Early Life and Family Background

Hazrat Khadija bint Khuwaylid (RA) was born into the respected Qurayshi family of Khuwaylid in Makkah. Historical sources indicate she was raised in an environment of commerce and social standing that emphasized honesty, generosity and family leadership. Her mother—commonly named Fatimah bint Za’idah in traditional reports—belonged to a well-known lineage, and Khadija inherited both social capital and strong ethical training.

From youth she was noted for her integrity, dignity and moral strength. These qualities earned her the honorific At-Tahirah (the Pure) in later Muslim memory: a testament to how contemporaries viewed her character even before Islam.

Business Career and Wealth Management

Unlike most women in the pre-Islamic Arabian economy, Hazrat Khadija RA stood out as an accomplished merchant. She managed extensive trade caravans between Yemen, Syria and Makkah, employing a network of agents and associates. Her commercial reputation rested on trustworthiness and fairness—qualities that drew many skilled traders to work under her patronage.

It is within this professional context that she first encountered Muhammad (SAW), then known as Al-Amin (the Trustworthy). Impressed by his honesty, she commissioned him to manage trading journeys on her behalf—an arrangement that later developed into marriage. Her wealth became an important resource in the early days of Islam: she used it to support the Prophet SAW and protect early believers during the period of persecution in Makkah.

Marriage to Prophet Muhammad SAW

In the conventional chronology found in classical Sirah works, Hazrat Khadija RA married Prophet Muhammad SAW when she was approximately forty years old and he was twenty-five. Their marriage lasted twenty-five years until her death. The relationship is repeatedly described in sources as one of deep mutual respect, spiritual companionship and emotional support rather than material calculation.

The marriage produced children, including their daughter Fatimah (RA), whose descendants remain central in Islamic history. But beyond offspring, the most consequential aspect of the marriage was the moral and financial support Hazrat Khadija offered the Prophet SAW during the earliest years of revelation.

The First Revelation and Her Historic Support

When the Prophet (SAW) received the first revelation in the cave of Hira, he returned shaken and fearful. Hazrat Khadija RA gave immediate consolation and reassurance, telling him: “By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good relations with family, speak the truth, help the people whose income is below the poverty thresholde poor, and honor guests.” (reported in traditional Sirah narrations).

She became the first human to embrace Islam—long before public proclamation or mass conversion. Her acceptance carried enormous symbolic and practical weight: she not only affirmed the message privately but also used her resources and social standing openly and quietly to protect the Prophet SAW and the earliest Muslims.

Sacrifices and Early Struggles for Islam

Hazrat Khadija RA’s contributions during the difficult early years of Islam included financial support for persecuted believers, shelter for those facing hostility, and moral courage when confronting Quraysh opposition. During the period of boycott and economic pressure on the Muslims, her household served as a place of refuge and sustenance.

Accounts of the Prophet’s life emphasize that much of the early dawah relied on her wealth—resources that allowed the message to survive while followers were ostracized. She gave invisibly and without seeking recognition, embodying the ethical practice described in Qur’anic ideals of charity and sacrifice.

Title: Mother of the Believers

The Prophet (SAW) honored his wife with titles of respect and repeatedly praised her. Later Islamic tradition honored Hazrat Khadija RA by placing her among the foremost women of early Islam. Though the explicit Qur’anic title “Umm al-Mu’minin” (Mother of the Believers) is typically applied to the Prophet’s wives collectively, Hazrat Khadija RA’s status within Muslim memory is uniquely venerable: she is remembered as the first to affirm the message and as the earliest example of Muslim womanhood.

Character Traits & Virtues

1. Integrity and Trustworthiness

Sources stress Khadija RA’s impeccable reputation as a merchant: honesty, fairness and contractual fidelity were the pillars of her public life. These qualities made her respected across tribal lines and set the moral tone for her household.

2. Generosity and Charity

Her financial generosity is a recurrent theme. She spent on the cause of the Prophet SAW and assisted vulnerable members of the early Muslim community. Her charity was both public and private—supporting individuals without seeking fame or praise.

3. Spiritual Strength and Wisdom

Hazrat Khadija RA demonstrated spiritual discernment when she affirmed the Prophet’s experience in the cave, and she offered wise counsel. Her support combined practical help with moral courage: she was able to translate faith into action.

4. Patience and Fortitude

Her life shows patience (sabr) during social pressure and personal loss. She stood by the Prophet SAW at a time when public hostility was common, modeling resilience and steadfastness.

Lessons for Women Today

The life story of Khadija RA offers many practical lessons for Muslim women and the wider world:

• Leadership without show: One can lead in society by ethical conduct and professional excellence.
• Faith and action: Spiritual conviction coupled with practical support creates durable change.
• Economic agency: Women’s economic contribution has historical precedent and social value.
• Companionship and loyalty: A supportive partner—intellectually and emotionally—strengthens any social mission.

These lessons are culturally transferable: Khadija RA’s model connects faith, ethics and public life—useful for educators, community leaders and families.

Death and Legacy

Hazrat Khadija RA passed away in the year commonly recorded as 619 CE (the Year of Sorrow), at about sixty-five years of age in many classical chronicles. Her death deeply affected the Prophet (SAW); his grief is recorded in multiple authentic narrations. The loss of Khadija RA is remembered as an emotional and spiritual trial for the early Muslim community because it coincided with the passing of other key supporters and a period of intensified hardship.

Her legacy endures in Islamic teachings about steadfastness, private charity, and dignified leadership. Scholars and preachers throughout Islamic history have cited her life as a model for the ethical exercise of wealth and status.

Conclusion

The life story Khadija RA is an essential study for anyone wishing to understand the moral foundations upon which Islam’s earliest community was built. Her combination of wealth, wisdom and piety provided the Prophet (SAW) with indispensable support at the moment revelation began to transform Arabian society. Remembering her life encourages Muslims to value integrity, generosity and the quiet strength of principled leadership.

Short Dua for Women (Optional)

Below is a gentle dua you may include at the end of the article for readers seeking spiritual comfort:

“O Allah, grant us from among the women who, like Hazrat Khadija (RA), combine faith with good deeds, patience and generosity. Bless our families with wisdom and steadfastness.”

(Translate and adapt for your audience; include Arabic if you wish.)

References & Suggested Further Reading

This article is written in a neutral academic style and readers may consult the following authoritative sources for additional study:

• Sunnah / Hadith collections (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim) — Sunnah.com
• Encyclopaedia Britannica – Khadijah
• Alim.org — Biography resources
• Islamic Studies & Sirah archives