Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (may Allah be pleased with her) was the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the first person to believe in his message and one of the greatest women in history.
She was a successful businesswoman, a devoted wife, a loving mother and a generous supporter of Islam in its hardest years.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The best of the world’s women is Maryam, and the best of the world’s women is Khadijah.”
This article tells the life story of Khadijah: her family and business, her marriage to the Prophet ﷺ, her support at the beginning of revelation, her sacrifices during the boycott, her passing in the Year of Sorrow and the lasting love the Prophet ﷺ held for her.
Family and Early Life
Khadijah was born in Makkah around 15 years before the Year of the Elephant (approximately 555 CE).
Her father, Khuwaylid ibn Asad, was a respected leader of the Quraysh tribe, and her mother was Fatimah bint Za’idah. Her family were among the nobles of Makkah.
Even before Islam, Khadijah was known as At-Tahirah, “the Pure One,” for her chastity and noble character.
She was married twice before her marriage to the Prophet ﷺ and was widowed.
A Successful Businesswoman
Khadijah inherited and expanded a large trading business. She hired men to take her goods in caravans to Syria and Yemen, sharing the profits with them.
Her caravans were said to equal the caravans of all of Quraysh combined.
She was known for honesty, sound judgement and fairness in her dealings, qualities that made her one of the wealthiest and most respected people in Makkah.
Hiring Muhammad ﷺ
Khadijah heard of a young man named Muhammad, known throughout Makkah as As-Sadiq Al-Amin, “the Truthful, the Trustworthy.”
She invited him to lead her trade caravan to Syria, offering him a greater share than others.
He travelled with her servant Maysarah, who observed his character closely. The trip brought double the usual profit.
Maysarah reported his honesty, gentleness and remarkable events during the journey.
The Marriage
Impressed by his character, Khadijah sent a friend, Nafisah bint Munyah, to ask whether he would consider marriage. He agreed, and the proposal was arranged between their families.
His uncle Abu Talib delivered the marriage sermon.
At the time of marriage, according to the most famous narration, the Prophet ﷺ was 25 and Khadijah was 40. Some historians mention she was younger.
Their marriage lasted about 25 years, and the Prophet ﷺ did not marry any other woman while she lived.
Their Children
Khadijah bore all of the Prophet’s children except Ibrahim:
| Child | Notes |
|---|---|
| Al-Qasim | Died in infancy; the Prophet ﷺ was called Abul-Qasim |
| Zaynab | Married Abul-As ibn ar-Rabi’ |
| Ruqayyah | Married Uthman ibn Affan |
| Umm Kulthum | Married Uthman after Ruqayyah’s death |
| Fatimah | Married Ali ibn Abi Talib; mother of Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn |
| Abdullah | Also called At-Tayyib and At-Tahir; died in infancy |
Khadijah endured the loss of her sons with patience.
Their home was also filled with Zayd ibn Harithah, whom the Prophet ﷺ freed and raised, and Ali ibn Abi Talib, who grew up in their household.
The First Revelation
Before prophethood, the Prophet ﷺ would retreat to the Cave of Hira on Mount Nur to worship and reflect.
Khadijah supported him, preparing provisions and sometimes bringing food to him.
When he was 40, the angel Jibril came to him in the cave and said: “Read!” The first verses of Surah Al-‘Alaq were revealed.
Shaken, he returned home trembling and said: “Cover me, cover me!” Khadijah wrapped him until his fear left.
He told her: “I fear for myself.” She replied with words that have echoed through the centuries:
“No, by Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good relations with your kin, you help the weak, you give to the poor, you honour guests and you help those afflicted by calamity.”
Her response shows deep understanding: a person of such character would not be abandoned by Allah.
Waraqah ibn Nawfal
Khadijah took the Prophet ﷺ to her cousin Waraqah ibn Nawfal, an elderly man who had studied earlier scriptures.
When he heard what happened, he said: “This is the Namus (Jibril) whom Allah sent to Musa. I wish I were young and could live until your people drive you out.”
The Prophet ﷺ asked: “Will they drive me out?” Waraqah said: “Yes. No man has ever come with what you have brought except that he was opposed.”
The First Believer
Khadijah was the first person to accept Islam, before any man, woman or child. She believed in him when others rejected him and prayed with him in the early days.
The Prophet ﷺ later said: “She believed in me when the people disbelieved, she accepted me as truthful when the people called me a liar, she supported me with her wealth when the people deprived me, and Allah granted me children through her.”
Supporting the Message
Khadijah spent her wealth freely in support of Islam. She comforted the Prophet ﷺ when he faced mockery and hostility.
Her home was a place of peace where he could return after days of rejection.
Greetings from Allah
Jibril came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: “O Messenger of Allah, Khadijah is coming with a vessel of food or drink. When she comes, convey to her greetings of peace from her Lord and from me, and give her glad tidings of a house in Paradise made of hollowed pearl, in which there is no noise and no fatigue.”
Scholars note the beauty of this reward: a home without noise or fatigue for a woman who gave the Prophet ﷺ a home of peace and never wearied him.
The Boycott
When Quraysh failed to stop Islam, they imposed a boycott on Banu Hashim and Banu al-Muttalib, refusing to trade with them or marry them.
The Muslims and their supporters were confined to a valley known as Shi’b Abi Talib for about three years.
Khadijah, once among the wealthiest women of Makkah, endured hunger and hardship alongside her husband. Her wealth was spent to support those trapped in the valley. The boycott took a heavy toll on her health.
The Year of Sorrow
Shortly after the boycott ended, around the tenth year of prophethood, Khadijah passed away at about 65 years old.
Within a short time, the Prophet’s uncle and protector, Abu Talib, also died. This year became known as ‘Am al-Huzn, the Year of Sorrow.
She was buried in Al-Hajun (Jannat al-Mu’alla) in Makkah. The Prophet ﷺ himself descended into her grave.
The Prophet’s Enduring Love
The Prophet ﷺ never forgot Khadijah.
Aisha (RA) said: “I was never jealous of any of the wives of the Prophet ﷺ as I was of Khadijah, though I never saw her. He would mention her often, and when he slaughtered a sheep, he would cut it into pieces and send them to Khadijah’s friends.”
Once Aisha remarked about her, and the Prophet ﷺ replied with the words above: “She believed in me when the people disbelieved…”
When Khadijah’s sister Halah asked permission to enter, the Prophet ﷺ recognised a voice like Khadijah’s and was moved, saying: “O Allah, Halah!”
He said: “I was nourished with love for her.”
Her Status in Islam
- The first Muslim.
- Mother of the Believers.
- Among the four best women of Paradise: “The best of the women of Paradise are Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, Fatimah bint Muhammad, Maryam bint Imran and Asiyah bint Muzahim.”
- Greeted by Allah through Jibril.
- Promised a house of pearl in Paradise.
Lessons From Her Life
- Choose a spouse for character: Khadijah chose the Prophet ﷺ for his honesty.
- Support your spouse in hard times: her words at the first revelation were exactly what he needed.
- Wealth is a tool for good: she spent it for Allah’s cause.
- Women can lead in business with integrity.
- Faith can come first: she was the first to believe.
- Patience in loss: she lost children and comfort, yet remained steadfast.
- Loyalty endures: the Prophet’s continued kindness to her friends after her death is a model of faithfulness.
A Timeline of Khadijah’s Life
| Approximate time | Event |
|---|---|
| c. 555 CE | Born in Makkah to Khuwaylid ibn Asad |
| Before 595 CE | Builds a large trading business; widowed twice |
| c. 595 CE | Hires Muhammad ﷺ to lead her caravan to Syria |
| c. 595 CE | Marries Muhammad ﷺ |
| 595-610 CE | Birth of their children; supports his retreats in Hira |
| 610 CE | First revelation; Khadijah becomes the first Muslim |
| 616-619 CE | Endures the boycott in Shi’b Abi Talib |
| 619 CE | Passes away in the Year of Sorrow |
Khadijah as a Mother
Khadijah raised her daughters to be women of faith and strength. Zaynab showed loyalty to her husband and later migrated to Madinah.
Ruqayyah migrated twice, to Abyssinia and to Madinah.
Fatimah, the youngest, became known for her resemblance to the Prophet ﷺ in her walk and manner, and for her patience and devotion.
The home Khadijah built was one of love, worship and service.
Zayd ibn Harithah chose to stay with the Prophet ﷺ and Khadijah over returning to his own father, a sign of the kindness he found in their household.
Khadijah’s Wisdom at Key Moments
Khadijah’s reaction to the first revelation is often studied as a model of emotional intelligence:
- She comforted before she questioned. She covered him and let his fear settle.
- She reminded him of his character. She listed his good deeds as evidence that Allah would not disgrace him.
- She sought knowledgeable counsel. She took him to Waraqah, someone who understood scripture.
- She believed and acted. She became the first to accept Islam.
These steps offer a model for spouses, parents and friends supporting someone through a frightening or overwhelming experience.
What Women and Men Can Learn From Her Today
For women, Khadijah shows that faith, business, family and leadership can be combined with dignity and integrity.
For men, the Prophet’s honour of her, his consultation with her and his lifelong loyalty to her memory show how a husband should value his wife.
For everyone, her story reminds us that the support we give to good causes in their weakest moments may carry the greatest reward.
She invested everything in Islam when it had almost nothing, and Allah honoured her with a reward that will never end.
Reflecting on Her Example
Ask yourself:
- Who in my life needs the kind of reassurance Khadijah gave?
- How can I use my wealth or skills for good?
- Do I honour the people who stood by me in hard times?
- Am I loyal to the memory and friends of those I have lost?
A Four-Week Plan to Apply What You Learned About khadijah bint khuwaylid
Knowledge sticks when it is turned into a routine. Here is a simple four-week plan to build on this guide.
- Week one: Re-read this article slowly and write down the three points that were newest to you. Share one of them with a family member, because explaining an idea is one of the best ways to understand it.
- Week two: Connect the topic to your daily Quran reading. Each day, look for one verse or phrase in your portion that relates to khadijah bint khuwaylid, and note it in a small notebook.
- Week three: Ask questions. Bring anything that is still unclear to a qualified teacher, and correct any misunderstanding before it becomes a habit.
- Week four: Review your notebook, choose one practical change and commit to it for the next month. Small, consistent actions are more beloved to Allah than large efforts that do not last.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The most beloved of deeds to Allah are those that are most consistent, even if they are small.”
Apply that principle here, and this topic will become part of your life rather than something you read once and forgot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Khadijah bint Khuwaylid?
She was the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the first Muslim and a successful businesswoman of Makkah.
How did Khadijah support the Prophet ﷺ?
She comforted him at the first revelation, believed in him first, spent her wealth on Islam and endured the boycott.
How many children did Khadijah have with the Prophet ﷺ?
Six: Al-Qasim, Zaynab, Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthum, Fatimah and Abdullah.
When did Khadijah die?
Around the tenth year of prophethood, in the Year of Sorrow, about three years before the Hijrah.
What reward was Khadijah promised?
A house of hollowed pearl in Paradise, with no noise and no fatigue.
Final Thoughts
Khadijah bint Khuwaylid was the first to believe, the first to support and the first to sacrifice for Islam.
Her wisdom, loyalty and generosity made her the Prophet’s greatest source of comfort, and Allah Himself sent her greetings of peace.
Remember her with du’a, teach her story to your daughters and sons, and let her words at the cave inspire you to recognise and support goodness wherever you find it.
Begin your Quran journey with a supportive tutor.