ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Khadija-tul-kubra the Wife of the Holy Prophet Chapter 4 : the Marriage of Muhammed Mustafa (s) and Khadija The commercial expedition of Muhammed to Syria turned out to be the prelude of his marriage with Khadija. The translator and commentator of Quran Majid, Yusuf Ali, poses the following rhetorical question in this context: "Can we wonder at Jacob's re-union with Joseph, or that of Moses with Aaron, or of Muhammad Mustafa with the Lady Khadija?" No.

We cannot. It was the decree of Allah that two of his slaves - Muhammed and Khadija - should be united in marriage, and they were. It is reported that one of the close friends of Khadija was a high-born lady of Makka called Nafisa (or Nufaysa) the daughter of Munyah. She was aware that Khadija had turned down many proposals of marriage. At first she wondered if there was any man in Arabia who would come up to the standards set by her. She had discussed the matter many times with Khadija.

Finally, she had one more discussion with her which convinced her that she (Khadija) was not impressed by any man's wealth or rank or power. What really impressed Khadija, her friend gathered, was character - a sterling character. Khadija admired only a man of ethical and moral principles. Nafisa (or Nufaysa) also happened to know that there was such a man in Makka and his name was Muhammed.

It is reported that one day Muhammed was returning home from the Kaaba when Nafisa stopped him, and the following exchange took place between them: Nafisa: O Muhammed, you are a young man and you are single. Men who are much younger than you, are already married; some even have children. Why don't you marry? Muhammed: I cannot afford to marry; I am not rich enough to marry.

Nafisa: What would be your response if you could marry a woman of beauty, wealth, status and honor, notwithstanding your present poverty? Muhammed: Who could be such a woman? Nafisa: Such a woman is Khadija the daughter of Khuwayled. Muhammed: Khadija? How is it possible that Khadija would marry me? You know that many rich and powerful princes and chiefs of tribes proposed to her, and she rebuffed them all. Nafisa: If you are agreeable to marry her, you just say so, and leave the rest to me.

I shall arrange everything. Muhammed wished to inform his uncle and guardian, Abu Talib, about Nafisa's demarche, and to consult him in the matter before giving her an answer. Abu Talib knew Khadija as well as he knew his own nephew.