أحمد محمد لبن Ahmad.M.Lbn
مؤسس ومدير المنتدى
عدد المساهمات : 52691
العمر : 72
 | | موضوع: Khadijah bint-Khowayled الإثنين 12 فبراير 2018, 8:10 am | |
| Khadijah bint-Khowayled
Book 7
(Scene 1)
By the time Muhammad was 25 years old, he was well known throughout Makkah for his high integrity, virtue and honesty, so they called him “The Honest One”. Makkah was preparing for the departure of Khadijah bint-Khowayled's trade caravan. Khadijah was a rich noble of the Qurayshi tribes. She would hire men to go out and trade for her, loaning them money so that they may share with her trade and profits, and by that guaranteeing their loyalty.
Abu-Taleb met Muhammad one day and told him, “I am a poor man and these are hard times. There are more difficult years to come and we don't own any trade. The caravans are preparing to leave for the Levant and Khadijah bint-Khowayled is hiring men to go out with her trade and gain profit. If you go to her, she is sure to hire you, preferring you over others due to your reputation.” Muhammad replied, “Then maybe she will send for me.” “I am afraid she might hire another if you don't go to her first”, said Abu-Taleb. However, Muhammad wasn't going to ask anyone for favors or present himself to anyone unless they wanted him.
(Scene 2)
Abu-Taleb went to Khadijah and asked her, “Would you hire Muhammad?” Khadijah replied, “If you asked it for someone you didn’t like I would do it, so what is the case when it is for a close loved one?” Therefore, Khadijah sent for Muhammad and told him, “What is being told about the truth of your words, your honesty, and high morals has all led me to send for you. I will give you twice as much as anyone else.” Muhammad accepted to work for Khadijah, and went to tell his uncle, Abu-Taleb, what had just happened. “This is a blessing that God has sent you”, his uncle replied.
(Scene 3)
Muhammad got ready to leave with Khadijah's caravan and her slave Maisara. His uncles had come to bid him farewell and ask the other men to watch over him, as this was his first time to go out for trade alone. The caravan traveled for many days and nights. While Muhammad and Maisara exchanged conversation, Maisara grew fonder and fonder of Muhammad's speech and his virtues. When the caravan reached the market of Basra, Muhammad and Maisara went to sell Khadijah's merchandise.
At one time an argument took place between a man and Muhammad:
- “Swear by Al-Lat and Ozza,” said the man.
- “I have never sworn by them before,” replied Muhammad.
- The man was surprised because all the Arabs swore by the ancient gods.
- “It's your say…”
The man never again questioned Muhammad. He realized that this was no ordinary merchant, like the others who swore falsely by the names of their gods. The men sold all the goods and made huge profits. An overjoyed Maisara came to Muhammad saying, “Muhammad, we have traded for Khadijah for many years, but never have we made so much money before as we did because of you.”
(Scene 4)
Khadijah was standing in a high room when she saw the dust from the approaching camels, donkeys, and mules. She knew that the caravans were coming back from the Levant. It was time for their return. Khadijah's caravan, headed by Muhammad and Maisara, was returning. Maisara turned to Muhammad and asked, “Could you go first to Khadijah and tell her the good fortune Allah has given us because of you?”
It was noon when Khadijah, looking out of her room, saw him riding his camel towards her. She prepared to greet him. Muhammad, looking handsome, came in and started telling her of all that had happened throughout the journey and of all the money they made. Khadijah listened happily, feeling her heart opening up to him. When he was finished she asked him about Maisara. “I left him behind in the desert,” replied Muhammad. “Send for him. Tell him to hurry back,” said Khadijah. Muhammad had already told her of the profits they made, which were twice as much as she usually made. That wasn't why she wanted Maisara. She needed him to tell her of Muhammad's news and his stories throughout the journey.
(Scene 5)
Khadijah was in her forties. People were used to calling her “The Virtuous” and “The Lady of Quraysh”. She was a lady of beautiful white skin and a slightly full figure, with soft black hair and wide eyes. The nobles of Quraysh had constantly asked her hand in marriage, but she had turned them all down. She hadn’t found a man good enough among them. However, when she saw Muhammad, she fell in love with him and thought about marrying him, but didn’t know how to bring up the subject with him.
Muhammad and Maisara were always together going about her trades, and they became good friends. This gave her the idea of sending Maisara to Muhammad to bring about the subject of their marriage. So Maisara went to Muhammad and asked him, “Muhammad, what prevents you from taking a wife?” “I don't have enough money for marriage”, replied Muhammad. “What if you are spared that, and asked to marry someone with wealth, beauty, nobility and self sufficiency?” “Who is she?” asked Muhammad. “Khadijah”, replied Maisara. Muhammad couldn't believe his ears, “How am I to achieve that?” “Leave it all to me. I'll arrange for it”, Maisara told him.
(Scene 6)
Maisara told Khadijah about what had been said between him and Muhammad, and that Muhammad welcomed her hand in marriage. Khadijah was pleased and sent for Muhammad, “cousin, I have wanted you for the blood relation, the honor among your people, your honesty and high morals and the truth of your words”. Khadijah was in fact related to Muhammad. Qussay was grandfather to both of them. She agreed with him on what time he would come with his uncles to arrange for the wedding. On that set date, Muhammad came with his uncle Abu-Taleb, Hamza Ibn Abdul-Muttalib and the nobles of Quraysh, and found Khadijah's family waiting for them. Abu-Taleb stood up, “My nephew, Muhammad Ibn Abdullah, would outweigh any man by his honor and nobility, his virtue and wisdom. Even if he is short in wealth, money comes and goes. He has come to ask for your precious Khadijah's hand in marriage.”
Waraqa Ibn-Nawfal (a relative of Khadijah's) stood up and replied, “Let the tribes of Quraysh bear witness that I have betrothed Khadijah bint-Khowayled to Muhammad Ibn Abdullah.” But Abu-Taleb wanted to hear the approval from the man closest to Khadijah, “I would have liked to hear her uncle's consent.”
“Let the tribes of Quraysh bear witness that I have betrothed Khadijah bint-Khowayled to Muhammad Ibn Abdullah,” said her uncle. With that, all the men went to the feast that Muhammad had prepared, and Khadijah ordered her slave girls to dance and bang the drums. Hence, Muhammad “The Honest one” was betrothed to Khadijah “The Virtuous, The Lady of Quraysh”.
(Scene 7)
Quraysh had agreed upon renovating the Ka’ba, so all the tribes started to collect stones, each tribe on its own. They began rebuilding it. When they reached the place where the Black Stone should be laid down, they stopped. They argued as to which tribe should have the honor of replacing the stone. It was an argument which almost led to a fight. The nobles of Quraysh assembled to discuss how they were to solve this matter to avoid any conflicts or wars.
“People of Quraysh,” said one of them, “let the first man coming by judge between you.” They sat looking at the door and waited. To their joy the first to enter was Muhammad Ibn Abdullah. “It's The Honest one!” they cried, “We accept his judgment. It's Muhammad”, they said. They told him of the whole matter and he said, “Come, get me some cloth.” When they got him the cloth, he lifted the stone with his noble hands and placed it unto the cloth then said, “Let each tribe carry the cloth from one corner and then raise it together.”
So each tribe took one end of the cloth and carried the stone together to its place. When they reached it, Muhammad lifted the stone and placed it with his hands then built over it. All of the tribes of Quraysh were satisfied with what he had done, because he had given them all a share in the honor of raising the Black Stone, without strife or war. His wisdom had saved them a great deal of evil, as wars were made over the smallest reasons at that time. |
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