Exemplarary Women

 

The best women of mankind are four: Mariam daughter of Imran, Assiya wife of Pharoah, Khadija daughter of Khuwailid, and Fatima daughter of the Messenger of Allah.” – The Prophet Muhammad (narrated by Anas, recorded in Bukhari and Muslim)

This summer I have made a commitment to read weekly our featured women in Islam. I highly recommend this book to all who want to better understand how women were represented in the most respectable manner.

Despite the stereotypes, Muslim women have always played a vital role in the Muslim community, and not only in traditional roles. Early Muslim women served the community through scholarship, teaching, nursing, and other important activities. My intention is to honor those women I have read and learned about.

Week July 9-13, 2007                                      

    Khadija bint Khuwaylid, the wife of the Prophet, is truly known as a noble lady; she was, in the modern terminology, the First Lady of Islam.  Khadija was the main pillar of support for Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). She was the first one to declare her faith in Islam. By being the first to accept  Islam, Khadija demonstrated that she believed in the truthfulness of Muhammad as the Messenger of God. Khadija whole-heartedly supported the Prophet’s cause and whenever he was abused by the disbelievers she provided moral support and faith. Khadija came from a very affluent background, she did not shy from sacrificing her wealth for the cause of Islam. Not only that, she even willingly went through the difficulties of three years of social/economic embargo imposed upon Prophet Muhammad and his family.  It was after this time, that Khadijah passed away the “Mother” of all Muslims, the one who had sacrificed her all for Islam. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) spoke of Khadija at great length and praised her qualities and prayed for her forgiveness.