How Did the Prophet (PBUH) Marry Khadijah (May Allah Be Pleased With Her)?
كيف تزوج الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم من السيدة خديجة رضي الله عنها؟
When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) returned to Mecca from his trade trip, and Khadijah saw in her money an honesty and a blessing that she had not seen before, and her servant, Maysarah, told her about the qualities of the Prophet pbuh which he had seen during the trade trip, his honesty and wisdom, she spoke with her friend Nafisah bint Munyah about her feelings towards the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), so Nafisah went to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), suggesting that he marry Khadijah, so he accepted, and spoke to his uncles. His uncles went to Khadijah’s uncle and asked for her hand in marriage, and the marriage took place. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was twenty-five years old and Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) was forty, and he did not marry another woman until she died.
عندما عاد الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم إلى مكة، ورأت خديجة في مالها من الأمانة والبركة ما لم تر قبل هذا، وأخبرها غلامها ميسرة بما رأى فيه من فكر راجح، ونهج أمين، فتحدثت مع صديقتها نفيسة بنت منية، بما في نفسها من ناحية الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم، فذهبت نفيسة إلى الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم، تفاتحه أن يتزوج خديجة، فرضي بذلك، وكلم أعمامه، فذهبوا إلى عم خديجة وخطبوها إليه، وتم الزواج، وكان عمر الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم، خمسة وعشرين عاما، وكان عمر خديجة رضي الله عنها أربعين عاما، ولم يتزوج عليها حتى ماتت.
1. Maysarah's Glowing Testimony of Nobility | شهادة الغلام ميسرة بصدق وأمانة المصطفى
Ibn Ishaq reports that on the journey a monk told Maysarah that only a prophet had ever sat beneath the tree where Muhammad ﷺ rested, and that Maysarah, as the story goes, saw two angels shading him from the midday sun. Back in Mecca, Maysarah told Khadijah all of this.
ذكر ابن إسحاق أن راهبًا قال لميسرة في الرحلة: ما نزل تحت هذه الشجرة إلا نبي، وأن ميسرة كان فيما يزعمون يرى ملكين يظلانه من الشمس إذا اشتد الحر، فلما قدم مكة حدث خديجة بذلك كله.
2. Khadijah Initiates the Marriage Proposal | السيدة خديجة تبادر بطلب الاقتران الشريف
In Ibn Ishaq's account, Khadijah was a resolute, noble and intelligent woman, of the best lineage and the greatest wealth in Quraysh, and many of her people wished to marry her. She sent to him: "Cousin, I want you for your kinship with me, your standing among your people, your trustworthiness, your good character and your truthful speech." The scholar's answer says her friend Nafisah bint Munyah carried the proposal to him.
وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا لِّتَسْكُنُوا إِلَيْهَا (سورة الروم: 21)
وفي رواية ابن إسحاق أن خديجة كانت امرأة حازمة شريفة لبيبة، أوسط نساء قريش نسبًا وأعظمهن شرفًا وأكثرهن مالًا، وكل قومها كان حريصًا على الزواج منها، فبعثت إليه فقالت: يا ابن عم، إني قد رغبت فيك لقرابتك وسطتك في قومك وأمانتك وحسن خلقك وصدق حديثك. ويذكر الشيخ أن صديقتها نفيسة بنت منية هي التي فاتحته.
3. The Proposal and Her Guardian | الخطبة ووليها في الزواج
He told his uncles, and Ibn Ishaq says his uncle Hamzah (may Allah be pleased with him) went with him to Khadijah's father, Khuwaylid ibn Asad. Other reports, which Ibn Kathir quotes, say it was her uncle Amr ibn Asad who gave her in marriage, the view al-Mu'ammali calls agreed upon, and the scholar's answer also names her uncle. Ibn Hisham says the bride-gift was twenty young camels.
وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُم مَّوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً (سورة الروم: 21)
ذكر ذلك لأعمامه، فقال ابن إسحاق: خرج معه عمه حمزة حتى دخل على خويلد بن أسد فخطبها إليه. وفي روايات أوردها ابن كثير أن عمها عمرو بن أسد هو الذي زوجها، وقال المؤملي: هذا المجتمع عليه، وفي جواب الشيخ أنهم خطبوها إلى عمها. وقال ابن هشام: أصدقها عشرين بكرة.
4. No Other Wife in Her Lifetime | لم يتزوج عليها حتى ماتت
Ibn Hisham gives the Prophet's age at the marriage as twenty-five, and Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet ﷺ did not marry any other woman until Khadijah died (Sahih Muslim 2436). She bore him all his children except Ibrahim, Ibn Ishaq says. Her age is less certain: the scholar gives forty, while Ibn Kathir also quotes reports of thirty-five and twenty-five.
قال ابن هشام: كان عمره حين تزوج خديجة خمسًا وعشرين سنة، وقالت عائشة: «لم يتزوج النبي ﷺ على خديجة حتى ماتت» (صحيح مسلم 2436)، وقال ابن إسحاق: ولدت له ولده كلهم إلا إبراهيم. أما عمرها فأربعون سنة في جواب الشيخ، وأورد ابن كثير روايات بأنها خمس وثلاثون، وقيل خمس وعشرون.
5. Her Pivotal Role at the Advent of Revelation | نصرتها الحكيمة للمصطفى عند مطلع الوحي
When the first revelation came in the cave of Hira and he came home frightened, it was Khadijah who reassured him: "Never! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You keep the ties of kinship, you bear the burdens of the weak, you give to the destitute, you honour your guests, and you help those struck by misfortune" (Sahih al-Bukhari 3).
يُثَبِّتُ اللَّـهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِالْقَوْلِ الثَّابِتِ (سورة إبراهيم: 27)
ولما نزل الوحي في غار حراء ورجع ﷺ فزعًا، ثبتته خديجة بقولها: «كلا والله ما يخزيك الله أبدًا، إنك لتصل الرحم، وتحمل الكل، وتكسب المعدوم، وتقري الضيف، وتعين على نوائب الحق» (صحيح البخاري 3).
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
How did Khadijah become interested in marrying Prophet Muhammad?
She was impressed by his exceptional honesty, moral integrity, and commercial success reported by her servant Maysarah.
Who acted as the intermediary to propose the marriage?
Nafisah bint Munyah, a trusted close friend of Khadijah.
How old were Prophet Muhammad and Khadijah at the time of their marriage?
The Prophet was twenty-five. The scholar gives Khadijah's age as forty; other reports quoted by Ibn Kathir say thirty-five or twenty-five.
Did the Prophet marry any other woman while Khadijah was alive?
No. Aisha said he did not marry anyone else while Khadijah was alive (Sahih Muslim 2436).