After marrying the Prophet (S.A.W.W.), she gave him all her wealth, knowing how much he would need this wealth for Islam very soon. The Prophet (S.A.W.W) and Hazrat Khadija spent very little of this wealth for themselves for fifteen years.
After fifteen years of a quiet life, then the Prophet (S.A.W.W) told people about his Prophethood. The people of Mecca, especial the Quraish, became his greatest enemies.
They began to make his life and that of his helpers very difficult. Because of that, he was left alone. His two greatest supporters at this time were his uncle Abu-Talib and, of course, his wife Hazrat Khadija.
Hazrat Khadija helped the Prophet of Islam in two ways. Firstly, she believed in his claim that he was the Prophet and encouraged him to go ahead with his mission. She was:
By his side any time he needed her. When he went to pray at Kaaba she went with him and prayed behind him. When his enemies threw dirt on him she helped him clean himself. When they hurt him, she nursed him. When he was boycotted by the Quraish and went to live in the estate of Hazrat Abu-Talib, she went with him to look after him and help him through life. She stayed there for three years and died just after the end of the boycott because of hunger and exhaustion. Secondly, when people of Mecca began to accept the Prophet’s invitation to become Muslims, they had to go through a lot of trouble. They could not earn enough to buy their daily food and other requirements. The Prophet had to do this for them. Also, some of the new Muslims had to leave Mecca to go to Abysinia.
All this required money The money was provided by Hazrat Khadija. Her money was also used to free slaves.
One wonders if Islam would really survive without Hazrat KhaJija’s wealth. Her contribution to Islam can be compared with only that of Hazrat Abu-Talib who used his power as head of his clan to support the Prophet (S.A.W.W), and All who used his sword for Islam.
The Prophet (S.A.W.W) used to say, “No property has ever been so useful to me as Khadija’s”, and, “Religion (Islam) succeeded only through Ali’s sword and Khadija’s wealth.”
Her sacrifices for Islam were so valuable to Allah, that he mentions them in the Quran in chapter MCI 11 Verse 8 “And he found you in need, and made you independent (through wealth)”.
Also He (Allah) would send Salaams to her when she was alive! It is mentioned in “Sahih Bukhari” and in “Masnad” of Ibne Hambal that Gibrael came to the Prophet (S.A.W.W) and said, “O Messenger of Allah! This is Khadija. She has come carrying a bowl of broth or food or drink. When she comes to you give her greetings from her Lord (Allah) and from me…”
On her death, she was awarded a very high position in Paradise as confirmed from the following event.
After Lady Khadija’s death, Hazrat Fatirna (S.A), who was still a child, asked the Prophet (S.A.W.W), “Where is my mother?”
Before he could answer hen the Angel Gibrael came with the reply from Allah saying, “Your Lord commands you to inform Fatima that Allah sends His blessings to her and He also says:
‘Your mother is in a special house (in heaven) the corners of which are made of gold and the poles of which are of rubies It is located between Asya’s and Mariam’s houses’”.
The Prophet (S.A.W.W), too, valued Hazrat Khadija’s works towards Islam all his life Every time he remembered her after her death, he did so with praise on his tongue and tears in his eyes.
Once, the Prophet (S.A.W.W) mentioned the name of Lady Khadija in Aisha’s presence; this annoyed Aisha, who said, “She was an old lady and Allah replaced her with a better one for you.”
The Prophet (S.A.W.W) was angered by what Aisha had said and he replied, “Allah did not give me (any other wife) better than her She accepted me when others rejected me She believed me when others were doubting me. She shared her wealth with me when others kept their away from me and Allah gave me children only through her."
Tabari, the famous Sunni scholar reports that the Prophet (S.A.W.W) used to praise Khadija saying, “The best women of Paradise are Khadija (daughter of Khuwailid). Fatima (the daughter of Mohammad (S.A.W.W)), Maryam (daughter of Imran), and Asya (the daughter of Mudaim, the wife of Pharoah) "
It is reported through Aisha that whenever a lamb vas slaughtered, the Prophet (S.A.W.W) would choose the best parts of it and send them to some women. When Aisha complained, the Prophet (S.A.W.W) told her that this women were very good friends of Khadija and therefore they were being honoured for that.
One last honour which was given to Hazrat Khadija because of her services to Islam is so far as she was alive the Prophet did not many any other woman. He gave his complete attention to her.
Source:
A Brief Biography of Hazrat Fatima (A.S.), [P.10-12].
By: M.M. Dungersi Ph.D.
