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<\/a><\/p>\nKhadijah knew what she was doing business-wise, never compromising her modesty or integrity to succeed in the male-dominated trades- hiring only those that could meet these standards. Glass ceiling? Hah! 1,400 years ago, yes, Khadijah shattered it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
7 Things You Did not Know About Khadijah<\/h2>\n
I often get into debates with people about women in Islam. How we dress. How we don\u2019t dress. What we think or don\u2019t think or should-be-thinking. I get into debates about feminism. What it is and what it isn\u2019t. I think I\u2019ve spawned permanent foes because I don\u2019t care to apply the label, feminist, to describe myself. (I\u2019m not one for labels, sorry. But if it\u2019s even required of me, \u201cMuslim woman\u201d suits me just fine.) But if we could agree for a moment that there exists a pure definition of the word feminist to mean: awesomely fierce to the millionth degree, then I\u2019d like to introduce you to Islam\u2019s first feminist.<\/p>\n
Her name is Khadijah bint Khuwaylid. She was the wife of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him.) And she is one of the people that I think about when I face or debate issues surrounding women today. Khadija\u2019s existence precedes mine by more than 1,400 years; and, if I can at the very least, continuously strive to emulate her character, I will consider myself a success in life.<\/p>\n
7 things you might not know about Khadijah (may God be pleased with her):<\/h2>\n\n- \n
She was a successful and esteemed business woman.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nI would give anything to do an on-the-job, ride-along with Khadijah. Gladly swipe my car for a camel- my laptop for a government-issued glass weight to measure goods in trade. What could I learn in one day of shadowing this highly-respected business leader, trading furniture, pottery and silks? Khadijah was born to a father who was a successful merchant in the Quraysh tribe of Makkah. She inherited her father\u2019s skills in a time in history where society was male-dominated and dangerous. Upon her father\u2019s death, she took over the business and traded goods through the primary commerce centers at that time, from Makkah to Syria and to Yemen, hiring the most trustworthy men of character to brave the dangerous trade routes. Her business was larger than all of the Quraysh trades combined and the most acclaimed with a reputation of fair-dealing and high-quality goods. She had a keen eye and was highly intuitive, earning the monikers, Ameerat-Quraysh<\/em> (\u201cPrincess of Quraysh\u201d) and al-Tahirah<\/em> (\u201cThe Pure One\u201d) due to her stellar reputation. Khadijah knew what she was doing business-wise, never compromising her modesty or integrity to succeed in the male-dominated trades- hiring only those that could meet these standards. Glass ceiling? Hah! 1,400 years ago, yes, Khadijah shattered it.<\/p>\n\n- \n
She turned down many marriage proposals.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nBeing the most successful woman around, rich in worldly attainment as well as character, it seems that Khadijah faced a consistent campaign of men seeking her hand in marriage. She was married twice before her wedlock to the Prophet; both of these marriages produced children and both left her widowed. Her keen sense of character left her picky; and, she was less than eager to suffer another painful loss of a husband. She resigned herself to being a widowed woman taking care of herself and her family. Until …<\/p>\n
\n- \n
She asked the Prophet to marry her.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nLove comes when you aren\u2019t looking, or so I have heard. (And experienced.) Khadijah learned of the stellar character of Muhammad as well as his experience managing caravans on the trade routes accompanying his uncle, Abu Talib. She hired him into her conglomerate. Marriages at this time were typically necessary for survival and not always about love as we know it in today\u2019s world. Khadijah didn\u2019t need a husband to take care of her financially. And Muhammad did not have the means to seek a wife. She fell in love with him, and through a friend, asked him to marry her. (He said yes.)<\/p>\n
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She was 15 years older than Muhammad.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nIf Khadijah\u2019s story hasn\u2019t broken stereotypes about Islam yet, it might intrigue you to know that she was 40 years old when she married Muhammad. He was 25.<\/p>\n
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She was an ideal wife; theirs was a true love story.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\u201cYour wives are a garment for you, and you are a garment for them.\u201d<\/strong> (Al-Baqarah<\/a> 2:187)<\/p>\nTaking multiple wives was a common practice, yet Khadijah and Muhammad\u2019s marriage was monogamous until her death 25 years later. Muhammad\u2019s prophethood began during his marriage to Khadijah, when he received the first of God\u2019s revelations through the Angel Gabriel that left him frightened, strained and feeling alone when no one believed in him. Khadijah comforted her husband and encouraged him during the most difficult days of his life. She bore him 6 children. He loved no one more than Khadijah during his lifetime.<\/p>\n
She was a successful and esteemed business woman.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nI would give anything to do an on-the-job, ride-along with Khadijah. Gladly swipe my car for a camel- my laptop for a government-issued glass weight to measure goods in trade. What could I learn in one day of shadowing this highly-respected business leader, trading furniture, pottery and silks? Khadijah was born to a father who was a successful merchant in the Quraysh tribe of Makkah. She inherited her father\u2019s skills in a time in history where society was male-dominated and dangerous. Upon her father\u2019s death, she took over the business and traded goods through the primary commerce centers at that time, from Makkah to Syria and to Yemen, hiring the most trustworthy men of character to brave the dangerous trade routes. Her business was larger than all of the Quraysh trades combined and the most acclaimed with a reputation of fair-dealing and high-quality goods. She had a keen eye and was highly intuitive, earning the monikers, Ameerat-Quraysh<\/em> (\u201cPrincess of Quraysh\u201d) and al-Tahirah<\/em> (\u201cThe Pure One\u201d) due to her stellar reputation. Khadijah knew what she was doing business-wise, never compromising her modesty or integrity to succeed in the male-dominated trades- hiring only those that could meet these standards. Glass ceiling? Hah! 1,400 years ago, yes, Khadijah shattered it.<\/p>\n\n- \n
She turned down many marriage proposals.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nBeing the most successful woman around, rich in worldly attainment as well as character, it seems that Khadijah faced a consistent campaign of men seeking her hand in marriage. She was married twice before her wedlock to the Prophet; both of these marriages produced children and both left her widowed. Her keen sense of character left her picky; and, she was less than eager to suffer another painful loss of a husband. She resigned herself to being a widowed woman taking care of herself and her family. Until …<\/p>\n
\n- \n
She asked the Prophet to marry her.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nLove comes when you aren\u2019t looking, or so I have heard. (And experienced.) Khadijah learned of the stellar character of Muhammad as well as his experience managing caravans on the trade routes accompanying his uncle, Abu Talib. She hired him into her conglomerate. Marriages at this time were typically necessary for survival and not always about love as we know it in today\u2019s world. Khadijah didn\u2019t need a husband to take care of her financially. And Muhammad did not have the means to seek a wife. She fell in love with him, and through a friend, asked him to marry her. (He said yes.)<\/p>\n
\n- \n
She was 15 years older than Muhammad.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nIf Khadijah\u2019s story hasn\u2019t broken stereotypes about Islam yet, it might intrigue you to know that she was 40 years old when she married Muhammad. He was 25.<\/p>\n
\n- \n
She was an ideal wife; theirs was a true love story.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\u201cYour wives are a garment for you, and you are a garment for them.\u201d<\/strong> (Al-Baqarah<\/a> 2:187)<\/p>\nTaking multiple wives was a common practice, yet Khadijah and Muhammad\u2019s marriage was monogamous until her death 25 years later. Muhammad\u2019s prophethood began during his marriage to Khadijah, when he received the first of God\u2019s revelations through the Angel Gabriel that left him frightened, strained and feeling alone when no one believed in him. Khadijah comforted her husband and encouraged him during the most difficult days of his life. She bore him 6 children. He loved no one more than Khadijah during his lifetime.<\/p>\n
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- \n
She turned down many marriage proposals.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Being the most successful woman around, rich in worldly attainment as well as character, it seems that Khadijah faced a consistent campaign of men seeking her hand in marriage. She was married twice before her wedlock to the Prophet; both of these marriages produced children and both left her widowed. Her keen sense of character left her picky; and, she was less than eager to suffer another painful loss of a husband. She resigned herself to being a widowed woman taking care of herself and her family. Until …<\/p>\n
- \n
- \n
She asked the Prophet to marry her.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Love comes when you aren\u2019t looking, or so I have heard. (And experienced.) Khadijah learned of the stellar character of Muhammad as well as his experience managing caravans on the trade routes accompanying his uncle, Abu Talib. She hired him into her conglomerate. Marriages at this time were typically necessary for survival and not always about love as we know it in today\u2019s world. Khadijah didn\u2019t need a husband to take care of her financially. And Muhammad did not have the means to seek a wife. She fell in love with him, and through a friend, asked him to marry her. (He said yes.)<\/p>\n
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- \n
She was 15 years older than Muhammad.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
If Khadijah\u2019s story hasn\u2019t broken stereotypes about Islam yet, it might intrigue you to know that she was 40 years old when she married Muhammad. He was 25.<\/p>\n
- \n
- \n
She was an ideal wife; theirs was a true love story.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u201cYour wives are a garment for you, and you are a garment for them.\u201d<\/strong> (Al-Baqarah<\/a> 2:187)<\/p>\n
Taking multiple wives was a common practice, yet Khadijah and Muhammad\u2019s marriage was monogamous until her death 25 years later. Muhammad\u2019s prophethood began during his marriage to Khadijah, when he received the first of God\u2019s revelations through the Angel Gabriel that left him frightened, strained and feeling alone when no one believed in him. Khadijah comforted her husband and encouraged him during the most difficult days of his life. She bore him 6 children. He loved no one more than Khadijah during his lifetime.<\/p>\n
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