Introduction
Khadijah was a respected and successful merchant of Mecca from the Banu Asad clan of Quraysh. She was known in her community for her honour and character, and she employed the young Muhammad to trade on her behalf, then proposed marriage to him after seeing his trustworthiness.
When the first revelation came in the cave of Hira, it was Khadijah he returned to, trembling. She comforted him, reminded him of his noble character, and took him to her cousin Waraqa ibn Nawfal, who knew the earlier scriptures. She is regarded as the first person to accept Islam.
She stood by him through the early years of mockery and the boycott of the Muslims, and she died about three years before the Hijrah, in what became known as the Year of Sorrow. The Prophet kept remembering her all his life, honouring her friends and speaking of her with love, which even Aisha noticed.
The story
c. 595 CE
Married Muhammad after employing him as her trade agent; she was a respected merchant.
c. 610 CE
Comforted him after the first revelation in the cave of Hira and took him to Waraqa ibn Nawfal.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 3Sahih Arabic text
… أَبَدًا، إِنَّكَ لَتَصِلُ الرَّحِمَ، وَتَحْمِلُ الْكَلَّ، وَتَكْسِبُ الْمَعْدُومَ، وَتَقْرِي الضَّيْفَ، وَتُعِينُ عَلَى نَوَائِبِ الْحَقِّ. فَانْطَلَقَتْ بِهِ خَدِيجَةُ حَتَّى أَتَتْ بِهِ وَرَقَةَ بْنَ نَوْفَلِ بْنِ أَسَدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعُزَّى ابْنَ عَمِّ خَدِيجَةَ ـ وَكَانَ امْرَأً تَنَصَّرَ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ، وَكَانَ يَكْتُبُ الْكِتَابَ الْعِبْرَانِيَّ، فَيَكْتُبُ مِنَ الإِنْجِيلِ …
“Allah will never disgrace you”
619 CE
Died in Mecca about three years before the Hijrah.
Read the wording
Sahih al-Bukhari 3896Sahih Arabic text
قَالَ تُوُفِّيَتْ خَدِيجَةُ قَبْلَ مَخْرَجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ بِثَلاَثِ سِنِينَ، فَلَبِثَ سَنَتَيْنِ أَوْ قَرِيبًا مِنْ ذَلِكَ، وَنَكَحَ عَائِشَةَ وَهْىَ بِنْتُ سِتِّ سِنِينَ، ثُمَّ بَنَى بِهَا وَهْىَ بِنْتُ تِسْعِ سِنِينَ.
“Khadija died three years before the Prophet (ﷺ) departed to Medina”
A day in their footsteps
5 small, repeatable practices from Khadijah bint Khuwaylid's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.
Steadying a loved one in fear
When the Prophet came home shaking after the first revelation, Khadijah did not panic. She covered him until his fear passed, listened to everything he told her, and reassured him with a clear reminder of his character and the way Allah treats people who live like that.
Try this today
When someone close to you is afraid, calm them first, then remind them of the good they have done.
Sit with this
When someone you love is afraid, can you calm them before you advise them?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 3Sahih … مَا يُخْزِيكَ اللَّهُ أَبَدًا، إِنَّكَ لَتَصِلُ الرَّحِمَ، وَتَحْمِلُ الْكَلَّ، وَتَكْسِبُ الْمَعْدُومَ، وَتَقْرِي الضَّيْفَ، وَتُعِينُ عَلَى نَوَائِبِ الْحَقِّ. فَانْطَلَقَتْ بِهِ خَدِيجَةُ حَتَّى أَتَتْ بِهِ وَرَقَةَ بْنَ نَوْفَلِ بْنِ أَسَدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعُزَّى ابْنَ عَمِّ خَدِيجَةَ ـ وَكَانَ امْرَأً تَنَصَّرَ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ، وَكَانَ يَكْتُبُ الْكِتَابَ الْعِبْرَانِيَّ، فَيَكْتُبُ …
“Never! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you”
Valuing kinship, charity and hospitality
In her reassurance she named the qualities she saw in the Prophet: keeping family ties, helping the poor and destitute, serving guests generously and helping those struck by calamity. These were the habits of the household she built with him.
Try this today
Build a home where family ties, the poor and the guest are always on the agenda.
Sit with this
Are kin, the poor and the guest on your household's agenda?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 3Sahih … الرَّحِمَ، وَتَحْمِلُ الْكَلَّ، وَتَكْسِبُ الْمَعْدُومَ، وَتَقْرِي الضَّيْفَ، وَتُعِينُ عَلَى نَوَائِبِ الْحَقِّ. فَانْطَلَقَتْ بِهِ خَدِيجَةُ حَتَّى أَتَتْ بِهِ وَرَقَةَ بْنَ نَوْفَلِ بْنِ أَسَدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعُزَّى ابْنَ عَمِّ خَدِيجَةَ ـ وَكَانَ امْرَأً تَنَصَّرَ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ، وَكَانَ يَكْتُبُ الْكِتَابَ الْعِبْرَانِيَّ، فَيَكْتُبُ مِنَ الإِنْجِيلِ بِالْعِبْرَانِيَّةِ مَا …
“You keep good relations with your kith and kin, help the poor and the destitute, serve your guests generously”
Seeking knowledgeable counsel
After comforting him, Khadijah did not rely on her own opinion alone; she took the Prophet to Waraqa ibn Nawfal, an old man who knew the earlier scriptures, so that he could hear what Waraqa had to say.
Try this today
When something is beyond your knowledge, take it to someone who knows.
Sit with this
What is beyond your knowledge that you should take to someone who knows?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 3Sahih … بِهِ خَدِيجَةُ حَتَّى أَتَتْ بِهِ وَرَقَةَ بْنَ نَوْفَلِ بْنِ أَسَدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعُزَّى ابْنَ عَمِّ خَدِيجَةَ ـ وَكَانَ امْرَأً تَنَصَّرَ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ، وَكَانَ يَكْتُبُ الْكِتَابَ الْعِبْرَانِيَّ، فَيَكْتُبُ مِنَ الإِنْجِيلِ بِالْعِبْرَانِيَّةِ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ، وَكَانَ شَيْخًا كَبِيرًا قَدْ عَمِيَ ـ فَقَالَتْ لَهُ خَدِيجَةُ يَا ابْنَ عَمِّ اسْمَعْ مِنَ ابْنِ …
“Khadija then accompanied him to her cousin Waraqa bin Naufal”
Looking after him with food, in person
On one occasion Gabriel told the Prophet that Khadijah was coming to him with a dish of food or drink, and told him to greet her on behalf of her Lord and to give her the good news of a palace of jewels in Paradise.
Try this today
Small daily service to the people you love is noticed by Allah.
Sit with this
What small daily service do you give to the people you love?
Sources
Sahih al-Bukhari 3820Sahih قَالَ أَتَى جِبْرِيلُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَذِهِ خَدِيجَةُ قَدْ أَتَتْ مَعَهَا إِنَاءٌ فِيهِ إِدَامٌ أَوْ طَعَامٌ أَوْ شَرَابٌ، فَإِذَا هِيَ أَتَتْكَ فَاقْرَأْ عَلَيْهَا السَّلاَمَ مِنْ رَبِّهَا وَمِنِّي، وَبَشِّرْهَا بِبَيْتٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ مِنْ قَصَبٍ، لاَ صَخَبَ فِيهِ وَلاَ نَصَبَ.
“greet her on behalf of her Lord”
Sahih Muslim 2432Sahih … أَتَى جِبْرِيلُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَذِهِ خَدِيجَةُ قَدْ أَتَتْكَ مَعَهَا إِنَاءٌ فِيهِ إِدَامٌ أَوْ طَعَامٌ أَوْ شَرَابٌ فَإِذَا هِيَ أَتَتْكَ فَاقْرَأْ عَلَيْهَا السَّلاَمَ مِنْ رَبِّهَا عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَمِنِّي وَبَشِّرْهَا بِبَيْتٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ مِنْ قَصَبٍ لاَ صَخَبَ فِيهِ وَلاَ نَصَبَ. قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فِي رِوَايَتِهِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ …
“Khadija is coming to you with a vessel”
Loyalty that outlasted her life
After her death the Prophet kept honouring her: whenever he slaughtered a sheep he sent portions to her friends. Her loyalty in life was matched by the loyalty with which she was remembered.
Try this today
Be someone whose friends and family are still honoured after you are gone.
Sit with this
Whose friends could you honour for the sake of someone who has passed?
Source
Sahih al-Bukhari 3818Sahih … النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَا غِرْتُ عَلَى خَدِيجَةَ، وَمَا رَأَيْتُهَا، وَلَكِنْ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُكْثِرُ ذِكْرَهَا، وَرُبَّمَا ذَبَحَ الشَّاةَ، ثُمَّ يُقَطِّعُهَا أَعْضَاءً، ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُهَا فِي صَدَائِقِ خَدِيجَةَ، فَرُبَّمَا قُلْتُ لَهُ كَأَنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي الدُّنْيَا امْرَأَةٌ إِلاَّ خَدِيجَةُ. فَيَقُولُ إِنَّهَا كَانَتْ وَكَانَتْ، وَكَانَ لِي مِنْهَا …
“he would cut its parts and send them to the women friends of Khadija”
Virtues
The Prophet said that Khadijah is the best among the women of this nation, as Mary was the best of her time.
“Khadija is the best amongst the women”
Arabic text
قَالَ، سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ جَعْفَرٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَلِيًّا ـ رضى الله عنه ـ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " خَيْرُ نِسَائِهَا مَرْيَمُ ابْنَةُ عِمْرَانَ، وَخَيْرُ نِسَائِهَا خَدِيجَةُ".
Sahih al-Bukhari 3432Sahih
She was promised a palace in Paradise with no noise and no fatigue.
“a palace of Qasab (in Paradise) where there will be neither any noise nor any fatigue”
Arabic text
قَالَ قُلْتُ لِعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي أَوْفَى ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ بَشَّرَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَدِيجَةَ قَالَ نَعَمْ بِبَيْتٍ مِنْ قَصَبٍ، لاَ صَخَبَ فِيهِ وَلاَ نَصَبَ.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3819Sahih
The Prophet named her among the women of mankind who suffice as examples, alongside Mary, Fatimah and Asiyah.
“Khadijah bint Khuwailid”
Arabic text
أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " حَسْبُكَ مِنْ نِسَاءِ الْعَالَمِينَ مَرْيَمُ ابْنَةُ عِمْرَانَ وَخَدِيجَةُ بِنْتُ خُوَيْلِدٍ وَفَاطِمَةُ بِنْتُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَآسِيَةُ امْرَأَةُ فِرْعَوْنَ". قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ صَحِيحٌ.
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3878Sahih
Aisha said she was never as jealous of anyone as of Khadijah, because the Prophet mentioned her so often.
“used to mention her very often”
Arabic text
قَالَتْ مَا غِرْتُ عَلَى امْرَأَةٍ مَا غِرْتُ عَلَى خَدِيجَةَ، مِنْ كَثْرَةِ ذِكْرِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِيَّاهَا. قَالَتْ وَتَزَوَّجَنِي بَعْدَهَا بِثَلاَثِ سِنِينَ، وَأَمَرَهُ رَبُّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَوْ جِبْرِيلُ ـ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ ـ أَنْ يُبَشِّرَهَا بِبَيْتٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ مِنْ قَصَبٍ.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3817Sahih
Sayings and moments
Her reassurance to the Prophet after the first revelation: Allah will never disgrace you, for you keep family ties, help the poor and serve your guests.
“Allah will never disgrace you”
Arabic text
… أَبَدًا، إِنَّكَ لَتَصِلُ الرَّحِمَ، وَتَحْمِلُ الْكَلَّ، وَتَكْسِبُ الْمَعْدُومَ، وَتَقْرِي الضَّيْفَ، وَتُعِينُ عَلَى نَوَائِبِ الْحَقِّ. فَانْطَلَقَتْ بِهِ خَدِيجَةُ حَتَّى أَتَتْ بِهِ وَرَقَةَ بْنَ نَوْفَلِ بْنِ أَسَدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعُزَّى ابْنَ عَمِّ خَدِيجَةَ ـ وَكَانَ امْرَأً تَنَصَّرَ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ، وَكَانَ يَكْتُبُ الْكِتَابَ الْعِبْرَانِيَّ، فَيَكْتُبُ مِنَ الإِنْجِيلِ …
Sahih al-Bukhari 3Sahih
Words on this page
- Hadithحديث
- A report of what the Prophet ﷺ said, did or approved, passed down through a chain of narrators.
- Hijrahالهجرة
- The migration of the Prophet ﷺ and the Muslims from Makkah to Madinah in 622 CE, the starting point of the Islamic calendar.
- Makkahمكة
- The city of the Ka'bah, where the Prophet ﷺ was born and revelation began.
- Qurayshقريش
- The leading tribe of Makkah, to which the Prophet ﷺ belonged, and which opposed him for most of his mission.
Related companions
- فاطمة بنت محمدFatimah bint MuhammadFatimah, the Prophet's youngest daughter: her patience at home, her closeness to her father and the bedtime d…
- عائشة بنت أبي بكرAisha bint Abi BakrWife of the Prophet and daughter of Abu Bakr, a leading scholar of the first generation who asked, learned an…
- زينب بنت محمدZaynab bint MuhammadZaynab bint Muhammad, eldest daughter of the Prophet and Khadijah: loyalty to her husband, patience in hardsh…
- أبو بكر الصديقAbu Bakr al-SiddiqThe Prophet's closest companion and first caliph, remembered for truthfulness, tender-hearted worship and giv…
Sources and review
- Khadija bint Khuwaylid - Wikipedia (biography, dates) (opens in a new tab)
- hadith-api, English hadith editions mirroring sunnah.com numbering and grades (opens in a new tab)
Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com. Each report links to sunnah.com, and, where the numbering matches, to al-Hadees or HadithUnlocked as well. Quran verses link to quran.com, Tafsir Ibn Kathir and Tanzil. The Arabic is taken from the hadith editions and trimmed around the quoted words, so read the full report at the source before relying on it. Grades are the ones those editions give.
This page is pending scholar review. It was compiled from public sources, and its citations were last checked on 7 October 2026. If you notice a mistake or a missing source, please tell us.