Khadijah bint Khuwaylid
The First Believer and Noble Supporter
Who was she?
Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, , was a respected merchant in Mecca known for wisdom, integrity, and generosity. She employed the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in trade and, impressed by his honesty, proposed marriage to him. She became his first wife and the first person to believe in his prophethood when revelation began in the cave of Hira. At a moment of fear and uncertainty, she comforted him with faith and reassurance, affirming that Allah would never disgrace him because of his noble character. She endured the boycott and persecution alongside him, spending her wealth to support the early Muslims. Muslims honor her as the Mother of the Believers and a model of loyal partnership in faith.
The Story
Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, , was born into a noble family of Quraysh in Mecca. After the death of her husband, she managed her own trade business with skill and reputation for fairness. When she needed a trustworthy agent, she chose Muhammad ibn Abdullah ﷺ, who was already known among his people as Al-Amin, the Trustworthy.
His successful journey on her behalf deepened her admiration. Khadijah sent a proposal of marriage through a friend, and the Prophet ﷺ accepted. Their union was marked by love, respect, and shared values long before prophethood began. She was older than him and had children from a previous marriage, yet their home became a place of tranquility and mutual support.
When the Prophet ﷺ received the first revelation in the cave of Hira, he returned trembling and fearful. Khadijah wrapped him in a cloak and listened as he described what had happened. She responded with words that became immortal in Islamic memory: she testified that he maintained family ties, bore others' burdens, helped the poor, and honored guests. Therefore, she said, Allah would never forsake him.
She then took him to her cousin Waraqah ibn Nawfal, a scholar of scripture, who confirmed that what had come was the same revelation given to Moses. Khadijah thus became the first believer, before any man or community leader accepted Islam. Her faith at that critical hour stabilized the beginning of the prophetic mission.
During the years of persecution in Mecca, Khadijah spent freely to protect and sustain the Muslims. She endured the boycott in the valley of Abu Talib, facing hunger and isolation. The Prophet ﷺ later said that she believed in him when others disbelieved, supported him with her wealth when others withheld, and granted him her children in marriage when others refused honor to his family.
Khadijah passed away in Mecca before the Hijrah, in a year the Prophet ﷺ called the Year of Sorrow because he lost both her and his uncle Abu Talib. Though she did not live to see Medina, every Muslim generation remembers her as the first supporter of Islam and the embodiment of faithful companionship, courage, and trust in Allah.
This introductory historical overview is provided for education. For deeper study, consult reliable academic and primary sources.