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{{QualityScore|Lead=4|Structure=4|Content=4|Language=4|References=4}}{{Infobox Person|name=Khadījah bint Khuwaylid|image=Khadijah bint Khuwaylid.jpg|caption=Khadijah’s “medal” in ''Promptuarii iconum insigniorum ''(1553). Lyon: Rouillé. This illustration made no pretense of being an accurate portrait but it has become a widely accepted symbolic representation of Khadijah.|date_of_birth=555|place_of_birth=[[Mecca]], Hijaz, Arabia (present-day Saudi Arabia)|death_date=c. 619 (aged 63-64)|other_names=Khadījah al-Kubra<br>Khadījah al-Tahira|occupation=Merchant|title=''Umm al-Mu'mineen'' ("Mother of the Believers")|spouse=[[Muhammad ibn Abdullah]]|children=Qasim<br>Abdullah<br>Zainab<br>Fatimah<br>Ruqayyah<br>Umm Kulthum|relations=Khuwaylid ibn Asad<br>Fatimah bint Za'idah}} | {{QualityScore|Lead=4|Structure=4|Content=4|Language=4|References=4}}{{Infobox Person|name=Khadījah bint Khuwaylid|image=Khadijah bint Khuwaylid.jpg|caption=Khadijah’s “medal” in ''Promptuarii iconum insigniorum ''(1553). Lyon: Rouillé. This illustration made no pretense of being an accurate portrait but it has become a widely accepted symbolic representation of Khadijah.|date_of_birth=555|place_of_birth=[[Mecca]], Hijaz, Arabia (present-day Saudi Arabia)|death_date=c. 619 (aged 63-64)|other_names=Khadījah al-Kubra<br>Khadījah al-Tahira|occupation=Merchant|title=''Umm al-Mu'mineen'' ("Mother of the Believers")|spouse=[[Muhammad ibn Abdullah]]|children=Qasim<br>Abdullah<br>Zainab<br>Fatimah<br>Ruqayyah<br>Umm Kulthum|relations=Khuwaylid ibn Asad<br>Fatimah bint Za'idah}} | ||
'''Khadijah''' or '''Khadīja bint Khuwaylid''' ([[Arabic]]: خديجة بنت خويلد) (555 - c.619) was Prophet [[Muhammad]]’s first wife and she was his only wife as long as she lived.<ref>Ibn Hisham note 127, note 918. {{Citation|title=Sirat Rasul Allah|author=Ibn Ishaq|publisher=Oxford University Press|trans_title=The Life of Muhammad|url=https://archive.org/details/TheLifeOfMohammedGuillaume|editor=A. Guillaume|year=1955|location=Oxford|isbn=9780196360331}}; see also {{Muslim|31|5975}}.</ref> She is known to Muslims as ''al-Kubra'' (“the Great”)<ref>E.g., [http://www.al-islam.org/khadija/ Razwy, S. A. A. (1990). ''Khadija tul Kubra: A Short Story of Her Life''. New York: Tahrike Tarsile Qur'an.]</ref> and ''al-Tahira'' (“the Pure”).<ref>E.g., [http://l.b5z.net/i/u/6103974/f/wives_of_the_prophet.pdf/ Mus’ad, M. F. (2001). ''Wives of the Prophet Muhammad: their Strives and Their Lives'', p. 7. Cairo: Islamic Inc.]</ref> Twelve of [[Muhammad's | '''Khadijah''' or '''Khadīja bint Khuwaylid''' ([[Arabic]]: خديجة بنت خويلد) (555 - c.619) was Prophet [[Muhammad]]’s first wife and she was his only wife as long as she lived.<ref>Ibn Hisham note 127, note 918. {{Citation|title=Sirat Rasul Allah|author=Ibn Ishaq|publisher=Oxford University Press|trans_title=The Life of Muhammad|url=https://archive.org/details/TheLifeOfMohammedGuillaume|editor=A. Guillaume|year=1955|location=Oxford|isbn=9780196360331}}; see also {{Muslim|31|5975}}.</ref> She is known to Muslims as ''al-Kubra'' (“the Great”)<ref>E.g., [http://www.al-islam.org/khadija/ Razwy, S. A. A. (1990). ''Khadija tul Kubra: A Short Story of Her Life''. New York: Tahrike Tarsile Qur'an.]</ref> and ''al-Tahira'' (“the Pure”).<ref>E.g., [http://l.b5z.net/i/u/6103974/f/wives_of_the_prophet.pdf/ Mus’ad, M. F. (2001). ''Wives of the Prophet Muhammad: their Strives and Their Lives'', p. 7. Cairo: Islamic Inc.]</ref> Twelve of [[Muhammad's Marriages|Muhammad’s wives]] are credited with the title ''Umm al-Muminun'' (“Mother of the Faithful”),<ref>{{Quran|33|6}}.</ref> but Khadijah occupies a unique position as ''the'' Mother of [[Islam]] herself. Khadijah was the mother to all of Muhammad's children, including Fatimah, save one. | ||
Khadijah is said to have come from a trading family and, before [[Marriage|marrying]] Muhammad, had been a successful business woman and was said to be the richest woman in all of [[Mecca]], and, on some accounts. it was as a result being her employee that Muhammad came to know Khadijah and ultimately marry her. It is also believed that she had two husbands, with whom she had multiple children, prior to Muhammad. Little else is known about her life prior to this final marriage. | Khadijah is said to have come from a trading family and, before [[Marriage|marrying]] Muhammad, had been a successful business woman and was said to be the richest woman in all of [[Mecca]], and, on some accounts. it was as a result being her employee that Muhammad came to know Khadijah and ultimately marry her. It is also believed that she had two husbands, with whom she had multiple children, prior to Muhammad. Little else is known about her life prior to this final marriage. | ||
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The traditions about Khadijah’s early life are scarce and often contradictory. It is generally accepted that she was born “fifteen years before the Elephant” and that she was 65 ([[lunar]]) years old when she died,<ref>E.g., {{Tabari|6|p. 47}}.</ref> indicating a birth date between July 556 and July 557. However, the source of this tradition is Khadijah’s nephew, Hakim ibn Hizam,<ref>{{Citation|title=Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir|author=Ibn Saad|publisher=Ta Ha Publishers|location=London|editor=Aisha Bewley|publication-date=1997|volume=8|pages=9, 11-12}}; {{Tabari|39|pp. 41, 106}}.</ref> who was one of the many early Muslims who claimed his own age to be 120.<ref>{{Muslim|10|3662}}. See also {{Tabari|39|pp. 40, 43}}, where Huwaytib ibn Abduluzza claims to be 120 years old, yet in the same breath betrays that he cannot count.</ref> By contrast, Abdullah ibn Abbas, the cousin who lived at Muhammad’s side through the final years in [[Medina]],<ref>{{Tabari|39|p. 95}}.</ref> stated that “on the day Khadijah married Allah’s Messenger, she was 28 years old.”<ref>[http://qurango.com/images/b/5/293.jpg/ Ibn Kathir, ''Al-Bidaya wa’l-Nihaya'' vol. 5 p. 293]. Majlisi, ''Bihar al-Anwar'' vol. 16 p. 12. Ibn Ishaq, cited in Al-Hakim al-Nishaburi, ''Mustadrak'' vol. 3 p. 182.</ref> If this is correct, she was born between March 568 and March 569. Variant traditions claim other years.<ref>See [https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://www.kister.huji.ac.il/sites/default/files/khadija.pdf&embedded=true/ Kister, M. J. (1993). The Sons of Khadija. ''Jerusalem Studies in Arabic and Islam, 16'', 59-95.]</ref> Whatever her precise date of birth, she was still of childbearing age as late as 605. | The traditions about Khadijah’s early life are scarce and often contradictory. It is generally accepted that she was born “fifteen years before the Elephant” and that she was 65 ([[lunar]]) years old when she died,<ref>E.g., {{Tabari|6|p. 47}}.</ref> indicating a birth date between July 556 and July 557. However, the source of this tradition is Khadijah’s nephew, Hakim ibn Hizam,<ref>{{Citation|title=Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir|author=Ibn Saad|publisher=Ta Ha Publishers|location=London|editor=Aisha Bewley|publication-date=1997|volume=8|pages=9, 11-12}}; {{Tabari|39|pp. 41, 106}}.</ref> who was one of the many early Muslims who claimed his own age to be 120.<ref>{{Muslim|10|3662}}. See also {{Tabari|39|pp. 40, 43}}, where Huwaytib ibn Abduluzza claims to be 120 years old, yet in the same breath betrays that he cannot count.</ref> By contrast, Abdullah ibn Abbas, the cousin who lived at Muhammad’s side through the final years in [[Medina]],<ref>{{Tabari|39|p. 95}}.</ref> stated that “on the day Khadijah married Allah’s Messenger, she was 28 years old.”<ref>[http://qurango.com/images/b/5/293.jpg/ Ibn Kathir, ''Al-Bidaya wa’l-Nihaya'' vol. 5 p. 293]. Majlisi, ''Bihar al-Anwar'' vol. 16 p. 12. Ibn Ishaq, cited in Al-Hakim al-Nishaburi, ''Mustadrak'' vol. 3 p. 182.</ref> If this is correct, she was born between March 568 and March 569. Variant traditions claim other years.<ref>See [https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://www.kister.huji.ac.il/sites/default/files/khadija.pdf&embedded=true/ Kister, M. J. (1993). The Sons of Khadija. ''Jerusalem Studies in Arabic and Islam, 16'', 59-95.]</ref> Whatever her precise date of birth, she was still of childbearing age as late as 605. | ||
Khadijah’s personality is described as “determined and intelligent”.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 82.</ref> Although it is not explicitly stated that her father was a merchant, “the Quraysh were a people given to commerce,”<ref>Guilaume/Ishaq, p. 82.</ref> so it is possible that Khadijah spent her childhood sitting in the bazaars learning to negotiate trade deals. Her known siblings were two brothers, Hizam<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 160.</ref> and Al-Awwam,<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 115.</ref> two sisters, Ruqayqa<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:180.</ref> and Hala,<ref>{{Bukhari|5|58|168}}</ref> and a paternal half-brother, Nawfal.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 177.</ref> At one stage, there was talk of [[Marriage|marrying]] Khadijah off to her [[Cousin Marriage in | Khadijah’s personality is described as “determined and intelligent”.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 82.</ref> Although it is not explicitly stated that her father was a merchant, “the Quraysh were a people given to commerce,”<ref>Guilaume/Ishaq, p. 82.</ref> so it is possible that Khadijah spent her childhood sitting in the bazaars learning to negotiate trade deals. Her known siblings were two brothers, Hizam<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 160.</ref> and Al-Awwam,<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 115.</ref> two sisters, Ruqayqa<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:180.</ref> and Hala,<ref>{{Bukhari|5|58|168}}</ref> and a paternal half-brother, Nawfal.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 177.</ref> At one stage, there was talk of [[Marriage|marrying]] Khadijah off to her [[Cousin Marriage in Islamic Law|cousin]], Waraqa ibn Nawfal, but this never happened.<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:9.</ref> | ||
==Husbands== | ==Husbands== | ||
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Although the Muslim historian Waqidi rejected this story (even while reporting it), the British historian Muir points out that nobody had any reason to fabricate it. The tradition is from two independent sources, both of whom were biased in Muhammad’s favor and neither of whom had any reason to disparage Khadijah’s father or his clan. Two further independent sources, without mentioning the drunken party, state that it was Khuwaylid who married Khadijah to Muhammad. Although Waqidi claims that it was Khadijah’s uncle who gave her away because her father had died before the Sacrilegious War (591-594), his pupil Ibn Saad names Khuwaylid as a commander in that war. Muir therefore concludes that the tradition of Khuwaylid’s death “has been invented, to throw discredit on the story of his drunkenness.”<ref>[http://www.answering-islam.org/Books/Muir/Life2/chap2.htm/ Muir (1861) vol. 2 p. 24f]. See also {{Tabari|6|pp. 48-50}}; Ibn Hisham note 918.</ref> | Although the Muslim historian Waqidi rejected this story (even while reporting it), the British historian Muir points out that nobody had any reason to fabricate it. The tradition is from two independent sources, both of whom were biased in Muhammad’s favor and neither of whom had any reason to disparage Khadijah’s father or his clan. Two further independent sources, without mentioning the drunken party, state that it was Khuwaylid who married Khadijah to Muhammad. Although Waqidi claims that it was Khadijah’s uncle who gave her away because her father had died before the Sacrilegious War (591-594), his pupil Ibn Saad names Khuwaylid as a commander in that war. Muir therefore concludes that the tradition of Khuwaylid’s death “has been invented, to throw discredit on the story of his drunkenness.”<ref>[http://www.answering-islam.org/Books/Muir/Life2/chap2.htm/ Muir (1861) vol. 2 p. 24f]. See also {{Tabari|6|pp. 48-50}}; Ibn Hisham note 918.</ref> | ||
This story highlights the Arab practice of marriage as a contract between bridegroom and father-in-law in which they transferred the guardianship of a woman. It was somewhat similar to buying a camel: the purchase required the consent of the vendor. Muhammad largely preserved this practice of marriage. To the end of his life, he was particular about meeting the legal requirement to contract with a guardian;<ref>E.g., see Bewley/Saad 8:63, 65; {{Tabari|39|pp. 178-179}}; Bewley/Saad 8:105.</ref> and explicitly endorsed the transactional nature of the [[mahr]] as being a sort of payment for unlimited sexual access to a woman, [[Rape in Islamic Law|even against her will]], so long as she consented once in the form of agreeing to marry. | This story highlights the Arab practice of marriage as a contract between bridegroom and father-in-law in which they transferred the guardianship of a woman. It was somewhat similar to buying a camel: the purchase required the consent of the vendor. Muhammad largely preserved this practice of marriage. To the end of his life, he was particular about meeting the legal requirement to contract with a guardian;<ref>E.g., see Bewley/Saad 8:63, 65; {{Tabari|39|pp. 178-179}}; Bewley/Saad 8:105.</ref> and explicitly endorsed the transactional nature of the [[Mahr (Marital Price)|mahr]] as being a sort of payment for unlimited sexual access to a woman, [[Rape in Islamic Law|even against her will]], so long as she consented once in the form of agreeing to marry. | ||
The story also foreshadows some types of consent Muhammad would go on to consider as legally binding. At various points in his life, he was to extract consent at sword-point,<ref>E.g., Guillaume/Ishaq 547.</ref> under duress,<ref>E.g., Guillaume/Ishaq 314-315. Bewley/Saad 8:87-88.</ref> from an immature or unsound mind,<ref>E.g., Bewley/Saad 8:43.</ref> by withholding essential information,<ref>E.g., Guillaume/Ishaq 463-464. {{Tabari|39|p. 165}}.</ref> by offering a choice between two bad alternatives,<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:40. Guillaume/Ishaq 493.</ref> by exploiting spiritual beliefs,<ref>[http://altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=74&tSoraNo=33&tAyahNo=36&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0/ Jalalayn, ''Tafsir'' Q33:36]. See also {{Quran|33|36}}. {{Bukhari|3|43|648}}, {{Muslim|4|3511}}.</ref> through bribery<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 438; 594-597.</ref> or by making promises that he intended to break.<ref>E.g., Guillaume/Ishaq 504, 509. Bewley/Saad 8:181-182.</ref> In light of this component to Muhammad's legacy, it is perhaps somewhat unclear why Waqidi felt the need to scrub the story of Khadijah's trickery from the record. | The story also foreshadows some types of consent Muhammad would go on to consider as legally binding. At various points in his life, he was to extract consent at sword-point,<ref>E.g., Guillaume/Ishaq 547.</ref> under duress,<ref>E.g., Guillaume/Ishaq 314-315. Bewley/Saad 8:87-88.</ref> from an immature or unsound mind,<ref>E.g., Bewley/Saad 8:43.</ref> by withholding essential information,<ref>E.g., Guillaume/Ishaq 463-464. {{Tabari|39|p. 165}}.</ref> by offering a choice between two bad alternatives,<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:40. Guillaume/Ishaq 493.</ref> by exploiting spiritual beliefs,<ref>[http://altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=74&tSoraNo=33&tAyahNo=36&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0/ Jalalayn, ''Tafsir'' Q33:36]. See also {{Quran|33|36}}. {{Bukhari|3|43|648}}, {{Muslim|4|3511}}.</ref> through bribery<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 438; 594-597.</ref> or by making promises that he intended to break.<ref>E.g., Guillaume/Ishaq 504, 509. Bewley/Saad 8:181-182.</ref> In light of this component to Muhammad's legacy, it is perhaps somewhat unclear why Waqidi felt the need to scrub the story of Khadijah's trickery from the record. | ||
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Islam changed direction after Khadijah’s death. Within seven weeks Muhammad became a bigamist.<ref>{{Tabari|39|pp. 170, 171}}. Bewley/Saad 8:39, 43, 152.</ref> At the same time he began negotiations for military alliances with foreign tribes,<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 192-195, 197-199.</ref> although it was to be another two years before he succeeded in declaring war on Mecca.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 201-213, 324.</ref> Even the sections of the Qur’an that were composed at the end of Muhammad’s Meccan period, though narrative rather than legislative, read more like the flat prose of Medina than the poetry of Khadijah’s lifetime.<ref>[http://www.muhammadanism.org/Canon_Sell/Quran/p074.htm/ Sell (1923), p. 74.] [http://www.truthnet.org/islam/Watt/Chapter7.html/ “The Chronology of the Qur’an.” In Bell, R. (1970). ''Introduction to the Quran.'' Revised by Montgomery Watt. Edinburgh University Press.]</ref> It is frequently said that “Islam arose by Ali’s sword and Khadijah’s wealth.”<ref>E.g., [http://www.al-islam.org/masoom/bios/khadija.htm/ Al-Jibouri, Y. T. (1994). Khadija Daughter of Khuwaylid Wife of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)].</ref> It is clear that what Khadijah contributed to the foundations of Islam was far more than money. | Islam changed direction after Khadijah’s death. Within seven weeks Muhammad became a bigamist.<ref>{{Tabari|39|pp. 170, 171}}. Bewley/Saad 8:39, 43, 152.</ref> At the same time he began negotiations for military alliances with foreign tribes,<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 192-195, 197-199.</ref> although it was to be another two years before he succeeded in declaring war on Mecca.<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 201-213, 324.</ref> Even the sections of the Qur’an that were composed at the end of Muhammad’s Meccan period, though narrative rather than legislative, read more like the flat prose of Medina than the poetry of Khadijah’s lifetime.<ref>[http://www.muhammadanism.org/Canon_Sell/Quran/p074.htm/ Sell (1923), p. 74.] [http://www.truthnet.org/islam/Watt/Chapter7.html/ “The Chronology of the Qur’an.” In Bell, R. (1970). ''Introduction to the Quran.'' Revised by Montgomery Watt. Edinburgh University Press.]</ref> It is frequently said that “Islam arose by Ali’s sword and Khadijah’s wealth.”<ref>E.g., [http://www.al-islam.org/masoom/bios/khadija.htm/ Al-Jibouri, Y. T. (1994). Khadija Daughter of Khuwaylid Wife of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)].</ref> It is clear that what Khadijah contributed to the foundations of Islam was far more than money. | ||
== In scripture == | ==In scripture== | ||
===In the hadith=== | |||
{{Quote|{{Al Tirmidhi||6|46|3877}}|Narrated 'Ali bin Abi Talib: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "'''The best of its women is Khadijah bint Khuwailid''', and the best of its women is Mariam bint 'Imran."<br>Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)}} | |||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
*[[Muhammad's Wives]] | *[[Muhammad's Marriages|Muhammad's Wives]]'' | ||
*[[Ages of Muhammads Wives at Marriage|Ages of Muhammad's Wives at Marriage]] | *[[Ages of Muhammads Wives at Marriage|Ages of Muhammad's Wives at Marriage]] | ||
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[[Category:Muhammad]] | [[Category:Muhammad]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Women]] | ||
[[Category:Muhammad's wives and concubines]] | [[Category:Muhammad's wives and concubines]] | ||
[[Category:Sahabah (companions)]] | [[Category:Sahabah (companions)]] | ||
[[bg:Хадиджа бинт Хувайлид]] | [[bg:Хадиджа бинт Хувайлид]] | ||
[[Category:Sirah]] | |||
[[Category:Muhammad's contemporaries]] | |||
[[Category:Ahl al-Bayt (People of the House)]] | |||