The Story of Khadijah: The First Wife of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

Hasan A. Yahya, Ph.D

 Who was Khadijah and how her marriage to Muhammad was arranged and took place?

Khadijah was from Quraysh, married twice, after her last husband,  a wealthy merchant, has died, the house needed a conductor. A nephew of the widow, named Khuzaymah, had become acquainted with Muhammad in the course of his commercial expeditions, and had noticed the ability and integrity with which he acquitted himself on all occasions. He pointed him out of his  aunt as a person well qualified to be her factor. The personal appearance of Muhammad may have strongly seconded his recommendation; for he was now about twenty-five years of age, and extold by Arabian writers for his manly beauty and engaging manners. So desirous was Khadijah of securing his services, that she offered him double wages to conduct a caravan which she was on the point of sending to Syria. Muhammad consulted his uncle Abu Talib, and by his advice, accepted the offer. He was accompanied and aided in the expedition by the nephew of the widow, and by her slave Maysarah, and so highly satisfied was Khadijah with the way in which he discharged his duties, that on his return, she paid him double the amount of his stipulated wages. She afterwards sent him to the southern parts of Arabia on similar expeditions, in all which he gave like satisfaction.

In the meanwhile, Khadijah was in her fortieth year, a woman of judgment and experience. The mental qualities of Muhammad rose more and more in her estimation, and her heart began to yearn toward the fresh and comely youth. According to Arabian legends, a miracle occurred most importunately to confirm and sanctify the bias of her inclinations. She was one day with her handmaids, at the hour of noon, on the terraced roof of her dwelling, watching the arrival of a caravan conducted by Muhammad. As it approached, she beheld, with astonishment, two angels overshadowing him with their wings to protect him from the sun. turning with emotion, to her handmaids, “Behold!” said she, “to beloved of Allah, who sends two angels to watch over him!”

While this legend was not confirmed historically by the handmaids, it is suffice to say, the widow with a lively faith in the superhuman merits of her youthful steward, and forthwith commissioned her trusty slave, Maysarah, to offer him her hand.

The negotiation is recorded with simple brevity. Maysarah demanded by saing:

- “Muhammad, why do you still not married?”

-  “I have not means,” Muhammad answered.

 - “Well, what if a wealthy woman offered her hand to you: one also, who is handsome and of high nobility?”

- “Khadijah!”

- “How is that possible?” Tha Prophet said.

- “ Let me manage that.” Said Maysarah.

Maysarah returned to his mistress and reported what happened. An hour was appointed for an interview, and the affair was brought  to a satisfactory arrangement, which is known of Muhammad’s distinguished promptness and sagacity of his dealings with Khadijah.  When father of Khadijah knew about the agreement made between Khadijah and Muhammad, he opposed the match on account of levels of wealth. In his opinion wealth should be added to wealth, which is not the case, a wealthy woman and a man in poverty. But Khadijah wisely considered her riches only as the means of enabling  her to follow the dictates of her heart.

Khadijah called highly respected people and gave a feast, faces invited included her father and her relatives, Abu Talib and Hamzah  (Muhammad’s uncles), and other high prestigious people of Quraysh. At the party, it was said that wine served in abundance, and soon diffused good humor round the board. The objections to Muhammad’s inequal position to Khadijah’s wealth were forgotten; when speeches made by Abu Talib, Hamza, and Waraqah bin Nofal, a kinsman of Khadijah, they all praised the proposal of marriage, the dowry was arranged, and the marriage formally announced. (786 words) www.hasanyahya.com