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The Messenger of Allah (S) married Lady Khadija
at the age of twenty-five, while Khadija herself was forty years old. Yet
some historians allege that she was twenty-five, and still others claim
that she was twenty-eight years old.
It is also said that she had two previous marriages
before marrying the Prophet (S) some historians dispute this and
indicate that she was a virgin when He (S) married her. This last claim
is not common.
The Prophet's marriage to Khadija was not a usual
one, it was a unique marriage because it was not initiated as a result
of a love relationship, nor was there material or political motives behind
it, which was commonplace among the elite classes. In fact, there was no
correspondence between the Prophet's economical position and that of Khadija's.
On one hand, the Messenger was sponsored by his poor uncle, Abu Talib and
on the other hand, Khadija was the wealthiest lady in Mecca. Thus, there
was an evident gap between them in this peculiarity.
Khadija heard that the Prophet had a bright and sacred
future ahead of him-perhaps she heard this from her servant Maisarah, who
informed her of what had happened to the Messenger during a commercial
trip to Syria in which he had worked for her. Or perhaps he conveyed to
her what the monk in Busra said about the future of the Prophet-upon learning
this, Lady Khadija suggested that prophet Muhammad (S) marry her, and urged
him to ask for her hand from her Father, Khuwaylid (according to some historians
it was her uncle).
The Prophet, who preferred to marry a poor woman from
his own economical class, apologized to Khadija and refused her request.
But she, being a wise, reasonable, and honorable woman informed him that
she was ready to grant him herself and that property was not a difficult
thing to put at his disposal. So she once again urged him to send his uncles
to ask for her hand from her Father, Khuwaylid.
The Prophet's uncles and aunts were astonished at
this news; a very wealthy lady who sponsors hundreds of people, and tens
of men work for her in her property and trade for her throughout the summer
and winter seasons, between Yemen, Mecca and Syria; a great Lady whom the
noblemen had asked to marry, but she had refused them all, giving herself
to a poor Quraishan young man, sponsored by his poor uncle, Abu Talib!!
Could she have been honest in doing so?! Could this news be true? Safiya
bint Abdul Muttalib (the Prophet's aunt) rushed to Khadija's house to validate
the news. She was warmly welcomed by Khadija who informed her of her earnest
desire to do so.