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The people of Mecca
eagerly awaited the approaching caravan. The ringing bells on the camels
blended in with peoples happiness and laughter. At last, the caravan had
arrived.
She waited in her
house feeling a sense of ambiguous sorrow. Her servant, Maysareh, hurried
in with joy and sat to explain what she had heard about the success of the
caravan and the amazing tales of the traveler, "the truthful of Mecca".
Her servant clearly explained the income made from this trip, and the lady
would carefully listen and ponder upon the great character of the
traveler, a character she had not seen any other young or old person in
Mecca. This in itself was the reason Lady Khadijah
(PBUH)
offered to ask the Abu Talib, the Prophet Muhammad's uncle, for the
Prophet's hand in marriage.
Lady Khadijah
(PBUH)
came from a well known and high esteemed family. Yet, her virtues, name,
and manners distinguished her from all the rest. In fact, before her
marriage to the Prophet she was known as the pure woman and princess of
Quraish. Despite all her wealth and fame she submitted to Islam. Indeed it
was the will of Allah
(SWT)
that this union took place: a union Mecca had never seen unto itself.
This was Lady Khadijah
(PBUH),
whom with her sacrifices and never ending patience on enduring hardships,
left everyone with lessons to learn from. But after years of hardship and
sacrifice, the year of grief arrived. The tenth year after the appointment
of Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH&HP)
to prophethood was marked the "year of grief", as the Holy Prophet lost
not only his strongest supporter, Abu Talib
(PBUH),
but he also lost Lady Khadijah
(PBUH).
Mecca without his sacrificing uncle, and his house without his kind and
loyal wife, were both empty.
And although Lady
Khadijah (PBUH)
had left this world, her space was never filled for the Prophet. Even in
the event where Mecca was conquered ten years later, the Prophet set up a
tent beside her grave and decided to lead the city from that location.
She was the first whom
without the least bit of fear or weakness accepted Islam right after the
return of her husband from the cave of Hira. What other woman do you know
of that sacrifices all her wealth and comfort, to live with the scolds of
others, and to endure the hardest pains and hardships?
Indeed it was only
Lady Khadijah (PBUH)
whom Allah (SWT)
put her as the fountain of hope, comfort, and health for Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH&HP).
Many women accepted Islam after Lady Khadijah
(PBUH)
in the beginning years, but none were able to reach her status. Because of
her impact on the foundation of Islam, Allah
(SWT)
put her as a true
example of loyalty, kindness and sacrifice in the way of Allah
(SWT)
and His Prophet. She gave all she had to the Prophet and in return she
received guidance more valuable than all the treasures of the earth. The
Prophet gave her such love and respect that reached her to the highest
level of pride and virtue that no other women will reach. She will
continue to shine in the history of Islam and all Muslims will show pride
to having such a mother, Umm al-Mu'minin.
(Selection taken from
the book: "The Life of Khadijah and Fatimah
(PBUT)", by
Hashim Ma'ruf al-Hassani) |
