Islam : Course Content

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Islam Course Content

• Significant People and Ideas
• Explain the contribution to the development of
  Islam of Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid (555-619)
• Analyse the effect of this person

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Islam Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid

• Came from a noble family
• Her father, Khuwayld, had been one of the most
  honoured men in his tribe he was killed in
  battle
• Born in Mecca

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Islam Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid

• Also known as al-Tahira meaning The Pure One.
• Was a rich widow who had been married twice
• Many of the most important nobles of the Quraysh
  had proposed to her, but she had refused each of
  them.

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Islam Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid

• It is said that when Qurayshs trade caravans
  gathered to embark on their lengthy and arduous
  journey either to Syria during the summer or
  Yemen during the winter, Khadijahs caravans
  equalled all the caravans of all the other
  traders of Quraysh put together.

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Islam Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid

• Hired Muhammad, who was a distant cousin, as her
  agent because of his reputation for honesty and
  trustworthiness.
• He returned from his trading in foodstuffs and
  manufactured clothing with a handsome profit

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Islam Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid

• This business relationship assisted in enhancing
  Khadijahs wealth
• It is said that Khadijah used part of her money
  to clothe the poor, assist her relatives
  financially and even provide for the marriage of
  some of her kin

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Islam Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid

• With the passing of time, this business
  relationship developed into a more deeply
  personal one.
• When Muhammad was 25 and Khadijah was 40, she
  proposed the idea of marriage to him. He accepted
  and they were wed in 595.

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Islam Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid

• Khadijah is honoured for two reasons
• She was the first of Muhammads wives and
  supported him as he was receiving the revelations
  from Allah and spreading the message of peaceful
  submission to Islam

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Islam Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid

• 2. Within that support, she was the first Muslim,
  the first human, who followed the call of
  Muhammad to submit to the will of Allah

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Islam Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid

• According to Islamic tradition, Muhammad loved
  Khadijah so much that he did not have any more
  wives (contrary to tradition) until after her
  death.
• He is reported to have said The best of the
  women of her times was Khadijah, daughter of
  Khuwaylid.

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Islam Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid

• They had six children, 2 boys and 4 girls.
  Unfortunately only one, Fatima, survived to have
  children herself. So it is through her family
  that the direct line of Muhammad can be traced.

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Islam Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid

• It became Muhammads habit, in the month of
  Ramadan, to go into seclusion to reflect and pray
  in a cave on Mt Hira (the mountain of light) near
  Mecca
• Tradition tells us that Khadijah provide food and
  drink for Muhammad during this retreat period.

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Islam Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid

• At the end of one of these times, when he was 40
  and she 55, Muhammad returned home in a state of
  fear
• He explained how the angel Jibril had appeared to
  him telling him to Read. Although unable to
  read or write, Muhammad asked Jibril what to
  read. His reply was

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Islam Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid

• Read in the name of your Lord who created,
  created man from a clot, Read and your Lord is
  the Most Gracious, who taught with a pen, taught
  man what he did not know.
• Quran 96 1-5
• Khadijah was not afraid and reassured Muhammad by
  responding

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Islam Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid

• Allah would never humiliate you, for you are
  good to your relatives, you are true to your
  word, you help those who are in need, you support
  the weak, you feed the guest and you answer the
  call of those in distress.
• Muhammad was known in Mecca as al-Amin the
  trustworthy one.

Shahada I testify that there is no god but
God. And I testify that Muhammad is the
Messenger of God.
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Islam Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid

• This was the beginnings of the revelations of
  Allah to Muhammad the beginning of the Quran
• Understandably Muhammad was fearful of the vision
  and the task before him and his ability to fulfil
  Gods will.

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Islam Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid

• Khadijah supported him in this task, helping him
  realise that he was the chosen one.
• She actively showed her support and expressed her
  faith in public
• She witnessed that there was no god but Allah and
  continued witnessing that Muhammad is the
  Messenger of Allah

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Islam Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid

• This was not a welcome message because the
  Quraysh society had been a polytheistic one the
  Ka aba stone in Mecca was the home of 360 idols,
  both male and female

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Islam Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid

• Muhammad and Khadijah faced opposition and
  harrassment form the Quraysh people in Mecca for
  their belief in one God
• About 7 years after the initial revelation, they
  and their followers were expelled from Mecca. For
  three years they camped in the mountains nearby.

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Islam Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid

• Khadijah also helped free slaves who had
  converted to Islam and, with her wealth, helped
  to feed, shelter and provide welfare to the
  fledgling Muslim community.
• There is a saying Islam did not rise except
  through Alis sword and Khadijahs wealth.

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Islam Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid

• At the end of these three years, the boycott was
  lifted and the Muslims were allowed to re-enter
  Mecca.
• That time must have taken its toll on Khadijahs
  health because a few months later she died, aged
  65.

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Islam Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid

• Among Khadijahs merits, it is said that Allah
  told Jibril to convey His regards to her. Jibril
  said to Muhammad O, Muhammad! Khadijah is
  bringing you a bowl of food when she comes to
  you, tell her that her Lord greets her, and
  convey my greeting too to her.
• When he did so, she said Allah is the Peace,
  and He is the source of all peace, and upon
  Jibril be peace.

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Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid Effects

• Muslim women consider it a great honour that the
  first person to follow and support Muhammad was
  a woman.
• Khadijah is the first witness to Allah.
• The prophet is quoted as saying She believed in
  me when no-one else did she accepted Islam when
  people rejected me and she helped and comforted
  me when there was no-one else to lend me a
  helping hand.

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Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid Effects

• Khadijah was born into a male dominated and
  chauvinistic society. Her family name, wealth and
  business acumen, helped her to be accepted by
  men.
• She gave generously helped feed and clothe the
  poor.
• Muslims believe that Khadijah is one of the four
  most perfect of all women, the other three being
  Fatimah (daughter of Muhammad), Maryam (Mary,
  mother of Jesus), and Ishba (Elizabeth, mother of
  Yahya or John the Baptist)

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Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid Impact

• Khadijah changed her mental attitude and approach
  to life. She was formerly a rich business woman
  who, while ethical, was bent on accumulating more
  wealth. After accepting Allahs words, her wealth
  was a means of furthering Islam.
• Khadijah not only believed, she lived out her
  beliefs. Her faith became a moral imperative,
  driving her actions, such as help for the poor.
• Khadijah knew what she was doing was right and
  presented her support of Muhammad in a way which
  encouraged others to do the same. Thus she was an
  evangelist for her faith.

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Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid Impact

• Khadijahs support of Muhammad helped the spread
  of Islam.
• The concept of the Umma or community of faith
  began with her and the support she gave Muhammad
• Khadijahs example is well known throughout the
  Muslim world and, regardless of the school of
  Islam, all Muslims revere her memory and try to
  follow her example in her support of Muhammad and
  loyalty to the teachings of Allah

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Khadijah Bint Khuwaylid Impact

• Khadijahs life is an example which shows that,
  regardless of how focused you are on worldly
  pursuits, there is always an opportunity to
  change and make amends
• Khadijahs example shows that people need to put
  belief into action if they are going to be true
  to their faith.

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Khadijahs Legacy

• MATERIAL WEALTH - Gave all her money to help
  spread the message of Islam
• SUPPORT Supported Muhammad in his aim to spread
  the message of Islam
• DISCIPLESHIP First person to submit to the will
  of Allah and proclaim that Muhammad was His
  prophet