Virtues of the Mothers of the Believers - I

04/04/2018| IslamWeb

A Muslim woman finds true happiness when she follows the example of the best women who lived in the best of generations. These women lived in the noblest of homes, the home of the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Allah The Almighty exalted their status, honored their rank and the Quran praised them in the verse in which Allah the Almighty Says (what means): {O wives of the Prophet, you are not like anyone among women, if you fear Allah.} [Quran 33:32] They were blessed wives and great women.

Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, may Allah be pleased with her:

She was the first wife of the Prophet -- wise, intelligent, religious, and of noble lineage. She was brought up to observe virtues, noble morals, and generosity.

She was the epitome of chastity and honor, for she was known among the Makkan women as "The chaste". The Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, married her and she was the best of wives to him. She supported him with her self, her money, and intelligence. At times of distress and sadness, the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to resort to her and tell her about his pains and worries. When he received the Revelation through Jibril (Gabriel, may Allah exalt his mention), for the first time, he returned to her with a trembling heart and said to her: "I do not know what happened to me! O Khadijah! I fear that something harmful may happen to me!" She received him with a steadfast heart, and said, "Never! By Allah. Allah will never disgrace you!"

Islam first saw light in her home and she was the first to embrace it. Ibn Al-Athir said, "According to the consensus of the Muslims, Khadijah, may Allah be pleased with her, was the first person to embrace Islam. She was preceded by neither a man nor a woman!"

The Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was greatly distressed at the beginning of his Da’wah (calling people to Islam) and was exposed to severe torture. At that time, Khadijah, may Allah be pleased with her, provided him with comfort and wise opinion. Whenever he heard something hateful from people and he returned to her she always supported and comforted him. Counting her virtues, the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "She believed in me when people disbelieved, held me truthful when people belied me, provided me with wealth when people prevented me and Allah granted me children from her while He deprived me that from other women." [Ahmad]

She was a great woman, a dutiful wife, and a kind mother. The Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, had all his children from her except Ibrahim. She had noble morals and sublime qualities, as she never argued with the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in any discussion nor harmed him in any dispute. In a Hadeeth, the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Jibril came to me and said, 'Give her (Khadijah, may Allah be pleased with her) the glad tidings of a palace made of hollowed pearls in Paradise, in which there will be neither noise nor trouble." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

As-Suhayli said, "She was given the glad tidings of a house in Paradise because she never raised her voice over that of the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, nor did she ever bother him."

She was pleased with her Lord and Allah The Almighty is pleased with her.

In a Hadith, the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Jibril told me, 'When Khadijah comes to you, convey to her the greeting of her Lord and mine as well." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Ibn al-Qayyim said, "Khadijah, may Allah be pleased with her, was the only woman known to have had this virtue. Allah The Almighty loved her and so did His angels, as well as the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. In a Hadeeth, the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: "Her love was nurtured in my heart by Allah." [Muslim]

Whenever the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, mentioned her, he would exalt her and praise her companions. ‘A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said, "Whenever the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, mentioned Khadijah, he would never get tired of praising her and invoking Allah to forgive her, as a way of showing gratitude for her love and faithfulness, and he used to honor her friends after her death."

‘A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, added, "He would often slaughter a goat, cut it into parts and distribute it among Khadijah’s friends. Whenever I asked him: '(You act) as if there was no other women in the world except Khadijah!' He would say (praising Khadijah): 'She was this and that (counting her virtues) and she bore my children.'" [Al-Bukhari]

After her death, the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, heard her sister’s voice. He then became sad and said: "She reminds me of Khadijah."

Khadijah, may Allah be pleased with her, attained perfection in religiousness, mind, and morals. In a Hadith, the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Many men attained perfection, but only three women attained perfection: Maryam bint ‘Imran (Mary, the daughter of ’Imran), Asiyah the wife of Pharaoh, and Khadijah bint Khuwaylid." [Ibn Mardawayh]

She preceded the women of this Ummah (nation) in righteousness, honor, and splendor. The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Maryam bint ‘Imran was the best of the women of her time, and the best woman of this Ummah is Khadijah." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Khadijah, may Allah be pleased with her, was righteous and made her home righteous as well. She reaped the fruit of her efforts and she and her daughter became the best women in Paradise. The Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "The best of the women of the dwellers of Paradise are: Khadijah, Fatimah, Maryam, and Asiyah." [Ahmad]

She occupied a great position in the heart of the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. He did not marry any woman before her neither did he marry any woman nor have any bondmaids while she was still with him until she died. He was extremely distressed upon her death. Ath-Thahabi said, "She was intelligent, gracious, religious, chaste, and noble. She is one of the dwellers of Paradise."