By: Seyyed Ali Shahbaz
      
Today the 10th of Rabi al-Awwal is that blessed day in history when Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) and the chaste monotheistic lady, Hazrat Khadija bint Khuwailad (SA), were joined together in marriage to lay the blessed foundation of the Immaculate Ahl al-Bayt. 
 The Prophet, during 25 years of marital bliss with “Omm al-Momineen” or the Mother of All True Believers, never took another spouse in order to present the eternal proof of the prime position of Hazrat Khadija (SA).
The Seal of Prophets, whom God Almighty calls the “Most Excellent Exemplar” for the human race, and who was sent to complete the Best Morals, set lasting precedents for the peace and prosperity of mankind.
Among his finest precepts for the sound building of the family unit and subsequently a healthy society, free of psychological traumas, is marriage, regarding which he has said:
“Marriage is part of my Sunnah and whoever disregards it is not from us.”
Long before God’s formal commandment to him to publicly proclaim his universal mission of Islam as the Last and Greatest of all Prophets, he personally set the precedent for a morally upright life by entering into nuptial bonds with the most virtuous lady of his era.
As said above, the blessed day was the 10th of Rabi al-Awwal. The parentless, 25-year old son of Abdullah (AS) and Amena (SA) was married in a grand ceremony that caught the attention of all the people of Mecca and beyond, since after three days of “walima” meals organized by uncle Abu Taleb (AS), they were fed for three months by the wealthy and virtuous “Malikat al-Arab” (Richest Lady of Arabia).
It was a marriage made in heaven. Neither he wedded her for her wealth, nor did she marry him because of lack of suitors. What attracted them to each other was virtue, honesty, integrity of character, and above all shared monotheist faith in the One and Only Creator in an Arabia submerged in polytheism and sins.
Acclaimed as the Tahera or the Chaste for remaining virtuously single so far, the Nikah or nuptials of the lady destined to be the Omm al-Momineen was solemnized by that primordial Muslim, the Prophet’s beloved uncle and guardian, Abu Taleb (AS), who along with his wife, Fatema bint Asad (SA), had brought up his orphaned nephew as his own son. 
As the best of creation, and as the most perfect offspring of Adam and Eve, his light had descended, generation after generation, through spotlessly clean wombs and pristinely pure backs. Therefore, he had to marry the most chaste lady of his times, so as to start the pristinely pure progeny of all times, whose unsullied cleanliness God would eventually vouch in the holy Qur’an:
“Allah desires to keep away uncleanness from you Ahl al-Bayt and preserve you thoroughly purified.”  (33:33) 
Fifteen years after marriage, when God formally entrusted the universal message of Islam to her husband, the loyal monotheist wife immediately testified to his mission as the Chosen (al-Mustafa) Prophet. 
     So firm was the faith of First Lady of Islam that Archangel Gabriel conveyed to the Prophet a special message for her: “O Messenger of Allah! When Khadija comes to you, greet her from Allah and give her the good tiding of a house made of precious stones in Paradise.”‌
     Another great blessing for the pair, and an everlasting one indeed – both in the life of this transient world and in the Hereafter – was God’s granting to them of the blessed daughter named Fatema (SA) whom the Holy Qur’an has hailed as “Kowthar” or the “Fountain of Perpetual Abundance”.
Hazrat Khadija (SA) spent all her wealth to feed, clothe, and shelter the persecuted neo Muslim community, to the extent that when she passed away, there was hardly anything left for her only surviving child, daughter Fatemat az-Zahra (SA) – the Noblest Lady of all times.
It was Divine Will that Hazrat Fatema (SA) be married 
to the Most Excellent Person after the Prophet. He was none other than Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS), whom Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) and Hazrat Khadija (SA) had personally brought up as their ward, five years after their marriage and the passing away of their two infant sons. 
It means Divine Providence ensured continuation of the progeny of Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) and Hazrat Khadija (SA) through Hazrat Fatema (SA) and Imam Ali (AS), and their two Immaculate Sons, Imam Hasan (AS) and Imam Husain (AS).
The unrivalled status of the Hazrat Khadija (SA) is thus clear for all Muslims, who very well know that whenever Islam was in danger, it was her progeny, which rose to the occasion by giving it the kiss of life through their lifeblood – Karbala and the martyrdom of her grandson, Imam Husain (AS), being the supreme example. 
Even the Saviour of mankind, the Awaited Imam Mahdi (AS), who will fill the world with justice, is the direct offspring of the Immaculate Khadija (SA). 
Years after her death, when the middle-aged widowed Prophet had taken several wives out of social necessity in order to break the taboos of the days of ignorance, one of his spouses (name mentioned in “Sahih Bukhari” and other texts) objected to his constant remembrance of Hazrat Khadija (SA). The Prophet was upset and replied: 
“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.” 
This is clear that none of the spouses the widowed Prophet had taken in later life are on with the One and Only Mother of All True Believers, and moreover there are no records of the other marriages nor the type of celebrations.