Chapter 21: Lady Khadija's Death

Fatima's life was passing by with years full of sorrow and infliction. When she reached her seventh or eighth year, another tragedy clouded her life. The death of Fatima's mother, Lady Khadija, brought sadness and grief to her heart; for Khadija was an affectionate mother who had predicted the tough life her darling daughter would live.

During Khadija's last days, she was confined to bed. One day the Prophet of Allah (P.B.U.H.) said to her:

"What you are encountering, is because of us Khadija; when you meet your peers send my Salam to them!"

Khadija questioned: "Who are they; O Prophet of Allah?"

He answered: "Maryam Bint Imran, Kalthum (Musa's sister), and Assia-Pharaoh's wife."

She then said: "May you live in harmony and have sons, O Prophet of Allah."

The Messenger of Allah used to say: "I was commanded to give Khadija the good news of a dwelling in Paradise made of brocade where there is neither clamoring nor strain."[1]

Ibn Al-Athir said that the brocade mentioned in this tradition, is palace-like hallow pearls.

Lady Khadija was once crying in the presence of Asma Bint Umais, who said to her:

"Why are you crying while you are the Mistress of all women, and the Prophet's wife, who will enter Paradise

as he has said?"

Khadija replied: "l am not crying (for fear of death), rather, I am crying because every woman needs a close friend on her wedding night to tell her secrets to and help her in certain issues; Fatima is still very young and I am afraid that she will be alone on her wedding night!"

Asma said: "O my mistress, I vow to you, by Allah, that if I am alive then, I will take your place..."

Lady Khadija died at the age of sixty-three (according to some historians). Her death brought deep sorrow to the Holy Prophet, especially since it was followed by the death of Abu Talib, the Prophet's uncle, who died several days (or months) after that. Hence, the year in which the deaths of Khadija and Abu Talib occurred, was called "the year of sorrow" by the Prophet (P.B.U.H.)

Khadija's death was a disaster for the Prophet; not only because she was his wife, but also because she was the first one to believe in his messengership. Khadija also supported her husband with abundant shares of her property for the sake of Islam. She held a unique character in Mecca and between all Arab women.

When Khadija was buried at Houjoun, the Messenger of Allah stepped down into her grave to bless it. Meanwhile, Fatima kept close to her father and asked him:

"Messenger of Allah, where is my Mother?"

The Prophet avoided Fatima's question, so she looked around for someone to ask where her Mother was! At that point, Gabriel descended and revealed the following to the Prophet "Your Lord commands you to inform Fatima that He sends His blessings upon her and says: Your Mother is in a house of brocade, its corners are made of gold, and its poles are of rubies. It is located between Assia's (Pharaoh's wife) and Maryam Bint Imran's houses."

Fatima then said: "Surely Allah is As-Salam, and peace is from Him and to Him."

Another mournful event that inflicted the Prophet was his uncle's death Abu Talib had adopted Muhammed when he was eight years old upon the death of his grand father .Abu Talib was the Prophet 's guardian until he reached Fifty three years of age.

Abu Talib's services and support for Islam and the Prophet never ceased throughout those years .Had it not been for abu Talib possibly Islam could not have passed the stage of its prime days of propagation.

These two tragic events had a great effect on the messenger's life; the death of Abu Talib caused the Prophet to immigrate to Medina, for he had lost the strongest supporter and advocate of the religion from among his uncles.