Hazrat Khadijah's Earlier Marriages - Hazrat Sayyedah Khadjiah History 1.1

Family Background

QUSAYY

• 'ABDUL 'UZZA

1. ASAD
2. KHUWAILID
3. KHADIJAH

• 'ABD-E-MUNAAF

1. HAASHIM
2. ABDUL MUTTALIB
3. 'ABDULLAH
4. MUHAMMAD

If one traces back the family tree of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and that of Hazrat Khadijah, one will find that Qusayy was their common ancestor. Qusayy lived about a century and a half before the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad

Khuwailid, father of Hazrat Khadijah", was the great grand- son of Qusayy, while Abdul Muhittalib, the grandfather of the Holy Prophet, was also the great grandson of Qusayy.

These two families had other links as well. The maternal grandmother of Aaminah, the mother of the Holy Propheta, was a sister of Khuwailid. Moreover Safiyah", an aunt of the Holy Prophet, was married to 'Awwaam, brother of Hazrat Khadijah".

Qusayy was a man of remarkable character and intelligence. He brought together the disunited clans of the Quraish. In his days, Makkah was a small town. There were no permanent houses. People used to live in tents. Qusayy persuaded the Quraish to build houses around the Ka'bah leaving enough space for the pil- grims to walk around the ancient building of the Ka'bah. Qusayy is thus regarded as the founder of the city of Makkah. He allotted specific duties to each clan of the Quraish tribe in connection with the service of the Ka'bah, the regulations of the pilgrimage, and the administration of the city. He erected a building right opposite the Ka'bah, called Daar-un-Nadwah, or House of Consultation, where leaders of the Quraish used to gather for consultation in matters of importance and where tribal policies were discussed in public. Qusayy thus founded a democratic form of Government. in Makkah as well as in the surrounding areas. The House of Consultation was also used for social gatherings.

The people of Makkah used to perform their marriage ceremonies in this building.

In the sixth century, the Quraish tribe began to play a leading role in trade with the neighbouring countries. Their trade caravans travelled as far as Syria, Egypt, Palestine, Iraq and Persia in the north and to The Yemen and Abyssinia in the south. There was also a certain amount of trade with India and China. The Arab traders used to supply luxury items like pearls, ivory, diamonds, silks, weapons, dyes and pepper.

From the seaports of Aden and Mocha, the bales of goods were taken from the ships and loaded on camels. Sometimes the caravan consisted of one thousand camels, which made the long journey from the seaports to Makkah and then to Damascus in Syria and beyond.

Makkah was prosperous because of the profits derived from the trade and because of the sanctity of the Ka'bah, the House of Allah, which had been a centre of pilgrimage for ages. The reli- gious rites of the pilgrimage lasted only three days but a series of fairs were held at various sites in the neighbourhood during the preceding weeks where the Quraish sold the articles brought by their caravans.

As a settled community, Makkah attracted various types of individuals, other than those belonging to the Quraish tribe. They were artisans, slaves, domestic servants, carpenters, sword makers, weavers and leather workers. Guards were also employed for the safe journey of the caravans.

Thus Makkah was no longer restricted to one tribe. Instead it gradually emerged as an urban society.

Hazrat Khadijah's Earlier Marriages

When Khadijah" grew up, her father gave her hand in marriage to Abu Haallah, son of Zaraarah. Abu Haallah was a merchant. They lived happily. God blessed them with a son named Hind and a daughter called Zainab. According to some historians, Abu Haallah had three sons, Haallah, Hind and Haarith. A few years later Abu Haallah became ill and died. Khadijah" cried with grief at the loss of her husband.

Later her father chose Ateeq, son of 'Aaiz, a rich trader, as her husband. They were leading a happy life but when 'Ateeq went on a business expedition to Syria; he died on the way back. Khadijah became a widow for the second time. She had one son and one daughter from this marriage.

After the death of her second husband, several respected and influential men of the Quraish tried to seek her hand in marriage but she rejected their offers. She resolved that she would not marry again and decided to live an independent life.

It so happened that shortly after the death of her second husband, her father also passed away. This was a great loss to Khadijah", as she had to look after the business herself. It was indeed a difficult time for her.

Business Expeditions

In order to run the business successfully, Khadijah" employed trade agents, who used to carry merchandise to other countries

and bring back useful items to be sold in Makkah. She worked hard and soon she was regarded as an intelligent merchant woman of great dignity and wealth.

At that time Muhammad was a young boy. His father had died before his birth and his mother died when he was six years old. After the death of his mother he went into the care of his grandfather Abdul Muttalib. Abdul Muttalib was eighty years old at that time. He was very fond of his grandson. He did not live long and died at the age of eighty-two. After his death, Abu Taalib, an uncle of Muhammad, became his guardian.

Abu Taalib had many noble qualities and was a respected Quraish leader. He loved his nephew dearly. Muhammad", too, loved his uncle very much. It was during this period that Abu Taalib undertook a journey to Syria along with a trade caravan. He intended to leave his nephew behind for he was twelve years old at that time and could take care of himself. But when the car- avan was about to depart Muhammad clung to his uncle and insisted on going with him.

Abu Taalib was moved and decided to take him along with the caravan. This was Muhammad's first journey to a foreign land.

A strange incident happened during this journey. It is related that when the caravan reached Bosraa, it camped near a monastery where a great scholar of Scriptures lived. His name was Baheerah. Monk Baheerah noticed many things in the appearance of Muhammad, which fitted the description of the Prophet that people were waiting for. He said to Abu Taalib to take good care of the young man and protect him from the mischief of the People of the Book. He told Abu Taalib that according to the Scriptures

this boy seemed to be the person whom God would choose to play a great part in the world.

It should be noted that the town Bosraa was situated on the road to Damascus in southern Syria and was about eighty mil south of Damascus. It was a beautiful town with many Roma buildings and was a meeting place of five caravan routes. The town Bosraa should not be confused with the famous city of Basrah, which is situated in Iraq.

Muhammad grew up into a handsome man with very good manners and extraordinary qualities of honesty and piety. People called him, Al-Ameen meaning the 'trustworthy, and Al-Saadiq meaning the 'truthful. Whoever came in contact with him was deeply impressed by his personality and intelligence. He was gen- tle and obedient to his elders, affectionate to his companions and full of compassion for those who stood in need of help. He helped his aunt with the household tasks and outside he assisted his uncle by carrying out any job that was assigned to him.

Khadijah had heard of the honesty, piety, trustworthiness and high moral character of Muhammad. She was greatly impressed by his integrity. She therefore approached Muhammad's uncle Abu Taalib with the suggestion that he should let his nephew lead a trading caravan of hers to Syria. Abu Taalib mentioned this to Muhammad, to which he agreed. Khadijah" offered to pay him double the amount she paid to others. When the caravan started its journey, Khadijah" sent her trusted servant Maisarah along with the caravan. The caravan took the usual route to Syria, which Muhammad had undertaken with his uncle thirteen years before.

Muhammad conducted the business in such a manner and discharged his duties so well that the expedition met with great success. It was his honesty and intelligent handling of affairs that he made unexpected profit. Maisarah was much impressed by the honesty with which the young leader of the caravan had managed. the transactions. He was also impressed by an incident, which happened during the journey. He noticed that when the caravan was camped near a monastery, a Nestorian monk, by the name of Jordis, saw the young leader of the caravan sitting under a tree. He inquired from Maisarah about Muhammad. Maisarah replied that Muhammad belonged to the Quraish tribe of Makkah. The monk exclaimed that he seemed to be the Prophet of God, whose advent had been told in the Scriptures and made the same kind of recommendations as Monk Baheerah had made to Abu Taalib.

On the way back when the caravan reached near the town of Makkah, Maisarah persuaded his leader Muhammad to go ahead and break the news of the success of the journey to Khadijah.

Khadijah was waiting for the return of the caravan very eagerly. She used to go to the top of her house from where she could see the road to Syria. One day, surrounded by her friends and servants, she was sitting in the upper storey of her house when she saw a camel advancing rapidly towards the town. She knew that the rider would be Muhammad. When she was told about the huge profit in business, she was thrilled and was much impressed by his business skills and capabilities. She was convinced that the success in business was due not only to the condition of the market in Syria but also to the integrity and efficiency of the caravan leader Muhammad saw. Her servant

Maisarah was full of praise for him. He also mentioned to her what the Nestorian monk had said about him. All this created at deep impression on Hazrat Khadijah's" mind.

Maisarah was full of praise for him. He also mentioned to her what the Nestorian monk had said about him. All this created a deep impression on Hazrat Khadijah's mind.

Khadijah Marries Again

Khadijah was now forty years old. She was convinced of the noble qualities and refined manners of Muhammad. He was twenty-five years old. Khadijah" wanted to make him a proposal for marriage. She sought the opinion of her best friend Nafeesah, who approved of the idea and offered her help. One day Nafeesah went to Muhammad saw and during the conversation asked him why he had not married.

Muhammad replied that he was not rich enough to do so. Nafeesah asked him whether he would be willing to marry a respectable rich woman. Muhammad asked, Who is that woman?' Nafeesah told him about Khadijah". Muhammad apologised and said, "How can that be possible? Khadijah" is too highly placed for me. She is a wealthy woman and I am a poor person. Nafeesah said, 'Let me take care of that.' Muhammad remarked, 'In that case I have nothing to say but to agree."

When Nafeesah told Khadijah" the result of her talk with Muhammad, she sent him an offer of marriage. The offer was made to Muhammad through his uncle Abu Taalib. Muhammad consulted Abu Taalib, who advised him to accept the offer. As Hazrat Khadijah's" father had died earlier, Abu Taalib called on Hazrat Khadijah's" uncle 'Amr bin Asad, and asked for the hand of his niece in marriage to Muhammad Amr bin

Asad, being her wali, gave his consent for the marriage. Thus the marriage between Muhammad and Khadijah" was settled. The marriage ceremony was solemnised by Abu Taalib and the lag mahr was fixed at five hundred dirhams.

Khadijah arranged a big feast and invited

Jatives and friends

Asad, being her wali, gave his consent for the marriage. Thus the marriage between Muhammad and Khadijah" was settled. The marriage ceremony was solemnised by Abu Taalib and the kaq mahr was fixed at five hundred dirhams.

Khadijah" arranged a big feast and invited relatives and friends of both families. The bride and the bridegroom passed their first night in the house of Abu Taalib, and then Khadijah" returned to her house together with her husband. The bridegroom arranged the waleemah dinner.

The marriage brought domestic contentment and happiness to both. The couple was blessed with children. The first-born was a son. They named him Qaasim. According to Arab custom, Muhammad became known as Abul Qaasim, which means the father of Qaasim. They had another son whom they named Abdullah. He was also known as Tayyab and Taahir. Some histo- rians, however, say that Muhammad, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, had three sons from Hazrat Khadijah". They mention their names as Qaasim", Taahir" and Tayyab™. The blessed couple had four daughters, Zainab", Ruqayyah", Umm- e-Kulsoom and Faatimah. All his sons died in their childhood while all daughters grew up and accepted Islam but they did not live very long. Only Hazrat Faatimah, may Allah be pleased with her, survived the Holy Prophet Muhammad, may peace and bless- ings of Allah be upon him, and lived about six months after the demise of the Holy Prophet.

It should be noted that the Holy Prophets had all his chil- dren from his wife Hazrat Khadijah", except one boy Ibraaheem", who was from Hazrat Maariah Qibtiyah". Ibraaheem" died when he was about eighteen months old.

Salmah acted as midwife on the birth of Hazrat Khadijah's" children. She was a domestic servant of Hazrat Safiyah, an aunt of the Holy Prophet

It is related that one goat was slaughtered as a sacrifice at the birth of each daughter, while two goats were slaughtered at the birth of each son.

After Muhammad's marriage to Khadijah", Abu Taalib was deprived of the helping hand of his nephew Muhammad to earn a livelihood for his family. Muhammad's youngest uncle 'Abbaas was well off. Muhammad therefore suggested to his uncle 'Abbaas that they should lessen Abu Taalib's burden by taking care of two of his children at least. 'Abbaas agreed and both went to Abu Taalib with a proposal. It was decided that Muhammad would take care of 'Ali and 'Abbaas would take charge of Ja'far. 'Ali was about six years old at that time. Khadijah" welcomed 'Ali in her house and he remained with the family and grew very attached to Khadijah and Muhammad saw

Hazrat Ali" has also the honour of being the son-in-law of the

Holy Prophet Muhammad admitted another person into his family. His name was Zaid, son of Haarithah. Zaid belonged to a noble fam- ily, which lived in the south of Syria. He was an intelligent boy. Zaid was kidnapped in a tribal raid and was sold from one person to another until he reached the hands of Hakeem bin Hizaam, a nephew of Khadijah". Hakeem offered Zaid to his aunt shortly after her marriage to Muhammad Zaid was then about twenty years of age. He was small in stature and dark in complexion. He proved to be a very faithful servant. Khadijah" and Muhammad" developed a deep affection for him.

15Muhammad was a loving and affectionate husband who showed great regard and consideration for his wife. She, on her part, proved to be a constant source of comfort to her husband. Soon after the marriage, Khadijah proposed to hand over all her wealth, as well as her slaves, to her husband. Muhammad, after making sure, that Khadijah was sincere in doing so, declared that he would distribute the wealth among the poor and the needy and would set free all slaves. He therefore distributed most of the wealth; he received from his wife, among the poor and set all slaves free including Zaid. Zaid, however, refused to be freed and begged his master to let him continue to live with him.

It so happened that the father and an uncle of Zaid traced him to Makkah. They tried to persuade him to return home but failed. Zaid remained firm in his decision not to leave his gracious master, though he sent a loving message to his mother. When the Holy Prophet saw his devotion, he took him to the Ka'bah and in the presence of his father and uncle declared that Zaid would henceforth be treated as his son.

Hazrat Zaid's father was satisfied with the situation and returned home glad at heart. Zaid" remained loyal to the Holy Prophet and lived with the family for a long time.