Khadija: The Woman to whom God Sent Greetings

A.Ali Ural

He draws on the ground with a branch. His students carefully watch his hand and lips. What they see is four long lines. What they hear is: "Do you know what these are?" The lines flow to their eyes from the ground which has become an endless black board.  The question takes them by the hand and leads them to the familiar sentence they say in unison at times like this: "Allah and His Messenger know best!" This sentence of submission shows that they are ready to embrace all sentences that are to follow it. They open the door wide to meet a new truth. This time the truth is reflected with these words of the Prophet on the mirrors of their hearts: "The best of the women who will go to heaven are Khadija, the daughter of Huwaylid; Muhammad's daughter Fatima; the Pharaoh's wife and Muzahim's daughter, Asiya; and Mary, the daughter of Imran. May Allah be pleased with them all."

Allah is pleased with them all. So much so that He sends one of them salam by means of an angel. Gabriel not only conveys this exalted salam, he also sends his own greetings to Khadija. At that moment Khadija's heart almost stops! There are good tidings along with the salam: "There is a house in heaven where there is no noise or weariness." Actually she had a heavenly house in this world. How could it not be! She was the first wife of the Last Prophet for a full twenty-five years. In that house life was shared between "Amin" and "Tahira" and between "Mustafa" and "Kubra." In that house Qasim, Zainab, Ruqiyyah, and Umm Kulthum were born... On the roof of that house a caravan from Damascus was awaited. Hira was walked back and forth to from this house. The Prophet shook with awe of revelation in that house. He asked, "Khadija, what is happening to me? I'm worried about myself." In this house he described Gabriel's appearance. How he squeezed him three times and said, "Read!: İkra bismi Rabbikellezi Halak!" In that house Khadija covered the Prophet again and again and spoke words of consolation to his spirit: "Don't say that! I swear that Allah would never embarrass or hurt you, because you are careful about your ties with relatives; you speak truthfully; you help those who can not help themselves; you protect the poor; you host guests; and you help those who have encountered injustice." And they left that house together to find out what was happening. They went to Khadija's uncle. The elderly sage, Waraka ibn Nawfal, who could read the Bible and the Torah in Hebrew, said that the angel seen on Hira was the angel that brought revelation to all the prophets. Then he sighed, "If only I were young and could be at your side when your tribe exiles you!" At that moment the first Muslim made witness. Khadija turned to her husband whose face was illuminated and said, "I witness that you are the Messenger of Allah!"

There are only three Muslims on the face of the earth: The Last Prophet, Khadija and Ali. What magnificent solitariness! They are circumambulating the Kaaba. Later, they go to that house again to continue their servanthood. Revelation stops for a while. The Prophet is roaming the mountains. His heart is constricted with sorrow. If Gabriel does not occasionally appear and console him with, "You are the true deputy of Allah," he will abandon himself like a bird to the empty space. During those days it is again his illuminated wife Hz. Khadija who gives him his greatest support. She assuages his heart by saying that all difficulties will be overcome, contraction will become expansion and all things are in the hands of Allah. She engraves in the memory of the future how a woman should stand beside her husband during difficult times. The first Muslim on earth protects Muhammad (pbuh) with her property, her breath and her life. Seeing his beautiful virtues, this strong, noble and attractive woman trembles with love for him just as she previously loved him and asked him to marry her. The elderly sage had interpreted the dream she saw before they married. The sun had revolved over Mecca and eventually slowly descended into Khadija's house. Waraqa had said, "You're going to marry a great person whose fame will encompass the world." During the three years of the Meccan idolaters boycott she was always with the Muslims and always at the side of the sun until her appointed time came.

 Three years before the Migration the Last Prophet buried his protectors three days apart. The first was his uncle, Abu Talib, and the second was his beloved wife. These two travelers held a corner of a grey cover and spread it over Mecca. The name "Year of Sorrow" was given to this grey time. The Prophet had not married any other woman during the twenty-five years of his marriage with Khadija. He never forgot her after her death. In her own words, Aisha had been jealous of a dead person! One day Khadija's sister came to the Prophet's house. Thinking her voice resembled Khadija's, the Prophet stood up excitedly. When he said, "How much your voice resembles hers," the elderly woman's eyes sparkled. Aisha could not help but say, "Allah has given you someone better!" The eyes of our beloved Prophet misted over, and looking kindly to his wife, he said, "Hey Aisha! When everyone else denied me, Khadija believed in me. When those around said, "You're lying," she said, "You're speaking the truth! Don't hesitate!" While others were hiding their material wealth, she poured out her wealth to me saying, "It's at your command! You can spend as much as you want." During the days when I was alone, she said, "This is all passing. Don't feel bad, for in time ease will replace these difficulties." Not because of her beauty, but because of these I can not forget Khadija!"

The Last Prophet is drawing lines on the ground with a branch. If they look carefully at the ground, they will see that the line representing Khadija is a little longer than the others.