Khadijah bint Khuwaylid was a wealthy and respected businesswoman in Mecca. She was known for her intelligence, independence, and integrity. She hired Muhammad to manage some of her trade caravans and was so impressed by his honesty and character that she proposed marriage to him.
At the time of their marriage, Khadijah was about 40 years old and Muhammad was around 25. Their relationship was strong, loving, and monogamous. She supported him emotionally and financially during the difficult early years of his prophethood.
When Muhammad received his first revelation from the angel Gabriel, he was deeply shaken—but Khadijah comforted him and was the first person to believe in his message, making her the first Muslim.
They were married for 25 years, and she gave birth to several of his children, including Fatimah, who would go on to be an important figure in Islamic history.
Khadijah died around the year 619 CE, in what became known as the “Year of Sorrow” for Muhammad, as he also lost his beloved uncle Abu Talib that year.
