Dec 23
Death of Hazrat Khadija (RA)
Friday 10 Ramadan, 2024
Dec 23
Friday 10 Ramadan, 2024
Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا was the first wife of Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّم. Per the Arab traditions, her full name was Khadija Bint Khuwaylid. She belonged to an aristocratic Quraysh family of Mecca. She was born in 554 CE in Mecca. She was a renowned merchant of Mecca who used to send her trade caravan to Syria and Yemen. She was known for her wisdom and generosity. She was famous for helping the poor, even before accepting Islam.
Being a woman, she used to send her trade goods through someone else. On one such occasion, she asked Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ to take her trading goods to Syria after hearing about his honesty and truthfulness. The venture was far more successful, beyond her expectations. She was impressed by his personality, honesty, and way of trading. So, she proposed to marry with her. After consultation with his uncle Abu Talib, the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ accepted the offer and married her. At that point in time, Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ was around 25 years of age, whereas Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا was 40 years old.
This marriage lasted for around 25 years, till the death of Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا. During this entire period, the Prophet did not marry any other woman. Hazrat Khadija gave birth to six children: four daughters and two sons. Both the sons, Qasim and Abdullah, expired in their early childhood. The names of their four daughters are Zainab, Ruqayya, Umm Kulsoom, and Fatima.
Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا was also the first person in history who accepted Islam. When the first Quranic Verses were revealed on Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ, it was Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا, who provided all the moral support to him. It was quite a hard time in the life of the Prophet; Hazrat Khadija supported him physically as well as morally to come out of this difficult phase of his life. In fact, she played a pivotal role in spreading the message of Islam right from the earlier days till her death.
Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا passed away in 619 CE, at the age of around 65. It corresponds to the 10th day of Ramadan, 3 BH (before Hijrah). She had lived a prosperous life, but the last few years of her life were quite difficult for her and her family. After a dispute with the Quraysh of Mecca, the Prophet, along with his family, faced a social boycott. They were forced to live outside of Mecca, in a valley known as Shai'b Abi Talib. This was a hard time for the Prophet's family.
The hardship of this boycott paid its toll, and the health of Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا considerably affected. Eventually, she died at the age of around 65 in the year 619 CE. It was a great loss for the Prophet, as she had been his all-time companion. In the same year, the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ also lost his most helpful and caring uncle, Abu Talib. Later on, the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ often referred this year as “Year of Sorrow” or “Am al-Ḥuzn (عام الحزن)”. The impact of the death of Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا on the personal life of the Prophet was enormous. After losing the great support of his beloved wife and uncle, he was left alone to face the persecution of the Quraysh. Eventually, three years after their death, the Prophet, along with his followers, migrated to Medina.
She was known for her sympathetic behavior towards the poor, even before her marriage with Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ.
Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا was the first and beloved wife of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). She was the mother of his five daughters and two sons. She was the first woman to accept Islam, and she immediately believed the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) when he declared the first message of Allah.
Hazrat Khadija's loss was devastating for the Prophet and left him gravely saddened. He often remembered this event with sorrow and marked the year of her death as the "Year of Sorrow" or Aam-ul-Huzn.
Life in Mecca became much more difficult for the Prophet and his followers after the death of Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا and Abu Talib. Eventually, the Prophet and his followers left Mecca and migrated to Medina due to the ever-increasing persecution of Quraysh.
Hazrat Khadija was one of the richest women in Arabia. Her wealth aided Islam greatly in the formative years. Moreover, she was a woman of great piety and caliber. Her support and marriage to the Prophet Muhammad lent support and legitimacy to the cause. In general, the Muslims lost the support of a compassionate personality.
She was around 65 years of age at the time of her passing away.
She was the first and beloved wife of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. Moreover, she provided all kinds of support and assistance to the Prophet in his Prophetic mission. They lived a successful married life for more than two decades. The passing away of Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا was, therefore, deeply saddening for the Prophet and he declared it the "Year of Sorrow."
She was the first to accept Islam, as well as the first person to provide moral support to the Prophet after receiving his first revelation. It was the support of Hazrat Khadija رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهَا, which encouraged the Prophet and helped him spread the Divine Message. Moreover, she also helped the poor new Muslims, both financially and morally. She was the all-time companion and supporter of the Prophet in accomplishing his Prophetic mission.
She was buried in Jannat al-Mu'allah Cemetery, situated in present-day Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
He felt deep sorrow and always remembered this event with sorrow. Having lost his most loving companion, he was shocked and felt lonely. He also referred to the year of her passing away as the "Year of Sorrow."