The Bride's Boon
The Ideal Wife
Prophetic Hadiths:
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said, Once Jibreel came to the Prophet (pbuh) and said to him, 0 Messenger of Allah! This is Khadija coming to you carrying a utensil containing food or drink. Would you please pass Allah’s greetings to her when she comes, and tell her that she will live in a house of jewelry in Paradise where there is no noise or toil.
[Reported by Muslim]
Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her), the first wife of the Prophet (pbuh) was the most rational and descent woman in Quraish tribe. She preferred to marry the Prophet (pbuh) before his Messengership because of the integrity and the good manners he had. She preferred him to all prominent leaders of Quraish who wanted to marry her.
Muhammed was inclined, as Allah willed, to worship in solitude. He kept on worshipping Allah in this manner in a cave on Mount Hira for a month every year. He used to stay there for some days living on little provision away from the vain talk and the amusement of the people of Makka who worshipped idols.
The Messenger of Allah kept doing that for a period of time. Then came Jibreel (peace be upon him) with Allah's blessings while Muhammad was in Hira' in Ramadan. Having received Allah's revelation, he went home scared, pale and trembling. He said, "Cover me, cover me." After she knew what had happened, he said to her, "I am scared, Khadija" This rational wife replied,
"May Allah look after us, Abul-Qasim, what good news, my cousin. So be steadfast. By Whom in Whose hand is Khadija's soul I think that you are the Prophet of this nation. By Allah, Allah will never let you lose. You keep good terms with your relatives, are truthful, help the weak, are a good host to your guests and help the afflicted."
Khadija was the first to believe in Allah and His Messenger and to embrace Islam. This faithful and loving wife supported her husband, the Prophet (pbuh), and helped him endure the most severe kinds of torture and persecution. Then, she relieved him when he was hurt or rejected. When they called him a liar, she alone remained true. Then the Qur'anic verses were revealed:
{O thou wrapped up (in a mantle)! Arise and deliver thy warning! And thy Lord do thou magnify! And the garments keep free from stain! And all abomination shun! Nor expect, in giving, any increase (for thyself)! But, for thy Lord's (cause) be patient and constant!}
[Al-Muddathir: 1-7]
The Prophet, the Faithful Husband
Prophetic Hadiths:
'Aisha, the Mother of the Believers narrated,
"Once an old woman visited the Prophet (pbuh) He asked her, "Who are you'?" She replied, Juthama al-Mazniyya." "Thus, you are Hassanah! How are you!? And how do you do after us? The Prophet said. The woman said, Well, I sacrifice you with my father and mother. When she left, 'Aisha asked him about the woman to know the reason for his hospitality towards that old woman'? Then, the Prophet told her that she often used to visit us during the life of Khadija. He added, "Loyalty is of belief"
[Reported by Al-Hakim]
'Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) also said,
I was never jealous of any of the Prophet's wives (pbuh) except Khadija. I never saw her, but the Prophet (pbuh) kept remembering her. Sometimes he used to slaughter a lamb, cut it up into pieces, and distribute them as donations for the memory of Khadijah. Once I said, it seems to me that there is never existed any woman in this world except Khadija. Then, the Prophet) pbuh) would say: she was so and so and she had given me offspring".
[Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
'Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) also said,
"I was never, jealous of any of the Prophet's wives (pbuh) except Khadija because the Prophet frequently remembered her. One day, he remembered her, therefore I said, What do you do with an old woman, and Allah favored you with someone better than her (meaning herself)'? The Prophet (pbuh) said, "No, by Allah! He does not give me a better one than her.[1] She believed me while people disbelieved. When they called me a liar, she alone remained true. She enriched me when people deprived me. Allah has favored her with my offspring, and from nobody else.
[Reported by Al-Bukhari]
The Prophet (pbuh) also said,
The best woman is Marayam bint `Imran. The best woman in is Khadija bint Khuailid (and he pointed to the heaven and the earth).
[Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
[1] Such kind treatment to Khadija in her life and after her death indicates the Prophet's noble morals and loyalty. Although she was older than him and' Aisha was younger, beautiful and knowledgeable the Prophet kept loyal to her memory throughout his lifetime. Moreover, he did not marry again during her life. Then' Aisha said to herself, "Never shall I mention anything concerning this issue thereafter" Actually, such Prophetic behavior should be an example for all spouses allover the world.