Chapter 10: The marriage of the Prophet ﷺ with Khadeejah Bint

Khuwaylid Ibn Asad Ibn `Abdul-`Uzza Ibn Qusay Al-Baihaqee said: “Chapter: What the Prophets ﷺ used to do before he got married to Khadeejah رضي اهلل عنها” Then he narrated from his chain that Abu Hurairah رضي اهلل عنه said: The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: ❝Allaah did not send any prophet but he was a shepherd.❞ His companions asked him: “Did you do the same?” The Prophet ﷺ replied: ❝Yes, I used to shepherd the sheep of the people of Makkah for a few Qiraats.❞ This was also reported by al-Bukhaaree (in his sahih). 60 61 [Shaikh al-Albaanee’s addition] `Aaishah رضي اهلل عنها reported: Never did I feel jealous of any of the wives of Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ as I feel in case of Khadeejah, though I had never seen her, for he ﷺ praised her very often. She further added that whenever Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ slaughtered a sheep, he said: ❝Send it to the female friends of Khadeejah.❞ I annoyed him one day and said: “(It is) Khadija only who always prevails upon your 60 sahih al-Bukhaaree (2262) [TN: In another hadith Jaabir Ibn `Abdullaah رضي اله عنهما narrated: We were with Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ picking the fruits of the `Arak trees, and Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ said: ❝Pick the black fruit, for it is the best.❞ The companions asked: “Were you a shepherd?” He ﷺ replied: ❝There was no prophet except that he was a shepherd.❞ [sahih al-Bukhaaree (3406, 5453) and sahih Muslim (2050-163)] All the Prophets عليهم السالم were shepherds, and the wisdom behind it is that by looking after the sheep one is trained to be kind and forbearing. The sheep are weak and they do not withstand harshness like the camels, so one has to be gentle with them. Sheep need to be taken care of by taking them to the pasture and protecting them from the wolf etc. So by taking care of the sheep one is taught how to take care of the people and how to nurture them. The Prophet ﷺ used to tend the sheep of people of Makkah for a few Qiraat, and Moosaa عليه السالم tended the sheep as Mahr (bridal money) for the daughter of the companion of al-Madyan. [See Sharh Riyaadh alSaaliheen (3/512-513) of Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen]] 61 (Shaikh al-Albaanee said): See also: “Fiqh al-Seerah” (1/70), and “Ghaayatul-Maraam (161).

mind.” Thereupon Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ said: ❝(Allaah has) nurtured love for her in my heart.❞ 62 [End of Shaikh al-Albaanee’s addition] 62 sahih Muslim (2435-75) [TN: This narration is also mentioned in the Saheehain with slight variations: `Aaishah رضي اهلل عنها said: “I never felt so jealous of any woman as I felt of Khadeejah, she died before he ﷺ married me, for I often heard him mentioning and praising her; and Allaah ordered him (the Prophet ﷺ) to give Khadeejah the glad tidings that she would have a palace in Paradise (for her). And whenever he ﷺ slaughtered a sheep, he would send her female friends a good share of it.” In another narration, she said: “When I sometimes said to him: ‘(You treat Khadeejah in such a way) as if there is no woman on earth except her.’ He ﷺ used to say: ❝Khadeejah was such-and-such, and from her I had children.❞ [sahih al-Bukhaaree (3816, 3817, 3818, 5229, 6004, 7484) and sahih Muslim (2435-74, 76)] Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي اهلل عنه: The Prophet ﷺ said: ❝Jibreel said: “Here is Khadeejah coming to you with a dish of food or a tumbler containing something to drink. Convey to her a greeting from her Lord (Allaah) and give her the glad tidings that she will have a palace in Paradise built of Qasab wherein there will be neither any noise nor any fatigue (trouble).”❞ [sahih al-Bukhaaree (3820, 7497) and sahih Muslim (2432-71]]