A DEBATING ABOUT KHADIJAH (A)
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Khadija (A) so much.
P: Aishia herself says: “once an old woman came to our house. The holy prophet (S) respected her a lot and honoured her. When she went away, I asked the reason.
The holy prophet (S) answered me:
االیمان310 »«انّها من العهد سن حُ انّ و خدیجة، زمن فی تاتینا کانت
“This old lady came to our house when Khadija was alive. Khadija helped her and honoured her very much. It is from faith to keep the promises from Past.”
Another narration from Aishia: “Whenever the holy prophet (S) slaughtered a sheep, he would say: “please send the meat to Khadija's (S) friends.” Once I asked him the reason, he answered:
“I like Khadija's (A) friends.” 311 »«انیّ حبیبها الحبّ
The Prophet's Eminent Spouse
A: So, Khadija(A) was the deareast spouse for the prophet (S)?
P: Yes, Both the dearest and the best spouse. The holy prophet (S) has remarked it in many different words. None of his other wives had such a high position.
Let's look at the narrations:
The Best among Women
Bokhari narrates from the holy prophet (S):
خدیجة312 »«خی نسائها خی و عمران ابنة مریم نسائها
“The best among women are Khadija and Maryam, the daughter of Emran.”
The holy prophet (S) introduces only two women as the best women in the world:
Khadija (A) among the Muslims and Maryam(A) among the Christians.
Ibn Hejr Asghalani narrates from Amar Yaser, the holy prophet said:
310 Behar al-Anvar, vol.16, p.8
311 Raiahin al-Sharia, vol.2, p.206
312 Sahih Bokhari, vol.4, p.138; Behar al-Anvar, vol.16, p.7
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313 ی» ی العالم نساء عل می مر فضلت کما ن ّام نساء عل ة خدیج «لقدفضلت
“Khadija (A) is the best in my nation as Maryam is the best in all women.”
B: It means that Khadija (A) is as superior as Maryam who is praised in holy Quran as a pattern for both men and women?
P: Yes, and the superiority in paradise.
Superiority in Paradise
Ahmad Bin Hanbal narrates in Mosnad that The prophet (S) drew four lines on the ground. Then he asked: “Do you know what these lines are?” They answered: “No, Allah and his prophet knowbetter.” He said:
و فرعون، امرأة مزاحم، بنت ة آسی و د، ّمحم بنت ة فاطم و لد، ی خو بنت ة ،خدیج الجنة اهل نساء ضل «اف 314 » عمران بنت می مر
“The best women in paradise are: Khadija (A), the daughter of Khowailid, Fatima (A) Mohammad's daughter, Asie (A), Mozahem's daughter, Feron's wife, and Maryam, Eemran's daughter.”
B: Does it mean that nobody will be better than them even in the future?
P: No, we can find from this narration that these four women, are the best in paradise. Nobody will be created better than them till the Resurrection Day. Just as the fact that nobody will be better than the holy prophet (S) and his Ahl al Bait.
Master of the World's Women
The holy prophet (S) said:
بنت ة فاطم و لد ی خو بنت ة خدیج و ، مزاحم بنت ة آسی و عمران، بنت می مر : عالمهن ّدات سی ّسوة ن ع «ارب »ة315 فاطم عالما افضلهن و د ّمحم
“Four women are masters of the world's women. They are: Maryam, Emran's daughter, Asie, Mozahem 's daughter, Khadija, Khowailid's daughter, and Fatima, Mohammad's daughter. The best of them is Fatima in this world.
313 Fath al-Bari, vol.7, p.101; Tafsir Tebyan, vol.2, p.456 314 Mosnad Hanbal, vol.1, p.293; Fazael al-Sahaba, p.74 315 Zakhaer al-Oghba, p.44; Kanz al-Ommal, vol.12, p.155
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B: What is the difference between the best of the masters?
P: They are all alike. The holy prophet's aim to introduce them as the patterns. For example the following narration is the same as the others.
The Most Perfect Women
The holy prophet says:
بنت ة آسی و د ّمحم بنت ة فاطم و ی،لد خو بنت ة خدیج و ، ن عمرا بنت می مر ی العالم نساء من «حسبک 316 » مزاحم
“It is enough among the woman in two worlds from the point of view of perfection and virtue: Maryam (A), Khadija (A), Fatima (A) And Asie (A).”
B: It is surprising that Khadija (A) is among the women whom the holy Quran has praised.
P: Now look at this narration that Khadija, is in the same level as the prophet (S):
The Same Level as The Prophet (S)
Once the holy prophet said about Hassan (A) and. Hossain’s (A) position in the mosque: »جدّ ة و ا جدّ الناس ی بخ کم اخیی اال !«ایّها النّاس
“O people! don't you want me to inform you about the best people from the point of view of their grandmother and grandfather?” People said: “Please inform us.”
The prophet said:
317 » لد ی خو بنت ة خدیج تهما جدّ و للا رسول هما جدّ ، ی الحس و «الحسن
“They are Hassan (A) and Hossain (A) whose grandfather is the messenger of God (S) and their grandmother is Khadija (A) the daughter of Khowailed.”
A: They were very interesting narrations. I had heard only one of them.
B: The last narration is about the fact that Khadija (A) was in the same level as the prophet (S). (Kofv)318
316 Kashf al-Ghoma, vol.2, p.71
317 Behar al-Anvar, vol.43, p.302; narrated from the book “Khadija, Ostoore Ithar va Moghavemat, p.198 318 “Kofv” means: equal, spouse, the same level [Dehkhoda Dictionary]
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The Memory of the Mate Everywhere
B: You said that the prophet remembered her in his happiness and sadness.
P: Yes, he did.
B: When was the most important one?
P: I think it was in Fatima’s (A) wedding night, when he felt that Fatima (i) is motherless.
A: Was it in the beginning of Zi Haje month?
P: Yes, it was in Zi Haje319 the first year after Hijrat320, when Fatima (A) was 12321 and she went to her husband's house.
A: Some believe that “she was 18”.
P: Yes, I'll explain later. In the night of Fatima‘s wedding, Omma Salamah, the prophet's (S) other wife, said “now we miss Khadija (A).” The holy prophet (S) cried and said, “Where is a person like her? When people denied me, she confirmed me.
She supported me with her wealth. God ordered me to give her glad livings of a house in paradise.”
Omma Salamah said: “Our mothers and fathers may be sacrificed for you; Khadijah (A) was just as what you described. Now she is in vicinity of God happily. May God share us with her high positions too.”322
Once, Halle, Khadija’s (A) sister asked permission to enter the house. Her voice reminded the prophet of Khadija (A).323
319 Alamali Toosi, p.43
320 Morooj al-Zahab, vol.2, p.287; Rozat al-Vaezin, vol.1, p.143; Martyr Fatal Neyshaboori says: Some months after Hijrat is correct.
322 Kashf al-Ghoma, vol.1, p.370
323 Sahih Bokhari, vol.4, p.231
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When Mecca was captured, the prophet (S) kept his flag flying in Hajoon.324 They put up a leather tent for him. The prophet (S) didn't settle in Mecca. He was always in Hajoon and went to Masjed al-Haram from there.325
B: Why did he choose there for his resting place?
P: Maybe he wanted to show that this victory was due to Khadija (A). So, he chose the place near Khadija’s (A) tomb to show this message.
B: What was the argument with Aishia?
P: Once the prophet did not accept Aishia 's request in the last days of his life. Aishia got sad and said: “If Khadija had the same request, you would accept it.” The prophet (S) got angry of this inappropriate comparison and said: “Do you mention her name?! I swear by God, she believed me when people denied me, she supported me when people rejected me, she bestowed her wealth to me and I spent it in Allah's way. I have my children from her.”326
Meeting with Aishia (A)
A: I have seen somewhere that Khadija (A) was able to see Aishia (A).
P: It is true, once Aishia (A) appeared in the shape of a human to Khadijah (A) and asked some questions about the prophet (A). Khadija (A) was afraid and thought that he is among the enemies who want to harm the prophet (S).
When she said it to the prophet (S), he said: “He was Aishia and he has ordered me to give you the glad tidings of having a golden house in paradise.”327
A Special Palace in Paradise
B: I think she is in company with the prophet (S) in paradise?
P: Yes, she is. But we have a narration that Aishia told the prophet (S) to give Khadija (A), glad tidings about a golden palace in paradise.328
324 Tarikh Tabari, vol.3, p.56
325 Almaghazi, vol.2, p.829
326 Tarikh Baghdad, vol.12, p.135
328 Sahih Bokhari, vol.4, p.231
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Aishia says: “I was not jealous of any woman as much as Khadija. God had given the good tidings to the prophet (S) about a heavenly house for her.”329
The holy prophet (S) “saw Khadija (A) in the bank of a heavenly river in a golden palace when he was in “Meraj”.330
The holy prophet said: “Four women are superior to other women in paradise;
Khadija, Fatima, Maryam, and Asie.”331
In The Same Level as Ma’sooms (Innocents)
B: Wasn't Khadija (A) a Masoom?
P: Masoom is only for the prophet (S) and Imams (A). Of course it is an exception about Hazrat Zahra (A); But Khadija is “Tali Telve”332 the same as a Masoom. She is remarked as a great person after 14 Masooms in narrations.
For example, Khadija (A) and 14 Masooms (A) are dwelled in “the most honored and excellent” position in paradise which is called “Adn”333. The Ziarats334 which are narrated by Masooms emphasize this fact. There is mentioned the same position and rank for 14 Masooms and Khadija (A) in any of these narrations.335
The Best Woman in the Sky and on the Earth
B: It is said that the prophet (S) has two wives in paradise, Maryam and Khadija. Is it correct?
P: Yes, we have a narration that the prophet (S) said: “The best women are Khadija (A), Khowailid's daughter and Maryam (A), Emran’s daughter.”336 When the scholars interpret the prophet's narration, they say: “These two ladies are the best
329 Sahih Bokhari, vol.8, p.195
330 Alahad va alMasani, vol.5, p.381
331 Mosnad Hanbal, vol.1, p.316
332 The same, like
333 “Adn”: means settle, being in a place for ever [Dehkhoda Dictionary]
335 Mesbah alMotahajed, vol.1, p.288
336 Sonane Termazi, vol.5, p.366
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women in the sky and on the Earth337 or among their own nation338. Yaqoobi says:
“They are both the prophet's heavenly wives.”339
P: Actually, we should think about Yaghoobi’s narration especially about those which are not narrated by others. But according to what the holy Quran says, “The Islamic nation is the best nation.”340
B: So, is Maryam (A) the best woman in Bani Israel?
P: The prophet (S) introduced Maryam (A) the best woman in Bani Israel and Khadija (A) the best woman in Islam341. God considers Maryam (A) among the servants who are always praying342. He has Chosen her to pray to God because she has separated from the world's relations.343
Without any doubt the secret similarity between these two great ladies is their accomplishments and their merits. Khadija (A) is the most eminent of the women who pray to God after Fatima (A).
B: Which one is better?
P: We can’t argue about Khadija’s being better, because there is “Nas” in the holy Quran. We can say they are the same, because they both deserve to be the prophet's (S) wives in paradise. We have something higher than this.
Leader for All
B: What is higher?
P: Higher is that the prophet said: “That is enough for you to know four ladies, Maryam, Emran's daughter, Khadija, Khowailid’s daughter, Fatima, Mahammad's daughter, and Asie, Mozahem’s daughter344”. It means that these ladies are in the
337 Sahih Moslem, vol.7, p.132
338 Ghoot al-Moghtazi, vol.2, p.1042
339 Tarikh Yaghoobi, vol.2. p.35
340 Sura Ale Emran, Verse 110
341 Ghoot al-Moghtazi, vol.2, p.1042
342 Atebyan,vol.10. p.55
344 Tafsire Samarghandi, vol.3, p.449
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highest level of accomplishment which you can follow. It is because of their virtue, good deeds, and their asceticism in this world and their turning to hereafter.345
A: Are they leaders for both men and women?
P: Yes, just as the two ladies in Quran who are patterns for all men and women.
B: Has the prophet (S) added two more women to that Aie (verse)?
P: When the prophet (S) orders that you should say your prayers in two or three or four “Rakats” and everybody obeys.it, there is no argue about this adding.
A: Where the prayers really only two Rakats and the prophet (S) added them?
P: Yes, Imam Sadegh says: “... Then Allah made the prayers obligatory (Vajeb) every two Rakats and all of them were ten Rakats in five times. The prophet (S) added two Rakats to (Zohr, Asr, Esha) and one Rakat to “Maghreb”. It was obligatory too.
You can't make them short except when you are traveling. But in “Maghreb” it is fixed, three Rakats where ever you are. Allah allowed all of these orders and the prayers are 17 Rakats a day….”346
B: If you let me…?
P: Sorry, I won't let you anything else. I got tired today.
God's willing (انشاءللا) the next session…
345 Tohfat al-Ahvazi, vol.10, p.265
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The Fourth Session
The two students A and B had a lot questions gathered from different places. Most of them were the questions made by Vahabiat. I answered their questions first;
then we started our own subject.
The Holy Prophet (S) and Special Attention
P: Researches in Islamic historical books show that the prophet (S) tried to exalt Khadija (A) with his words and deeds. He defended her position very much.
A: I think the argument about her being the best and accomplished etc. is for this reason.
P: The prophet (S) said: “I swear by God that Allah didn’t give me any one better than she. She confirmed me when people denied me, she supported me with her wealth when everybody else rejected me and my children are from her.”347
B. Maybe these words caused jealousy?
P: Yes, but the prophet's (S) aim was to keep Khadija's (A) position. He honored not only Khadijah (A) but also her friends too.
It is narrated that the prophet (S) got glad when Khadija’s (A) friends came to their house and said: “She came here when Khadija (A) was alive;”348 or sometimes he sacrificed a sheep and sent some of its meat to Khadija's friends.349 Sometimes he sent some of the gifts, which were presented to him, to Khadija's (A) friends and said: “This lady was Khadija’s (A) friend and she liked Khadija (A).”350
A: How much the prophet's wives suffered?
P: Once the prophet (S) was given the meat of a camel or a sheep as a present for the prophet (S). The prophet cut a part of it and sent it for a lady.
348 Mosnad al-Shahab, vol.2, p.102
349 Sahih Bokhari, vol.7, p.76
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Aishia said: “Why did you make your hands dirty? One of us would do that.”
The prophet (S) said: “Woe to you! Khadija had recommended me about that lady.”
Aishia said: “It seems that there is no woman in the world except Khadija (A)?351
The prophet answered: “Yes, Khadija was like this.”352
The prophet (S) went out of the house angrily, but he came back after a little time.
Ome Roman, Aishia 's mother, asked the prophet (S) to forgive her daughter's rudeness. The prophet told Aishia: “Weren’t it you who said it seems that there is no woman in the world but Khadijah? She believed me when your relatives were unbelievers and she confirmed me when your relatives rejected me and my children are from her.”353
B: So, it was more than jealousy, they got angry.
Twelve Imams (A) and Their Commemoration of Khadija (A)
P. It was not just the prophet (S) who acted like this, but our Twelve Imams tried to keep the memory of Khadija (A).
A: What did they say?
P: After the prophet's (S) passing away, Twelve Imams tried to make people not to forget Khadija (A), But Omavi government tried just the opposite. Even Muawiyah ruined Khadija’s house in Mecca.354
So Ahl al Bait tried very hard to keep Khadija’s (A) name alive. For example:
Twelve Imams’ (A) Proud of Khadija (A)
In many cases, Twelve Imams (A) related themselves to Khadija (A) to show their political and social positions.
For instance:
351 Sharh al-Akhbar, vol.3, p.17
352 Sahih Bokhari vol.4, p.231
353 Sharh al-Akhbar, vol.3, p.17
354 Akhbar Mecca, vol.2, p.199