🏴 Special Issue of Imam Husayn Portal On the occasion of the death anniversary of Hazrat Khadija Kubra (s.a.) 1⃣2⃣ Brief biography of Lady Khadija Kubra(s.a.) Khadīja bt. Khuwaylid (a) (Arabic: خَدیجة بنت خُویلد) (b. ? - d. 4 BH/619), known as Khadīja al-Kubrā (a) and Umm al-Mu'minīn (the Mother of Believers), was the first wife of Prophet Muhammad (s) and the mother of Lady Fatima (a). She married Prophet Muhammad (s) 15 years before Bi'tha (595 CE) and was the first woman who converted to Islam. Khadija (a) dedicated her wealth to the expansion of Islam. Prophet Muhammad (s) did not choose another wife during his marital life with Khadija (a). The Prophet (s) always praised Khadija (a) during her life and after her demise. She passed away in the year ten after Bi'that (4 BH) in Mecca. She is buried in al-Ma'lat Cemetery in Mount al-Hajun. Family and Lineage Her father was Khuwaylid b. Asad b. Abd al-Uzza b. Qusayy and her mother was Fatima bt. Za'ida. Her birth is said to be fefteen years before 'Am al-Fil/(555 CE) in Mecca. Before Islam The information on the personality of Khadija (a) before Islam is minimal. According to sources, she was a wealthy merchant who worked in a mudaraba, she employed other people to work for her, and she gained some parts of its profit. Khadija (a) had high social status with ancestral nobility. As Ibn Sayyid al-Nas said: "She was an honorable and wise lady, and God granted her with his blessing. She was middle class in lineage, but she was a very successful and noble lady." Also, al-Baladhuri said: "Al-Waqidi stated that Khadija (a) had ancestral nobility, and she was a successful merchant." Khadija (a) was the first wife of Prophet Muhammad (s) and the first woman who converted to Islam. Marriage Before Marrying Prophet Muhammad (s): The marriage(s) of Khadija (a) was a controversial matter among Shi'a and Sunni scholars. Sunni scholars believe she married twice before Prophet Muhammad (s), and they mentioned the names of her children. Al-Baladhuri in Ansab al-ashraf introduced Hind b. al-Nabash as Khadija's (a) husband before she married Muhammad (s). Also, Ibn al-Habib, in his book, al-Munammiq, introduced al-Nabash and named Khadija (a) as his wife, before she married Prophet Muhammad (s). Ibn al-Habib in his book al-Muhabbar, written after al-Munammiq, named 'Atiq b. 'Abid b. 'Abd Allah as her second husband before she married to Prophet Muhammad (s). On the other hand, after numerous analyses, Shi'a scholars believed Khadija (a) did not marry anyone before Prophet Muhammad (s). Ibn Shahrashub quoted from al-Sayyid al-Murtada in al-Shafi and al-Shaykh al-Tusi in Talkhis al-shafi that Khadija (a) was a virgin when she married Prophet Muhammad (s). Besides, considering the cultural and intellectual situation in Hijaz and the high position and status of Khadija al-Kubra (a) among other people, it would be highly improbable that she marry men from Banu Tamim and Banu Makhzum (the two low tribes). According to researchers, the children attributed to Khadija (a) were both the children of Hala, Khadija's (a) sister. After the husband of Hala had passed away, she took responsibility for Hala and her children. After Hala passed away, Khadija (a) looked after her children. Marriage with Prophet Muhammad (s) As Ibn Kathir quoted from Ibn Ishaq, when Khadija (a) became familiar with the honesty, trustworthiness, and ethical characteristics of Muhammad (s), she entrusted him with her wealth. Then after Muhammad (s) came from a commercial trip from Syria, Maysara (Khadija's (a) slave) reported the characteristics of Muhammad (s) to Khadija (a). Afterward, she proposed marriage to Prophet Muhammad (s). Also, Ibn Sayyid al-Nas said, "When Khadija (a) was informed about the ethical characteristics and honesty of Muhammad (s), she proposed marriage to him". Ibn al-Athir also mentioned the same thing in Usd al-ghaba. According to all sources, Khadija (a) was the first wife of Prophet Muhammad (s). Ibn Abd al-Barr considered Khadija (a) as the first wife of Prophet (s), and he said Prophet (s) did not have any other wife during their marital life. He also said Prophet (s) was 25 when he married Khadija (a). As he quoted from al-Zahiri, the Prophet (s) was 21 years old when he married Khadija (a). Ibn Kathir mentioned different ages for Prophet Muhammad (s) at the time of his marriage: 21, 22, 25, 28, 30 and 37. Conversion to Islam Most historical sources consider Khadija (a) as the first one who converted to Islam. Even some sources claimed that it is agreed among all the researchers. Ibn Abd al-Barr claimed that Ali b. Abi Talib (a) was the first one after Khadija (a) who converted to Islam. Sources that discussed the timing of sahaba in converting to Islam have mentioned Khadija al-Kubra (a) and Ali b. Abi Talib (a) as the first two people who converted to Islam. They have mentioned they were the first two people who performed prayer alongside Prophet Muhammad (s).