Passion Islam I January 2009 SPECIAL FEATURE I 23
Khadijah
Source of happiness
No change in a man’s personal role he was to play. This is clear in her embraced Christianity and acquired
circumstances could ever be greater comforting words as he intimated that profound knowledge in divine religion.
than that which the Prophet (peace he was worried about himself. She Waraqah assured the anxious couple
be upon him) went through when said to him: “You have nothing to fear; that what happened bore no ill
he received his first revelations, be calm and relax. God will not let omen. Indeed, he said that he hoped
announcing his new role as God’s last you suffer humiliation, because you that Muhammad was the Prophet
messenger to mankind. Prior to that, are kind to your relatives, you speak heralded by earlier messengers like
he was an ordinary person living in the truth, you assist anyone in need, Jesus (peace be upon them all).
his hometown, conducting his wife’s you are hospitable to your guest and Yet Khadijah tried something else to
business, looking after his family and you help in every good cause.” She reassure her husband. She asked him
with little interest in public affairs. thus showed her profound sense of to let her know of Gabriel’s presence
Now he had a mission that aimed to proportion. She highlighted those when he next saw him.
bring about a fundamental and lasting elements in her husband’s character Informed of Gabriel’s presence
change in human life. Any woman in that fit with the role of a prophet who on his next visit, Khadijah said to the
Khadijah’s position could be forgiven seeks to reform people’s life. Up Prophet: “Sit on my left thigh.” When
if she counselled her husband to turn to that point in his life, Muhammad he did so, she asked him whether he
down his assignment and maintain (peace be upon him), the man who still saw him.
his life pattern. They were happy had not been given any mission yet, The Prophet said: “Yes.” She
together, leading a comfortable life. reflected a character that cared for told the Prophet to move over and
She was bound to think of the effect of people, providing help wherever help sit on her right thigh. As he did so,
this new task on her family, realizing was needed, to kinsfolk and strangers, the Prophet confirmed that he could
that she had four daughters, only one to guests and lone travellers, to all in still see Gabriel. She asked him to
of whom was married, while two were need. Such a person deserves no sit on her lap and he did so, again
engaged. The family had lost two humiliation, and God who is fair to all confirming that he could still see him.
sons in infancy. With the woman’s would never allow him to suffer such She then took off her head-covering,
eye to protect her family and stave off a fate. while the Prophet still sat on her lap.
danger, Khadijah could be excused if That was her good sense working At that moment, he told her he could
she preferred the comfortable sort of at the start of the great event that see him no more. She said, “Rejoice
living she had had with her husband shook her family to the core. Most and be firm.
for 15 years or longer. importantly, it shook its direct recipient, This is certainly an angel, not a
Yet Khadijah was not that sort the man whose love had established devil.” It was her clear thinking that
of woman. She was the first to deep roots in her heart. Therefore, led her to try this method, realising
recognize the importance of the she acted with great wisdom to that an angel would not stay in a room
mission assigned to her husband and reassure him. She went straight to her where a man and his wife were in a
to know that his character fitted the cousin, Waraqah ibn Nawfal, who had closely intimate position.
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