The Story of Hazrat Khadijah

WOMEN FROM MUSLIM HISTORY for you.” And then he added: “When she comes in, give her the greetings from her Lord and tell her that there will be a house made of pearls for her in Paradise.” When Khadijah arrived, the Prophet told her: “Here is Gabriel. He is giving greetings to you from your Lord, and he is greeting you.” Khadijah replied: “God is peace, and He is the source of all peace! May God’s peace and blessings be upon you, Messenger of God. And my greetings to Gabriel.” (AlNasai, Sunan Al-Kubra, Hadith No. 8301) The hatred of the Quraysh was so intense that soon the Prophet, his wife Khadijah, their children, his uncle Abu Talib and his family, and all those who accepted Islam were forced to leave their homes in Makkah. They took refuge in an open plot of land called Shi’b Abi Talib, just outside the town. No proper houses were there, and they had to live in tents. It was like a refugee camp, and the family of the Prophet had to stay there for almost three years. They faced hunger, disease, and poverty. Sometimes, they had to eat the leaves from a tree to satisfy their hunger, for there was hardly anything else to eat. Khadijah could have stayed on in Makkah. But she chose to stay with the Prophet in these times of trial and difficulty. Once the wealthiest lady of Makkah, Khadijah now lived in a makeshift tent under the open sky without enough food and water. But she did not complain. She bore the difficulties with great patience and endurance. Her presence supported the Prophet. All the people in the makeshift camp lived in great poverty.