Khadījah al-Kubra (may Allah be pleased with her) sent her slave Maysara to be with Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) during the whole journey. On return, Maysara praised Muhammad greatly. She was quite impressed by the account of the journey.
Khadījah saw in a dream light descending in her home and illuminating it. She thought it to be an indication and sent a marriage proposal to Muhammad ibn Abdullah (peace and blessings of Allah be to him). Abu Talib was very happy by this alignment and asked his nephew to go ahead and get married to Khadījah. Thus began one of the greatest companionship known in history.
She was the best wife a man can hope to have. She supported Muhammad through thick and thin. They lived in conjugal bliss and she bore him six children.
Muhammad was greatly disturbed by the polytheism in Makkah and used to go to the Cave of Mount Hira for meditation and reflection. It is here that the first revelation came to him. The famous incident of the revelation is related in a hadīth in Bukhari.
Narrated ‘Aisha: (the mother of the faithful believers): The commencement of the Divine Inspiration to Allah’s Apostle was in the form of good dreams which came true like bright daylight, and then the love of seclusion was bestowed upon him. He used to go in seclusion in the Cave of Hira where he used to worship (Allah alone) continuously for many days before his desire to see his family. He used to take with him the journey food for the stay and then come back to (his wife) Khadījah to take his food like-wise again till suddenly the Truth descended upon him while he was in the Cave of Hira. The angel came to him and asked him to read. The Messenger replied, “I do not know how to read.” The Messenger added, “The angel caught me (forcefully) and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read and I replied, ‘I do not know how to read.’ Thereupon he caught me again and pressed me a second time till I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read but again I replied, ‘I do not know how to read (or what shall I read)?’ Thereupon he caught me for the third time and pressed me, and then released me and said, ‘Read in the name of your Lord, who has created (all that exists), has created man from a clot. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous.” (96.1, 96.2, 96.3) Then Allah’s Apostle returned with the Inspiration and with his heart beating severely. Then he went to Khadījah bint Khuwailid and said, “Cover me! Cover me!” They covered him till his fear was over and after that he told her everything that had happened and said, “I fear that something may happen to me.” Khadījah replied, “Never! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good relations with your kith and kin, help the poor and the destitute, serve your guests generously and assist the deserving calamity-afflicted ones.”
Khadījah then accompanied him to her cousin Waraqa bin Naufal bin Asad bin ‘Abdul ‘Uzza, who, during the pre-Islamic period became a Christian and used to write in Hebrew. He would write from the Gospel in Hebrew as much as Allah wished him to write. He was an old man and had lost his eyesight. Khadījah said to Waraqa, “Listen to the story of your nephew, O my cousin!” Waraqa asked, “O my nephew! What have you seen?” Allah’s Apostle described whatever he had seen. Waraqa said, “This is the same one who keeps the secrets (angel Gabriel) whom Allah had sent to Moses. I wish I were young and could live up to the time when your people would turn you out.” Allah’s Apostle asked, “Will they drive me out?” Waraqa replied in the affirmative, and said, “Anyone (man) who came with something similar to what you have brought was treated with hostility; and if I should remain alive till the day when you will be turned out then I would support you strongly.” But after a few days Waraqa died and the Divine Inspiration was also paused for a while.
Narrated Jabir bin ‘Abdullah Al-Ansari while talking about the period of pause in revelation, reporting the speech of the Messenger: “While I was walking, all of a sudden I heard a voice from the sky. I looked up and saw the same angel who had visited me at the Cave of Hira sitting on a chair between the sky and the earth. I got afraid of him and came back home and said, ‘Wrap me (in blankets).’ And then Allah revealed the following Holy Aayaat (of the Qur’ān): ‘O you (i.e. Muhammad)! wrapped up in garments!’ Arise and warn (the people against Allah’s Punishment),… up to ‘and desert the idols.’ (74.1-5) After this the revelation started coming strongly, frequently and regularly.”
They worshipped Allah together quietly and called people to Allah secretly. Soon came Allah’s order of conveying the message of Islam to the Quraish.
With the advent of Messenger-hood started the relentless persecution of Quraish. The leaders left no stone unturned in torturing and pursuing the Messenger and his followers. The Messenger relied greatly on her, for she had become a wall of support for him against his enemies, a shield against his persecutors. Never did she complain as she was an epitome statue of contentment and virtue.
The Blessed Messenger came to her to share his sorrow of people refusing to come to the fold of Islam. She used to certify his truthfulness, console and comfort him, strengthen him and encourage him to continue with his great work.
The persecutions and the harsh words of the Quraish were presented by her in a way so as to appear much less than what they had been.
She never wasted time and devoted herself to worship and remained consistent in the face of difficult times. Calling women to Islam and teaching those few who had accepted it the true Deen.
Khadījah treated the relatives of the Blessed Messenger very nicely and kindly, helping the needy ones, providing for the deprived ones and welcoming them with open arms in her home.
When Ali accepted Islam, she happily called him to live with them and became a mother to him. He received Tarbiyat from her. As a mother too, we cannot find a better role model than her. Lovingly, she brought up her children, educating and guiding them to become great role models themselves.
(to be concluded)