By: Seyyed Ali Shahbaz
      "Did He not find you needy, and enrich you?” (Holy Qur’an 93:8)
      God’s words here to Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) are certainly not a reminder of some favour – similar to Ayah 6 of this same Surah which is a reference to how the loving uncle, Abu Taleb, on Divine Commandment, sheltered and brought up the orphaned nephew as his own son.
      In the same context, Ayah 8 is a clear reference to the change of fortune in the life of the poor 25-year old future Prophet, as a result of his marriage with the Richest Lady of Arabia, Khadija bint Khwaylid, with whom – thanks to his uncle Abu Taleb – he had started work as manager of her trade caravans.
      Known as "at-Tahera” or the Spotlessly Pure One, Khadija was a staunch monotheist adhering to the creed of her ancestor Prophet Abraham (AS) in those days when Arabia was steeped in idolatry and vices.
      No wonder she had spurned all suitors as unworthy of her unsullied hand. This does not mean that it was a sudden weakness of heart which made her propose marriage to the parentless son of Abdullah and Amena.
      What attracted her to him was his honesty in trade transactions, his integrity in returning to her the profits, his sincerity with all members of the caravan, his truthful reporting of whatever that had transpired during the trips, his trustworthy nature that could not be tempted by goods and money placed in his custody, and above all his firm faith in the One and Only God.
      Khadija was thus the primordial Muslimah. It means that her acceptance of the mission of her husband fifteen years after marriage, following Archangel Gabriel’s formal entrustment of the universal message of Islam to Prophet Muhammad (SAWA), was but a formality and open declaration of her own original status as the First Muslim Lady – when the entire families of the wives that the widowed Prophet would marry decades later out of social necessity, were outright polytheists.
       In view of these undeniable facts about the pride of place in Islam and in paradise, of the Mother of all True Believers (Omm al-Momineen) Hazrat Khadijat-al-Kubra (SA), no real Muslim could be misled by lies about the alleged merits of a couple of these spouses, who actually did not had any, as is evident by Surah Tahrim, in which, after mentioning the treacheries of some of the wives of Prophet Noah and Prophet Lot, God Almighty reprimands a duo among the spouses of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) for their machinations against him.
      Anyone in doubt about belief in the indivisible unity of Allah, the God of Abraham, by Khadija, by her family, by her cousin Waraqah ibn Nawfal, and by Abu Taleb, are advised to ponder on the sermon delivered by the uncle while solemnizing the nuptials of his nephew, as recorded by the famous Sunni scholar, Ibn Hisham in "Sirat-an-Nabawiyya”:
       "All praise is due to Allah Who has made us the progeny of Abraham, the seed of Ishmael, the descendants of Ma’ad, the substance of Mudar, and Who made us the custodians of His House and the servants of its sacred precincts… He also gave us authority over the people. This nephew of mine Muhammad (SAWA) cannot be compared with any other man…he has sought Khadija daughter of Khuwaylid for marriage…”
       Waraqah ibn Nawfal then stood and said: "All praise is due to Allah Who has made us just as you have mentioned and preferred us over those whom you have indicated, for we, indeed, are the masters of Arabs and their leaders, and you all are worthy of this (bond of marriage). The tribe (Quraysh) does not deny any of your merits, nor does anyone else dispute your lofty status and prestige. And we, furthermore, wish to be joined to your rope; so, bear witness to my words, O people of Quraysh! I have given Khadija daughter of Khwaylid in marriage to Muhammad ibn Abdullah.”
      For the next twenty-five years the two were an excellent "made-for-each-other- pair”, and with the advent of Islam, the richest lady of Arabia spent all her wealth to feed, clothe, and shelter the persecuted neo Muslim community of Mecca – out of whose ranks were to emerge ingrates, who would seize the inheritance of her daughter, Fatema az-Zahra (SA) and usurp the political right of leadership of her foster son and son-in-law, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS).
     Alas, today the 10th of Ramadhan is that day when Khadija left the world in poverty in the state of the socio-economic siege imposed by the Arab infidels (later to be Sahaba and subsequently the Salaf of today’s Salafis terrorizing innocent Muslims). It is the day on which the Noblest Lady of all times, Hazrat Fatema (SA) became orphan.
      Life would never be the same for the Prophet even after marrying nine wives in the last ten years of his life Medina – out of social necessity and to break the customs of Jahiliyya. This is evident by the famous hadith mentioned in the book "Sahih Bukhari” of our Sunni brethren when Ayesha reproached him for always cherishing the memory of the Late Khadija (SA), and calling herself a better one. The Prophet felt annoyed and said:
      "By God, the Almighty did not grant me a better wife than her. She believed in me when the people used to mock at me and she acknowledged me when the people denied me. She shared her wealth and property with me, and she bore me children which I was not destined to have through other women."
      Moreover, it was Khadija’s offspring that rose to the defence of Islam and gave their life in every age and era, with Karbala being the supreme example of sincere sacrifice.
Condolences on the Passing Away of Omm al-Momineen Hazrat Khadija (SA)