Nikah
Besides being a wealthy lady, Sayyidatuna Khadijah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا was also very decent and chaste. Considering her chastity, the people of Makkah would call her ‘Taahirah’. She was 40 years of age. At first, she was married to Abu Haalah Bin Zirarah Tameemi [ابو ہالہ بن زرارہ تمیمی] and gave birth to two sons; Hind Bin Abu Haalah and Haalah Bin Abu Haalah. After Abu Haalah died, she was remarried to ‘Ateeq Bin ‘Aabid Makhzoomi and gave birth to two more children; a son whose name was ‘Abdullah Bin ‘Ateeq and a daughter, Hind Bin ‘Ateeq. ‘Ateeq, the second husband of Sayyidatuna Khadijah, also died. Influential tribal chiefs of the Quraysh were interested in marriage with her but she rejected all the proposals.
On the other hand, she was so deeply impressed with the manners, habits and unique qualities of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم that she herself became interested in Nikah with him. On the one hand, she had already turned down the proposals made by the wealthy and famous tribal chiefs of Makkah and had decided not to marry for the third time at the age of 40; but on the other hand, she herself called the paternal aunt of the Holy Nabi, Sayyidatuna Safiyyah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا, who was also the wife of ‘Awwam Bin Khuwaylid [عَوَّام بِن خُوَیلِد] - a brother of Sayyidatuna Khadijah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا. Obtaining some more personal information about the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم from her, Sayyidatuna Khadijah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا made a proposal of Nikah to him ( صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم ) via Nafeesah Bint Umayyah [نَفِیسَہ بِنت اُمَیَّہ].
A famous historian and biographer Imam Muhammad Bin Ishaaq stated: Sayyidatuna Khadijah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا herself told the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم the reason for liking him in these words: ‘اِنِّیْ قَدْ رَغِبْتُ فِیْكَ لِحُسْنِ خُلْقِكَ وَ صِدْقِ حَدِیْثِكَ’, i.e. I developed a liking for you because of your good manners and truthfulness.1
He صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم informed his uncle Abu Taalib and other elderly relatives about this proposal. How could anyone prevent him from marrying Sayyidatuna Khadijah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا who was known for her chastity, good manners, wisdom and wealth? The entire family accepted the proposal happily. The date for the Nikah was also set. Accompanied by Sayyiduna Hamzah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ, Abu Taalib, other uncles, relatives,respected individuals of the Bani Haashim and tribal chiefs of Mudar [مُضَر], he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم went to the house of Sayyidatuna Khadijah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا where the Nikah took place. On the occasion of the Nikah, Abu Taalib read out a sermon very eloquently and excellently. This sermon clearly shows that the elderly people of the family had a very high opinion of the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم even before the declaration of Nubuwwah. They were immensely impressed with his manners and habits.2 Here is a translation of the sermon delivered by Abu Taalib:
‘All praise is for the Almighty Who has created us among the descendants3 of Ibraheem and offspring of Isma’eel عَـلَيْـهِ الـصَّلٰوةُ وَالـسَّلَام. He has privileged us to be born in the family of Ma’ad [مَعَد] and Mudar [مُضَر]. He has also granted us the privilege of becoming the custodians of His House (i.e. the Ka’bah) and caretakers of His Haram. He has bestowed upon us the house of knowledge, wisdom and peaceful Haram. He has enabled us to rule people.
He is Muhammad Bin ‘Abdullah – the son of my brother. He is such a young man who will always remain greater and superior even if compared with any other person of the Quraysh. Even though he has less wealth, but wealth is not always reliable and it is like a disappearing shadow. Moreover, you are well aware of the fact that my nephew is related to me and is very dear to me. He performs Nikah with Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid and will pay Mahr in the form of 20 camels from my wealth. His future is very bright and he is very great and glorious.’4
After Abu Taalib finished his wonderful sermon, Warqah Bin Nawfil who was a paternal cousin of Sayyidatuna Khadijah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا stood up and delivered an excellent sermon whose summary is as follows:
‘Praise is only for the Almighty Who has created us as was described by you, O Abu Taalib! The Almighty has bestowed upon us the superiority you have mentioned. Indeed we are the chiefs and leaders of the Arabs and you people also have all excellence and superiority. No tribe can deny your prestige and no one can reject your superiority and supremacy. Indeed we have very keenly preferred to establish relationship with you. O Quraysh! Be witness to this Nikah. I marry Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid (رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا) to Muhammad ( صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم ) Bin ‘Abdullah in exchange for four hundred Misqal in Mahr.’5
Anyway, the Nikah took place and marital relationship was established. Sayyidatuna Khadijah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا lived with him for 25 years. As long as she remained alive, he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم did not perform Nikah with any other lady. She رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا gave birth to all the offspring of the Holy Nabi صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم except Sayyiduna Ibraheem رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ. Sayyidatuna Khadijah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا spent all of her wealth and life, serving him.
1Al-Mawahib-ul-Ladunniyyah ma’ Sharh-uz-Zurqaani, vol. 1, pp. 370-374
2Al-Mawahib-ul-Ladunniyyah ma’ Sharh-uz-Zurqaani, vol. 1, pp. 376
3Someone who is related to a person who lived a long time ago
4Al-Mawahib-ul-Ladunniyyah ma’ Sharh-uz-Zurqaani, vol. 1, pp. 376; summarised; Madarij-un-Nubuwwah, chap. 2, vol. 2, pp. 28
5Sharh-uz-Zurqaani ‘alal Mawahib, vol. 1, pp. 377
