Role of Women in History

but also regarding the ensuing social benefits. One such significant advantage is that they can see each other’s lives objectively, without personal involvement, which tends to cloud their judgment and lead to damaging emotionalism. They can better counsel each other coolly and wisely, give moral support at critical moments, and offer the daily encouragement with which every successful union should be marked. In Islamic history, there are many examples of women giving invaluable help to their husbands in critical situations. One of the most notable was Khadijah, the wife of the Prophet of Islam, who successfully brought the Prophet back from a state of fear and trembling to a state of normalcy after he received the first divine revelation in the solitude of the Cave of Hira from the Archangel Gabriel. She was able to reassure him that his life was not, as he feared, in danger, as she was emotionally detached from the incident. Khadijah’s reassurance to the Prophet of Islam on this occasion was one of the most significant contributions to the furtherance of Islam. Then it occurred to Khadijah that she had best make enquiries of some learned Christians, who, well versed as they were in the scriptures, were bound to know revelation and prophethood. She went first to a rahib (hermit) who lived near Makkah. On seeing her, the priest asked, “O noble lady of the Quraysh, what has brought you here?” Khadijah replied, “I have come here to ask you about Gabriel.” The rahib said, “Glory be to God; he is God’s pure