Khadija Bint Khuwaylid - Becoming The First Muslim

Becoming The First Muslim

When her husband received his first revelation from the Angel Gabriel (Jibril), she was the first person (besides Muhammad) to convert to Islam. Upon receiving his revelation Muhammad returned home to Khadijah fearing for his life and pleading for her to cover him with a blanket. After calming down Muhammad explained the encounter to Khadijah, at which point she comforted him saying, "Allah would surely protect him from any danger, and would never allow anyone to revile him as he was a man of peace and reconciliation and always extended the hand of friendship to all." According to some sources, it was Khadija's parental cousin, Waraqah ibn Nawfal, who confirmed Muhammad's prophethood soon after his vision of the angel.

Khadijah did not hesitate to embrace Islam, trusting her husband's teachings. Khadijah was a supporting wife, she always provided him strength, proclaiming his truth to those who did not believe and would belittle any opposition of men to the sayings of her husband.

It was her encouragement that helped Muhammad believe in his mission, and spread the religion of Islam. Her willingness to instantly believe in Islam made her a natural leader in the Pre-Islamic community.

Khadijah's wealth was another contributing factor in spreading Islam. Once Khadijah and Muhammad got married, Muhammad no longer had work, for her wealth is what gave Muhammad the time for his spiritual path. Ronald Bodley in his book The Messenger, the Life of Mohammed, 1946 wrote:

"God is my protection, Oh Abul Kasim !" said Khadija, "Rejoice and be of good cheer. He in Whose hands stands the life of Khadija, is my Witness that thou wilt be the Messenger of His people!" Then she added, "Hast thou not been loving to thy kinsfolk, kind to thy neighbors, charitable to the poor, hospitable to the stranger, faithful to thy word, and ever a defender of the truth?"

Washington Irving in his book Life of Mohammed wrote:

After the first encounter with Gabriel, Mohammed came trembling and agitated to Khadija. She saw everything with the eye of faith. "Joyful tidings dost thou bring," exclaimed she, "by Him, in Whose hand is the soul of Khadija, I will henceforth regard thee as the Prophet of our nation. Rejoice," added she, "Allah will not suffer thee to fall to shame. Hast thou not been loving to thy kinsfolk, kind to thy neighbours, charitable to the poor, hospitable to the stranger, faithful to thy word, and ever a defender of the truth?"

Yahya ibn `Afeef is quoted saying that he once came, during the period of Jahiliyyah (before the advent of Islam), to Mecca to be hosted by ‘Abbas ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib, one of Muhammad's uncles mentioned above. "When the sun started rising," he said, "I saw a man who came out of a place not far from us, faced the Kaaba and started performing his prayers. He hardly started before being joined by a young boy who stood on his right side, then by a woman who stood behind them. When he bowed down, the young boy and the woman bowed, and when he stood up straight, they, too, did likewise. When he prostrated, they, too, prostrated." He expressed his amazement at that, saying to Abbas: "This is quite strange, O Abbas!". "Is it, really?" retorted al-Abbas. "Do you know who he is?", Abbas asked his guest who answered in the negative. "He is Muhammad ibn Abdullah, my nephew. Do you know who the young boy is?" asked he again. "No, indeed," answered the guest. "He is Ali son of Abu Talib. Do you know who the woman is?" The answer came again in the negative, to which Abbas said, "She is Khadija bint Khuwaylid, my nephew's wife." This incident is included in the books of both Ahmad ibn Hanbal and Al-Tirmidhi, each detailing it in his own Ṣaḥīḥ.

She bore patiently in the face of persecution to which her revered husband and his small band of believers were exposed at the hands of the polytheists and aristocrats of the Quraish, sacrificing her vast wealth helping to promote Islam, helping to free slaves who had embraced Islam, and helping to feed and shelter the community of Muslims that slowly but surely began to grow in numbers and strength, seeking God's rewards. Khadijah proved her dedication to her husband and his followers during the Boycott of 617 CE, in which the Quraysh attacked, imprisoned, and beat any who followed Muhammad and believed in his teachings. The followers of Muhammad would endure days without food or drink bringing some to their death and others would fall very ill. This was an especially important moment for showing how loyal Khadijah was to the sayings of her husband. Khadijah was raised/lived in the lap of luxury never having to fear when her next meal would come or face cruel torture. By remaining by the side of the devoted followers of her husband, Khadijah proved that she believed in the words of her husband and would always fight for the developing ways of Islam.

She remained at his side and supported him throughout his mission to spread Islam.