Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (A.S)

Women of Truth

Khadijah bint Khuwaylid was the first wife of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) and the first believer in Islam. She was a successful merchant, a noblewoman of Quraysh, and one of the most important women in Islamic history. Her legacy stands at the root of the Islamic movement. Her wealth, character, and belief gave strength to the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) during the most difficult years of his mission.

The exact year Khadijah (a.s) was born is not known with certainty. Her death, however, is confirmed to have occurred in 619 CE. This was the same year the Prophet (s.a.w)’s uncle Abu Talib died, and it became known as ‘Am al-Huzn, the Year of Sorrow.

Historical sources differ on how old she was at the time of her death. The widely repeated claim that she was 65 years old comes from early seerah compilations, such as Ibn Sa'd's Tabaqat al-Kubra and Ibn Ishaq's Sirat Rasul Allah, though the isnad (chain of transmission) for this specific age is weak and not classified as authentic by hadith scholars. These works mention she was 40 when she married the Prophet (s.a.w), and that she remained with him for 25 years, leading to the 65-year conclusion.

Other reports and modern analyses suggest she was closer to 50 or 55 years old at death. Researchers like Shaykh Nasir al-Din al-Albani (in Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Da‘ifah) and contemporary Islamic historians argue that the age of 40 at marriage lacks a reliable source and does not align well with other details in her life.

There are several historical and biological clues that support the argument for a younger age at marriage:

1. She gave birth to six children, including four daughters who lived until adulthood. It is biologically uncommon, especially in 7th-century Arabia, for a woman to give birth to that many children starting at age 40.

2. The births were spaced across many years, from shortly after marriage until just a few years before her death. This implies childbearing well into her 50s if we accept the 40-year claim, which is unlikely given the physical norms of the time.

3. There is no sahih hadith stating her age at marriage or death. All reports about her being 40 come through non-prophetic seerah accounts without sound isnad.

4. Some classical scholars, including Ibn Kathir, mention the 40-year claim but do not assert it as a confirmed fact. He presents it as a view reported by others, not as a verified conclusion (Al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah).

5. The Prophet (s.a.w)’s deep love and long monogamous marriage with her may have also been used by later writers to emphasize her age gap, possibly to highlight her maturity or moral leadership, even if the age itself was inaccurately reported.

Taking all this into account, scholars today estimate that her actual age at marriage was more likely between 28 and 35 years old, which places her birth between approximately 584 and 591 CE. This also means she would have been in her early to mid-50s at the time of her death in 619 CE.

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What is clear is that she was born in Makkah to a noble and respected family. Her father, Khuwaylid ibn Asad, was a successful merchant from the Banu Asad clan of Quraysh. Her mother, Fatimah bint Za’idah, also came from a high-ranking Qurayshi family. Her household was known for its wealth, influence, and strong moral values. Her father, Khuwaylid ibn Asad, was a respected Qurayshi merchant and tribal leader from the Banu Asad clan. Her mother, Fatimah bint Za’idah, also came from a noble family in Quraysh. Khadijah’s family was known for wealth, influence, and strong morals.

She grew up witnessing trade and leadership. When her father passed away, she inherited both his wealth and his position in business.

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