A DEBATING ABOUT KHADIJAH (A)
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B: What is “Motavater”?
P: They are “Ahadith” which are “Motavater” although weak. It means they are narrated by several people. Anyway, some people say lots of things when talking about religious problems, leave them, it is not necessary to debate about them.
Khadija’s (A) Birth
A: Let’s talk about her birthday which would be the answer to other questions too.
Is it correct that she was born 15 years before prophet (S)?
P: There are not too many different narrations about her birthday. But there are a lot about her age, the time of her wedding or the time of her passing away.
A: If the birthday is clear, they will be clear too.
P: Yes, but it is debated about these two cases without the birth year.
A: She has been an important person, so her birthday should have been recorded.
P: Yes, absolutely correct.
B: So, when is her birthday?
P: According to what “Ibn Abas” says: the prophet (S) was born 15 years before “Amol Fil”7 according to “Belazari”, “Khadija (A) was born at the same year.” Of course, some of the scientists have told that Khadija (A) was born 13 years before the prophet, but they are not valid.
A: It means they are not confirmed?
P: I don’t agree with a lot of orientalists. There is no reason that they search about Muslims impartially.
A: I do think so. Because now that we are powerful, they show the realities so viceversa, while we were nothing 200 years ago, they definitely talked on the basis of their own profits.
P: Of course we have some good orientalists, but they are so few that are not considered.
7 Tarikh Khalifa bin Khaiat; p.16
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A: Please explain a little more about her family so that we know her better.
P: As I told, her father was Khowailid Bin Asad Bin Abdolazi Bin Ghasi. Asad Bin Abdolazi was her grandfather who was one of the members of “Helfol Fozool”
agreement.
Her great grandfather “Ghasi Bin Kalab” is also the prophet’s grandfather8.
Abdolazi, the father of Asad and the grandfather of Khowailid was the brother of Abde Manaf, the prophet’s grandfather, and the name of their father is Ghasi Bin Kalab. So, the prophet (S) and Khadija (A) were both from Ghoraish and were relative with each other from the lineage point of view.
Khowailid, Khadija’s father was a clever, generous and good-tempered person. He was the head of Bani Asad family. Her mother is Fatima the daughter of Zaiede Bin Alasam9. Fatima’s mother was Haale the daughter of Abde Manaf Bin Ghasi. His third grandfather was the same as prophet’s grandfather. So, Khadija (A) is in the same lineage with the prophet (S) by a few intermediators, and both of them are from Ghoraish.
A: We know only a sister called “Hale” for Khadija (A). Did she have any more brothers or sisters?
P: Khadija (A) had 5 brothers and 4 sisters.
A: How cool! Do you know them?
P: Yes, I’ll tell you.
The names of Khadija’s (A) brothers:
P: 1- “Avam Bin Khowailid”. He married with “Safie” the daughter of “Abdol Mutalib” the prophet’s aunt. He had three sons “Zobeir”, “Saeb” and “Abdol Kaba”.10
A: This is the same famous “Zobeir”?
P: He is the famous “Zobeir” who has positive and negative fames in the history of Islam.
8 Jomhorat Ansab al-Arab, p.120
9 Tanghih al-Maghal, vol.3, p.77
10.Atabaghat al-Kobra, vol.8, p.41
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A: He was not only the prophet’s cousin, but also Khadija’s nephew.
P: Unfortunately, yes.
2- “Hazam Bin Khowailid” who was killed in the “Fojar war” in “Jahiliya” era. He had two sons “Hakim Bin Hazam” and “Khaled Bin Hazam”.
3- “Noofel Bin Khowailid”. He had three sons: “Waraqah Bin Noofel”, “Safoon Bin Noofel” and “Asvad Bin Noofel”.
4- “Odai Bin Khowailid”. There is no name from him in history.
5- “Amro Bin Khowailid”. The proposing and wedding ceremonies of Khadija (A)
was done in his house.
A: Did Khadija (A) have any sisters except Hale?
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The Names of Khadija’s Sisters:
P: 1- “Haale” Khowailid’s daughter. She is the most famous sister for Khadija (A).
She entered Madine after Hijrat to see the prophet (S). She had the same name as the prophet’s grandmother.
A: Is she the same woman that people have called her daughters instead of Khadija (A)?
P: Yes. Khadija (A) has two sisters. There is not much information about them in history.
2- “Khalede Bint Khowailid”
3- “Roghigha Bint Khowailid”
4- “Hend Bint Khowailid” Some say she is the same as “Hale” which is registered with this name in the history. But some others say she is from her second husband.
There is also “Tahira” as the fifth sister for Khadija (A) in some history books11. But the fact is that “Tahira” was Khadija’s title in “Jahiliya”.
Khadija (A) before Islam
General attributes:
B: What were Khadija’s (A) attributes before Islam and even before her marriage with the prophet (S)?
P: There is little information about Khadija’s life and personality before Islam. But this little information show that she was a wise, learned, manager and intelligent lady.
Generosity, devotion, chastity, providence, patience and perseverance are among her outstanding personalities that all of the historians confirm them. We will present some of them according to Soni scholars.
11 Alesaba, vol.8, p.224
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Monotheism (Hanif)
A: You didn’t say anything about her being a polytheist or not?
P: In Jahiliya era when idolatry was everywhere in Arabia, Khadija (A) paid attention to moralities and spiritual affairs. She believed in divine books and worshipped the unique God12.
She went round “Kaba” from the time of the departure of trade caravan to distant cities and countries and asked Ibrahim’s God for the abundance for her trade13.
A: It was interesting to be a pious merchant lady in that time?
P: Yes, Khadija (A) was a successful merchant who tried to have more benefit. She passed a part of her time praying specially going around “Kaba”. The door of her house was open for poor and needy people and never no one went out of her house deprived14.
B: Were all the family monotheist or she was the only one?
P: She worshipped the glorious God in the time when all people worshipped idols which had been made by themselves and superstitions were spread everywhere.
Although her father, Khowailid was a monotheist too, she learned religious instructions from her cousin “Waraqah Bin Noofel” who was one of the four pious in his own time. She held religious meetings in her house and invited some of scientists who possessed holy books. Other women and she listened to their teachings and advices. She was able to learn the attributes of the last prophet and she was sure that he would appear in “Hejaz” land very soon15.
B: How was her beliefs before Islam?
P: She had very firm beliefs. Not only Khadija (A) but also the prophet (S), Abdol Motaleb (A), Abu Talib (A) believed in the unique God before Islam16.
B: Did they do some rituals?
12 Behar al-Anvar, vol.16, pp.21&79
13 Nesa Ahle Bait fi Zooe Quran va Hadith, p.15 14 Aalam al-Nesa, vol.1, p.326
16 This is told by other scientists too, not only Shias (Taj al-Aghaed, p.51)
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P: The monotheists believed in beginning and the resurrection day17 and they were the followers of Ibrahim Hanif. They didn’t follow the distorted religions of Jews and Christianity nor praying idols.18
Since Islam is the continuity of Ibrahim Hanif religion, the monotheists acted as a Muslim before the appearance of Islam.19 For example doing prayers, Amre be Maroof va Nahy an Monkar20, accomplishing Haj rituals, following the heritage orders, meeting relatives, washing and doing ablutions with water, Jenabat ablutions, ablutions of dead person and wrapping the dead in shroud and having “Lahad” in the tomb, keeping away from wine and bad deeds….21. People like “Abde Manaf, Hashem, Abdol Muttalib, and Abu Talib”, never worshipped idols and they said prayers in front of “Kaba”22.
Shia believe that prophet (S) said prayers and fasted from his puberty age.23 Both the prophet (S) and Ali (A) said prayers before prophetic mission (Bi’thah).24
“Asad” and “Hashem” were the followers of “Hanif” religion. There are some fake narrations that Khadija (A) was interested in idolatry. We should regard them as the enemies of “Ahl al Bait”.25
A: So there has been some rumors that she was an idolater?!!
P: Yes, but since “Ghoraishi” monotheists were familiar with Ibrahim rituals, they didn’t marry with their “Maharem” (Very close relatives) and they weren’t cruel.
They were a chosen group by Allah. One of the reasons that prophet (S) married with Khadija (A) was that she was from a noble family and she was one of his relatives who regarded rituals.
A: So there is no doubt that the prophet’s (S) ancestors were all monotheists and that the prophet (S) and Khadija (A) have the same great grandfather?
17 Morooj al-Zahab, vol.1, p.78
18 Almofasal, vol.12, pp. 30&37
19Almofasal, vol.12, p.31; In Verse 78, Sura al-Haj and many other verses pointed to this fact 20 -Makarem al-Akhlagh, p.60
22 Kamal al-Din, vol.1, p.174
23 Rozat al-Vaezin, vol.1, p.52
24 Al-Tabaghat al-Kobra, vol.8, p.14
25 Mosnad Hanbal, vol.4, p.222; The fake narrations are in this book
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P: Of course, it is said that his grandfather, father and uncle were monotheists.
“Asad” his grandfather, was one of the greatest monotheists of his own time26.
Khowailid was the most knowledgeable about the prophet’s before27, and he was one of the zealous monotheists who prevented violence to “Masjed al Haram” by repentance “Tawba”28.
Khadija (A)’s cousin “Waraqah Bin Noofel” knew Ebri and Seriani languages.29 He had read “Sohafe Ibrahim (A)”, “Tawrat Mousa (A)”, “Engil Issa (A)” and “Zaboor Davood”. He knew the attributes of the prophet30. He and “Bohaira” were the best people who knew the prophet’s attributes31.
26 Fath al-Bari, vol.7, p.125
27 Sharhe Nahj al-Balagha, vol.15, p.217
28 Emta al-Asma, vol.6, p.175
29 Al-Anvar Le Aamal al-Abrar, p 226
30 Montazam vol.2 p.373
31 Hedayat al-Kobra, p. 50
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Chastity and Modesty
B: It is very important that a woman in that time is so careful about her behavior.
P: At the time of “Jahiliya” polytheists allowed homosexuality32, having illicit relationship with female maid33 and secret relationships with others. They only considered adultery when two people who are not intimate have sexual relation openly34. Even some of the women, circumambulated the “Kaaba” nakedly35.
But monotheists avoided every illegal relationship with people who were not intimate. They prohibited adultery, marriage with incest36, marriage with two sisters simultaneously37, and circumambulation of the “Kaaba” nakedly38.
At such a time Khadija (A), who was very beautiful, was famous for her chastity and modesty39. She was known as “Tahira, the daughter of Khowailid”40.
Before Islam and the verse of “Hijab”, she spoke behind a curtain with men41. At the time saying prayers with the prophet in “Masjid al Haram”, she covered her beauties.42
It is said: people called her “Tahira”; because of her chastity and modesty at the time of “Jahiliya”.
صیانتها43 »«و و عفافها ة لشدّ اهره بالطّ الجاهلیّه فی تُدیع کانت
The title of “Saieda Ghoraish”44 (mistress of Ghoraish) was given to her to show her high position at her own time.
32 Mofassal fi al-Tarikh, vol.9, p.142
33 The same
35 Sahih Moslem, vol.8, p.243
36 Al-Mofassal, vol.10, p.321
37Vasael al-Shiie, vol.20, p.411
39 Alesteab, vol.4, p.1817
40 Tarikh Madina Dameshq, vol.3, p.131
41 Alanvar lel Aamal al-Abrar, pp.250&252
42 Sharhe Nahj al-Balaghe, vol.13, p225
43 Sire Aalam al-Nobala, vol.2, p.111; Nahayat al-Arb, vol.18, p.171 44 Tarikh al-Khamis, vol.1, p.265; Almavaheb al-Ladoniya, vol.1, p.99
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The wealthy person in Mecca
B: Please speak about Khadija (A)’s wealth.
P: Most of “Honafa” were from famous families and the people higher than the average people in the society45. The prophet (S), his father and his family and his wife Khadija (A) were merchants.46
The prophet went to “Bosra” in “Sham” with “Abu Talib” (A) when he was nine47.
He was one of the merchants of “Mecca” and as “Yaghoobi” says; he was never an agent for Khadija. It is just the opposite of what is said that the prophet (S) was the agent of “Khadija”48 (A) before his marriage.
“Ghoraish” had commercial relations in “Sham”, “Iraq” and “Yemen”49. Khadija (A)
was a wealthy person among them50. “Ghoraish” merchants carried her merchandise on camels51 in summer and in winter.52
B: It was an inheritance for her too!?
P: No, some fake news say: “She had heritage from her previous husbands.” But I’ll point that she didn’t have any husband before the prophet (S), and it is a fake news.
Honafa of Ghoraish were merchants and wealthy, so were her father and Khadija (A) herself too. They had earned a lot of wealth by trading, specially to “Sham”.
Loan Yes, Usury No
B: I have heard there were many usurers in “Mecca” Did they have any relations with usury?
45 Al-Mofassal, vol.12, p.34
47 Al-Mohabbar, p.9
48 Tarikh Yaghoobi, vol.2, p.21
49 Al-Mofassal, vol.7, p.71
50 Al Sirah al Nabaviah, vol.1, p.189
51 While others weren’t able to have an independent caravan, a number of people had a caravan together 52 Amali Toosi, p.468. There are two opposite points of view about Khadija’s (A) wealth. One of the 7th century (A.H) writers says that 80,000 camels carried Khadija’s merchandise. Some say her wealth was equal to a Neyshaboori merchant. [Behar al Anwar, vol.16, p.22; Majmooah al-Athar, vol.16, p.181]
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P: “Mecca” was famous as a territory of merchants and usurers.53 People in “Jahiliya” considered usury as a kind of buying and selling.54 The usurers added many times to the debts of people for giving them extension of time55.
But Khadija (A) was a merchant and advertised for trade. She gave her wealth to many people to trade instead of usury56. She wanted to prevent usury by “Halal”
trading in form of “Gheraaz”.
“Gheraaz” was an agreement between the owner of money and the agent to divide the profit of the trade between them. The agent took the profit after calculating the expenses and gave the fund and the rest of the profit to the owner. The loss was deducted from the fund.57
Talent and Intelligence
B: A monotheist and merchant woman at that time should have been very intelligent!!
P: “Hazrat Khadija (A)” was among the few intelligent, smart women of that time.
She was able to have an individual and social position at the time when a woman had no social position or even a human personality.
She was a famous merchant of her own time. It is said that she had many slaves- in and out of Arabia- who traded; and she had wealth and fund in Egypt and Abyssinia.
The fact that she was able to manage such a great wealth in that time when women was deprived of all of the human rights, shows her great intelligence and talent. It makes her higher than all of the women and many men of her own time.
Her talent in recognition and employment of honest and experienced men in trade, and great management in keeping and capital growth, shows Khadija (A)’s powerful management.
It was from her talent and intelligence in housekeeping and her behavior skills that she was able to keep Ali (A) and “Zaid Bin Harisa” in a single house and under a
53 Al-Mofassal, vol.13, p.21
54 Holy Quran shows usury is Haram (forbidden). “That is because they say usury is just like trade. But Allah allows trade and forbids usury.” Holy Quran, Surah al Baqarah, Verse 275.
Gheraaz is “Mozarebe” in Islam.
55 Al-Mofassal, vol.14, p.113
56 Sharh al-Akhbar, vol.3, p.15
57 Al-Mofassal, vol.14, p.122