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Khadija
Arabic:
khadīja bint khuwalid
(ca. 555-619) First wife of Islam's prophet Muhammad, and the first convert to Islam.
While we know little of possible points of influence of Khadija on Muhammad, it is clear that Khadija played a vital role in supporting her husband through the first difficult years of receiving revelations.
Khadija was a wealthy woman, either from inheritance or from her first two marriages, or from all sources. She also controlled a trade system in Arabia, reaching as far north as Mesopotamia, which can have helped to spread Islam in its earliest history.
Khadija is fondly described by all contemporary sources, and it is clear that Muhammad loved and respected her very much. She had children from her first two marriages, but she bore Muhammad 6 children as well. The most known of these is Fatima, who came to play an important role in the development of Islam.
There has always been a dispute over which of Khadija's children were the children of Muhammad. Some historians claim that Zaynab, Ruqaiya and Umm Kulthum were children of Khadija's second husband, while other historians insist that they were the children of Muhammad.
Biography
Ca. 555 Born in Mecca as daughter of Khuwalid bin Asad bin Abdul Uzza bin Qusayy, of the Quraysh tribe. Her father was a wealthy merchant.
Ca. 570: Marries for the first time, to a man of the Makhzumi clan. His name is not known with certainty. We do not know when she married for the second time. It is clear that one of the husbands died, while the other one divorced her.
Ca. 585: Khadija's father dies.
Ca. 595: Khadija asks Muhammad, 15 years her junior, to marry her. He consents.
610: Muhammad receives his first revelation, and it is believed that Khadija converted to Islam soon after this.
619: Dies a natural death in Mecca.
© Copyright 1996-2008 LookLex Ltd. All rights reserved
By: Tore Kjeilen
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