Marriage to Khadijah رضي الله عنها
This chapter explains the blessed marriage of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to Khadijah bint Khuwaylid رضي الله عنها: who she was, why she trusted him with her trade, how the proposal happened, their family life, and why her role became central when revelation began.
When This Happened
The marriage took place before Prophethood, during the Prophet’s ﷺ youth, after his honesty and trustworthiness had already become known in Makkah.
About age 25
The Prophet ﷺ is commonly mentioned in Seerah reports as being about 25 years old when he married Khadijah رضي الله عنها.
This was before revelation began, before public dawah, and before the trials of the Makkah mission.
Around 595 CE
Using the common birth estimate around 570 CE, this marriage is commonly placed around 595 CE, in the 6th century CE.
The exact CE year is an estimate, so this page does not force a precise date.
Makkah
This marriage happened in Makkah, among Quraysh, before the Qur'an began to be revealed.
It became one of the most important relationships in the early Seerah.
Why This Marriage Matters
This marriage was not just a personal event before Prophethood. Allah placed Khadijah رضي الله عنها in the Prophet’s ﷺ life before the first revelation, before the fear and trembling of Ghar Hira, and before Quraysh began to oppose the message.
When the world had not yet heard the Qur'an from him, she already knew his truthfulness. When the first revelation came and the weight of Prophethood shook him, he returned to a home where Allah had placed wisdom, love, honour, and belief.
For this reason, Khadijah رضي الله عنها is not a side character in the Seerah. She is the first believer, the first comfort after revelation, the mother of most of his children, and one of the greatest women of this Ummah.
Who Was Khadijah رضي الله عنها?
Khadijah رضي الله عنها had honour, maturity, intelligence, and respected standing in Makkah before her marriage to the Prophet ﷺ.
Khadijah bint Khuwaylid
She was Khadijah bint Khuwaylid رضي الله عنها, from Quraysh. She belonged to a noble family and was respected for her character, wealth, and wisdom.
Historical reports mention that she had been married before. The exact details of age and some biographical details are discussed by historians, so this page avoids forcing disputed numbers.
A respected businesswoman
Khadijah رضي الله عنها was known for trade. She would employ trustworthy men to conduct trade on her behalf and give them a share of the profit.
Her wealth did not make her careless. She looked for honesty, reliability, and noble conduct. That is what brought her attention to Muhammad ﷺ.
Honour Is With Taqwa
إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ
Meaning: “Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.”
Qur'an 49:13The Trade Journey and Maysarah
This part of the story is found in Seerah reports. It explains how Khadijah رضي الله عنها saw the Prophet’s ﷺ honesty more closely.
She entrusted him with trade
Khadijah رضي الله عنها heard of the Prophet’s ﷺ truthfulness and trustworthiness, so she offered him the opportunity to take her goods for trade. This was before Prophethood.
The journey toward Syria
Seerah reports mention that he travelled with her trade goods toward Syria. Her servant Maysarah accompanied him and observed his conduct during the journey.
Maysarah reported what he saw
Maysarah reported the Prophet’s ﷺ honesty, noble manners, and trustworthy dealing. These reports increased Khadijah’s رضي الله عنها respect for him.
His character mattered more than wealth
He was not chosen because of worldly power. He was known for truthfulness. Khadijah رضي الله عنها recognized a kind of trust that money cannot create.
What We Should Not Exaggerate
Some versions of the trade journey mention extraordinary signs. Because details differ in Seerah narrations and not all reports have the same strength, this page keeps the focus on what is safe and central: his honesty, his trustworthy conduct, and Khadijah’s رضي الله عنها respect for his character.
The truth of the Prophet ﷺ does not depend on weak or dramatic additions. Allah had already made his character visible among Quraysh. He was al-Amin before revelation.
The Proposal and Marriage
The details of who spoke first and how the proposal was arranged are found in Seerah reports. They should be taught beautifully but carefully.
Khadijah رضي الله عنها chose character
After hearing about his honesty and conduct, Khadijah رضي الله عنها desired marriage to him. Reports mention that Nafisah bint Munyah helped speak about the matter.
This is a powerful lesson: she was a respected woman of wealth and status, yet what drew her was truthfulness, trust, and noble character. In Islam, these are not small qualities. They are foundations of a blessed life.
Family involvement and honour
Seerah reports mention family involvement in the marriage from both sides. The marriage took place honourably in Makkah.
Some details, such as the exact mahr amount and the exact age of Khadijah رضي الله عنها at marriage, are reported differently by historians. This page does not present disputed details as certain.
Dua for Righteous Family
رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا
Meaning: “Our Lord, grant us from among our spouses and offspring comfort to our eyes, and make us an example for the righteous.”
Qur'an 25:74Their Home Before Revelation
Their marriage was marked by loyalty, family, trust, and dignity before the first revelation came.
He did not marry anyone else during her lifetime
The Prophet ﷺ remained married to Khadijah رضي الله عنها alone during her lifetime. This is an important point in the Seerah because it shows the special place and stability of this marriage.
For many years, she was his only wife, his household companion, and later the first person to support him when revelation began.
Their children
The children of the Prophet ﷺ through Khadijah رضي الله عنها are commonly mentioned as al-Qasim, Zaynab, Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthum, Fatimah, and Abdullah رضي الله عنهم. His son Ibrahim رضي الله عنه was later born to Mariyah رضي الله عنها in Madinah.
The Prophet ﷺ was also known by the kunyah Abu al-Qasim, connected to his son al-Qasim. This family life carried love, tenderness, fatherhood, and real tests. Seerah and biographical reports mention that al-Qasim and Abdullah رضي الله عنهما returned to Allah in childhood in the Makkan period.
The exact timing and some naming details around Abdullah رضي الله عنه, who is also connected in reports with the names al-Tayyib and al-Tahir, are discussed in historical works. So this page mentions the event carefully and keeps the fuller family details for the dedicated Children of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ page.
Seerah and biographical reports in Ibn Hisham and Ibn Sa'd; exact timing is not forcedKhadijah رضي الله عنها at the First Revelation
The greatness of this marriage becomes especially clear at Ghar Hira. When Jibril عليه السلام came with the first revelation, the Prophet ﷺ returned home trembling and asked to be covered. Khadijah رضي الله عنها covered him and comforted him.
She did not dismiss him, accuse him, or treat the event as confusion. She reminded him of his character: that he upheld family ties, carried the burdens of others, helped the needy, honoured guests, and supported truth. Her words are preserved in Sahih al-Bukhari.
She then took him to Waraqah ibn Nawfal, who recognized that the angel who came to him was the same angelic messenger who had come to Musa عليه السلام. This moment shows her wisdom and steadiness.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3The First Believer
Khadijah رضي الله عنها is known as the first person to believe in the Prophet ﷺ. She believed when the matter was new, when no public strength existed, and when the Prophet ﷺ was carrying the first weight of revelation.
Her faith was not late applause after success. It was early certainty at the beginning of hardship. This is one of the reasons her rank is so great.
Support with heart, home, and wealth
She supported the Prophet ﷺ with belief, comfort, honour, and wealth. She stood beside him while Quraysh mocked and opposed the message.
During the most fragile beginning of Islam, Allah placed beside His Messenger ﷺ a wife whose support was steady, intelligent, and full of faith.
Her Virtues and Honour
The virtues of Khadijah رضي الله عنها are not vague praise. They are found in authentic hadith.
Salam from Allah and Jibril عليه السلام
Authentic hadith mentions that Jibril عليه السلام came to the Prophet ﷺ and told him to give Khadijah رضي الله عنها salam from her Lord and from Jibril, with glad tidings of a house in Paradise.
This is one of the greatest honours given to her.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3820 and Sahih Muslim 2432Among the best women
Authentic reports mention Khadijah رضي الله عنها among the best women. She is remembered with Maryam عليها السلام, Asiyah, and Fatimah رضي الله عنها in reports of virtue.
Her greatness is tied to faith, sacrifice, certainty, and support for revelation.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3432 and Sahih Muslim 2430The Prophet ﷺ Remembered Her with Love
After Khadijah رضي الله عنها returned to Allah, the Prophet ﷺ continued to remember her. He honoured her friends and spoke of her with love. This loyalty shows that her place in his heart was not erased by time.
Reports mention that Aishah رضي الله عنها heard the Prophet ﷺ remember Khadijah رضي الله عنها often. This tells us that Khadijah’s support left a permanent mark in the Seerah.
A believer should not read this only as a marriage story. It is a story of loyalty, gratitude, and honouring the people who stood with truth when truth was lonely.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3818Important Points to Keep Clear
This chapter avoids overclaiming where reports differ.
Her exact age is disputed
Many books mention 40, while other historical reports mention different ages. This page does not force a disputed number.
The trade journey is Seerah material
Maysarah and the trade journey are written as Seerah reports, not as Qur'anic verses or hadith from the most authentic collections.
Her virtues have hadith proof
Her salam from Allah and Jibril عليه السلام, her house in Paradise, and her high rank are supported by authentic hadith.
Lessons from This Marriage
This marriage teaches more than family history. It teaches what kind of support Allah may place beside a great mission.
Choose character
Khadijah رضي الله عنها saw truthfulness and trust. A blessed marriage is not built only on wealth or appearance.
Support can be worship
Her comfort, wealth, wisdom, and loyalty became support for the message of Allah.
Early faith has a special rank
She believed at the beginning, before public strength and before worldly victory. That early certainty is part of her honour.
What This Stage Leads To
After this marriage, the Prophet ﷺ lived years of family life, honesty, reflection, and preparation before revelation began.
Life with Khadijah رضي الله عنها
The next stage covers the years before Prophethood, including family life, the rebuilding of the Ka'bah, and the Prophet’s ﷺ growing love of solitude before revelation.
Life Before Prophethood
The next page prepares the reader for Ghar Hira and the first revelation by showing the years between marriage and Prophethood.
References Used in This Chapter
Every major claim is tied to Qur'an, hadith, or named Seerah reports.
- Qur'an 49:13: true honour is with righteousness.
- Qur'an 25:74: dua for righteous spouses and offspring.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 3: Khadijah’s رضي الله عنها support after the first revelation and the visit to Waraqah ibn Nawfal.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 3820 and Sahih Muslim 2432: salam from Allah and Jibril عليه السلام to Khadijah رضي الله عنها and glad tidings of a house in Paradise.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 3432 and Sahih Muslim 2430: reports about the best women and the virtue of Khadijah رضي الله عنها.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 3818: the Prophet’s ﷺ remembrance and loyalty toward Khadijah رضي الله عنها.
- Seerah reports: her trade, Maysarah, the journey toward Syria, Nafisah bint Munyah, proposal details, family involvement, mahr reports, age reports, the children born to the Prophet ﷺ and Khadijah رضي الله عنها, and al-Qasim and Abdullah رضي الله عنهما returning to Allah in childhood are found in early Seerah and biographical works such as Ibn Hisham’s Al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah and Ibn Sa'd’s Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra.
- Content note: some details such as Khadijah’s رضي الله عنها exact age, mahr amount, and proposal sequence differ in historical works. This page does not present disputed details as certain.