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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 (S) 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 (S)
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.
References:
[1]
Musnad Ahmad.
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