Khadijah bint Khuwaylid is the daughter of Quraysh leader Khuwaylid ibn Asad. And her mother is Fathima bint Zaidah. Khadijah is the first wife of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Khadijah was older than Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was about twenty five years old at the time of their marriage. And Khadijah was forty years old. She was 15 years older than Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Khadijah was previously married and divorced and a widow
According to Ibn Sa’ad’s biography, Khadijah (RA) was initially married to Abu Hala ibn al-Nabbash from the tribe of Tamim, bearing two sons: Hind and Hala. Her second marriage was to Atiq ibn Abid from the tribe of Makhzum, resulting in a daughter named Hind as well. It is likely that her first marriage ended in a divorce, whereas her second husband possibly passed away, leaving her a widow.
Khadijah’s biographies do not mention having a stigma towards her being a divorcee and a widow. Moreover, the fact that she was not a virgin did not seem to bother the Prophet. It is worth noting that among all of Muhammad’s (PBUH) wives, only Aisha had been a virgin at the time of their marriage.
Khadijah sent marriage proposal to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
According to Al-Raheeq al-Makhtum, “the Prophet (peace be upon him) went to Syria as a merchant for Khadijah. Khadijah was impressed with Muhammad’s (PBUH) honesty and good manners. So, she sent proposal for marriage.
Khadijah provided the main source of income for her family
She was a successful business-woman of great honor and fortune. She employed men to conduct her business for a certain percentage of profits. Khadijah had economic power and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) remained reliant on her throughout their lives, while she did not depend on him. However, this dynamic did not threaten the sense of his own masculinity.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) moved into Khadijah’s house after marriage
Prophet Muhammad’s relocation to Khadijah’s home is a momentous event but often neglected detail in their marriage, as it deviates from the common practice in both Muslim and non-Muslim communities. This unconventional living arrangement challenges the traditional norm of wives moving into their husband’s household, an idea that underpins many Muslim family laws mandating obedience from women towards their spouses.
To Summarize,
This challenges the cultural and patriarchal norms that often dictate power dynamics in marriages. Their marriage demonstrated the importance of emotional support and companionship, which goes against the popular idea that marriages are primarily for procreation or social status. Overall, their relationship serves as a model for challenging and redefining societal norms surrounding marriage.
Sources:
- Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum
- Rahman, S. (2022, December 25). 5 ways that Khadijah (RA) and Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ marriage challenges current norms. Amaliah. https://www.amaliah.com/post/66089/lessons-from-khadijah-prophet-muhammad-marriage-islam
