued witnessing that Allah and continued witnessing that Muhammad is the Messenger of AllahMuhammad is the Messenger of Allah


This was not a This was not a welcome message welcome message because the Quraysh because the Quraysh society had been a society had been a polytheistic one : the polytheistic one : the Ka’ aba stone in Ka’ aba stone in Mecca was the home Mecca was the home of 360 idols, both male of 360 idols, both male and femaleand female

Islam : Khadijah Bint KhuwaylidIslam : Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid Muhammad and Khadijah faced opposition and Muhammad and Khadijah faced opposition and

harrassment form the Quraysh people in Mecca harrassment form the Quraysh people in Mecca for their belief in one Godfor their belief in one God

About 7 years after the initial revelation, they and About 7 years after the initial revelation, they and their followers were expelled from Mecca. For their followers were expelled from Mecca. For three years they camped in the mountains three years they camped in the mountains nearby.nearby.


Khadijah also helped free Khadijah also helped free slaves who had converted slaves who had converted to Islam and, with her to Islam and, with her wealth, helped to feed, wealth, helped to feed, shelter and provide welfare shelter and provide welfare to the fledgling Muslim to the fledgling Muslim community.community.

There is a saying: “Islam There is a saying: “Islam did not rise except through did not rise except through Ali’s sword and Khadijah’s Ali’s sword and Khadijah’s wealth.”wealth.”


At the end of these three At the end of these three years, the boycott was years, the boycott was lifted and the Muslims lifted and the Muslims were allowed to re-enter were allowed to re-enter Mecca.Mecca.

That time must have taken That time must have taken its toll on Khadijah’s health its toll on Khadijah’s health because a few months because a few months later she died, aged 65.later she died, aged 65.


Among Khadijah’s merits, it is said that Allah told Among Khadijah’s merits, it is said that Allah told Jibril to convey His regards to her. Jibril said to Jibril to convey His regards to her. Jibril said to Muhammad : “O, Muhammad! Khadijah is bringing Muhammad : “O, Muhammad! Khadijah is bringing you a bowl of food; when she comes to you, tell you a bowl of food; when she comes to you, tell her that her Lord greets her, and convey my her that her Lord greets her, and convey my greeting too to her.”greeting too to her.”

When he did so, she said : “Allah is the Peace, When he did so, she said : “Allah is the Peace, and He is the source of all peace, and upon Jibril and He is the source of all peace, and upon Jibril be peace.”be peace.”

Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid : EffectsKhadijah Bint Khuwaylid : Effects

Muslim women consider it a Muslim women consider it a great honour that the first great honour that the first person to follow and support person to follow and support Muhammad was a woman.Muhammad was a woman.

Khadijah is the first witness to Khadijah is the first witness to Allah.Allah.

The prophet is quoted as The prophet is quoted as saying: “She believed in me saying: “She believed in me when no-one else did; she when no-one else did; she accepted Islam when people accepted Islam when people rejected me; and she helped rejected me; and she helped and comforted me when there and comforted me when there was no-one else to lend me a was no-one else to lend me a helping hand.”helping hand.”

Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid : EffectsKhadijah Bint Khuwaylid : Effects

Khadijah was born into a male dominated and Khadijah was born into a male dominated and chauvinistic society. Her family name, wealth and chauvinistic society. Her family name, wealth and business acumen, helped her to be accepted by business acumen, helped her to be accepted by men.men.

She gave generously : helped feed and clothe the She gave generously : helped feed and clothe the poor.poor.

Muslims believe that Khadijah is one of the four Muslims believe that Khadijah is one of the four most perfect of all women, the other three being most perfect of all women, the other three being Fatimah (daughter of Muhammad), Maryam (Mary, Fatimah (daughter of Muhammad), Maryam (Mary, mother of Jesus), and Ishba (Elizabeth, mother of mother of Jesus), and Ishba (Elizabeth, mother of Yahya or John the Baptist)Yahya or John the Baptist)

Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid : ImpactKhadijah Bint Khuwaylid : Impact

Khadijah changed her mental attitude and approach to life. Khadijah changed her mental attitude and approach to life. She was formerly a rich business woman who, while She was formerly a rich business woman who, while ethical, was bent on accumulating more wealth. After ethical, was bent on accumulating more wealth. After accepting Allah’s words, her wealth was a means of accepting Allah’s words, her wealth was a means of furthering Islam.furthering Islam.

Khadijah not only believed, she lived out her beliefs. Her Khadijah not only believed, she lived out her beliefs. Her faith became a moral imperative, driving her actions, such faith became a moral imperative, driving her actions, such as help for the poor.as help for the poor.

Khadijah knew what she was doing was right and Khadijah knew what she was doing was right and presented her support of Muhammad in a way which presented her support of Muhammad in a way which encouraged others to do the same. Thus she was an encouraged others to do the same. Thus she was an evangelist for her faith.evangelist for her faith.


Khadijah’s support of Khadijah’s support of Muhammad helped the spread Muhammad helped the spread of Islam.of Islam.

The concept of the Umma or The concept of the Umma or community of faith began with community of faith began with her and the support she gave her and the support she gave MuhammadMuhammad

Khadijah’s example is well Khadijah’s example is well known throughout the Muslim known throughout the Muslim world and, regardless of the world and, regardless of the school of Islam, all Muslims school of Islam, all Muslims revere her memory and try to revere her memory and try to follow her example in her follow her example in her support of Muhammad and support of Muhammad and loyalty to the teachings of Allahloyalty to the teachings of Allah


Khadijah’s life is an example which shows Khadijah’s life is an example which shows that, regardless of how focused you are on that, regardless of how focused you are on worldly pursuits, there is always an worldly pursuits, there is always an opportunity to change and make amendsopportunity to change and make amends

Khadijah’s example shows that people need Khadijah’s example shows that people need to put belief into action if they are going to to put belief into action if they are going to be true to their faith.be true to their faith.

Khadijah’s LegacyKhadijah’s Legacy

MATERIAL WEALTH - Gave all her money MATERIAL WEALTH - Gave all her money to help spread the message of Islamto help spread the message of Islam

SUPPORT – Supported Muhammad in his SUPPORT – Supported Muhammad in his aim to spread the message of Islamaim to spread the message of Islam

DISCIPLESHIP – First person to submit to DISCIPLESHIP – First person to submit to the will of Allah and proclaim that the will of Allah and proclaim that Muhammad was His prophetMuhammad was His prophet

Documents

Islam : Course Content Significant People and Ideas –Explain the contribution to the development of Islam of Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid (555-619) –Analyse