Spirit of Islam, March 2021

Dr. Saniyasnain Khan is a prolific writer of children’s books with more than 100 titles to his name. His books focus on Islamic themes and have been translated into many languages. He was awarded Sharjah Children’s Book Award in 2013 for his book The Story of Khadija. Khadija was the first Muslim and the wife of the Prophet Muhammad. Khadija’s life is a source of great inspiration to believers, especially women. She is an excellent example of how one can give to the cause of Islam one’s time, energy, wealth and life. The following is a selection from this award-winning book. KHADIJA (555-619) was a noble lady of Makkah. She was well known all around for her good nature and wealth. Like the Prophet Muhammad, she belonged to the tribe of the Quraysh. They had a common great-grandfather who was called Qusayy ibn Kilab. This is how they both were a part of the same big family. Khadija was a 40-years-old rich widow when she married Prophet Muhammad. The Prophet and Khadija had six children, two boys and four girls. Both the boys, Qasim and Abdullah, died when they were still babies. The four daughters, Zaynab, Ruqayya, Umm Kulthum and Fatima, grew up into beautiful young girls and were married when the time came. After his marriage to Khadija, the Prophet started to spend more and more time thinking. There were many questions to which he tried to find an answer: “Who is the being that has made the earth and the heavens and everything that is between them? How did man come into being? Why was he placed on earth? How should he live on earth? What is life? What is death? And what will happen to man after he dies?” After years of seeking the truth, God showered His mercy on him and quenched his thirst for truth. He was visited by an angel in a cave called Hira. Here, he was blessed with prophethood. However, this experience in the Cave of Hira shook the Prophet to his core. He did not know what to make of it. Disturbed and frightened, he went straight home and told Khadija about the incident and said: “Khadija, I do not understand what has happened to me. I am worried about my life.” Seeing him trembling in shock and distress, Khadija put a blanket over him and comforted him saying: THE STORY OF KHADIJA