Hazrat Sayyedah Khadijah — Page 15
15 Salmah acted as midwife on the birth of Hazrat Khadijah’s ra children. She was a domestic servant of Hazrat Safiyah ra , an aunt of the Holy Prophet saw. It is related that one goat was slaughtered as a sacrifice at the birth of each daughter, while two goats were slaughtered at the birth of each son. After Muhammad’s saw marriage to Khadijah ra , Abu Taalib was deprived of the helping hand of his nephew Muhammad saw to earn a livelihood for his family. Muhammad’s saw youngest uncle ‘Abbaas was well off. Muhammad saw therefore suggested to his uncle ‘Abbaas that they should lessen Abu Taalib’s burden by taking care of two of his children at least. ‘Abbaas agreed and both went to Abu Taalib with a proposal. It was decided that Muhammad saw would take care of ‘Ali and ‘Abbaas would take charge of Ja‘far. ‘Ali was about six years old at that time. Khadijah ra welcomed ‘Ali in her house and he remained with the family and grew very attached to Khadijah ra and Muhammad saw. Hazrat ‘Ali ra has also the honour of being the son-in-law of the Holy Prophet saw. Muhammad saw admitted another person into his family. His name was Zaid, son of Haarithah. Zaid belonged to a noble fam- ily, which lived in the south of Syria. He was an intelligent boy. Zaid was kidnapped in a tribal raid and was sold from one person to another until he reached the hands of Hakeem bin Hizaam, a nephew of Khadijah ra. Hakeem offered Zaid to his aunt shortly after her marriage to Muhammad saw. Zaid was then about twenty years of age. He was small in stature and dark in complexion. He proved to be a very faithful servant. Khadijah ra and Muhammad saw developed a deep affection for him.