The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 240
Seal of the Prophets - Volume I 240 to feel jealous of her, and I would say, “ You mention Khadījah [ra] as if she was the only lady who was ever born in this world. ” The Holy Prophet sa would respond, “ O ‘Ā’ishah! She possessed great qualities and God gave me children from her as well. ” Hence, the Holy Prophet sa would mention Ḥaḍrat Khadījah ra with extreme love. If ever an animal, etc. , was slaughtered in his home, the Holy Prophet sa would always send a portion to the friends of Ḥaḍrat Khadījah ra. At one occasion, the Holy Prophet sa was sitting in the home of Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra , when the sister of Ḥaḍrat Khadījah ra , Hāllah bint Khuwailid came to visit the Holy Prophet sa. She asked permission to enter at the door. Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra relates, “The Holy Prophet ra stood up restlessly saying, ‘the voice of Khadījah [ra] , it appears as if her sister Hāllah has come. ’” 1 In the Battle of Badr, when Abul-‘Āṣ, the son-in-law of the Holy Prophet sa , who had not yet accepted Islām, was captured, his wife, in other words, Zainab ra , the daughter of the Holy Prophet sa , who still resided in Makkah , sent her necklace as a ransom. This was the same necklace which Ḥaḍrat Khadījah ra gave to Zainab ra in her bride’s paraphernalia. When the Holy Prophet sa saw this necklace, he was reminded of the late Khadījah ra and his eyes filled with tears. The Holy Prophet sa said to his companions, “If you wish, return the reminiscence of Khadījah ra to her daughter. ” They needed a single indication, and the necklace was immediately returned. 2 At the time of her demise, Ḥaḍrat Khadījah ra was sixty-five years of age. She was buried in Makkah at a location known as Ḥajūn. The Holy Prophet sa descended into her grave himself, but a funeral prayer was not offered, because at that time, the injunction pertinent to funeral prayer was not yet revealed. 3 Adversity of the Holy Prophet sa Intensified After the demise of Ḥaḍrat Khadījah ra and Abū Ṭālib, the Quraish of Makkah became bolder towards the person of the Holy Prophet sa and began 1 Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, Kitābu Manāqibil-Anṣār, Bābu Tazwījin-Nabī ra Khadījata ra wa Faḍlihā, Ḥadīth No. 3818, 3821 2 * As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Malik bin Hishām, p. 444, Bābu Dhikri Ru’yā ‘Ātikata binti ‘Abdil-Muṭṭalib, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) * Tārīkhuṭ-Ṭabarī, By Abū Ja‘far Muḥammad bin Al-Jarīr Ṭabarī, Volume 3, p. 44, Bābu Dhikri Waq‘ati Badril-Kubrā, Dārul-Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon, Second Edition (2002) 3 Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Muḥammad bin ‘Abdul-Bāqī Az- Zarqānī, Volume 2, p. 49, Bābu Wafāti Khadījata wa Abī Ṭālib, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)