After the first encounter between the Prophet ﷺ and Jibril (peace be upon him) and receiving the first revelation, the Prophet ﷺ returned home to his wife, Lady Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her).
Lady Khadijah: The Righteous and Supportive Wife
The Prophet ﷺ entered upon his loving and wise wife, Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her), with his heart trembling. He recounted to her what had occurred in the cave, showing visible fear and distress, and said, "O Khadijah, I fear for myself." Khadijah comforted him with soothing words that calmed his heart and reassured him, based on her knowledge of his noble character. She replied, "Never! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You maintain family ties, bear the burdens of others, help the destitute, honor guests, and support others in times of truth and difficulty."
A person with such noble qualities would never be forsaken by Allah. Her response was a reflection of the verse:
{ And one of His signs is that He created for you spouses from among yourselves so that you may find comfort in them.} (Ar-Rum: 21).
A righteous wife’s primary role is to be a source of comfort and support for her husband.
Lady Aisha Relates Khadijah’s Noble Response
Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated this incident in a hadith recorded by Al-Bukhari (3) and Muslim (160). She said:
“… The Messenger of Allah ﷺ returned with the revelation, his heart trembling, and entered upon Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (may Allah be pleased with her). He said, ‘Cover me, cover me!’ – meaning wrap me in garments and enfold me in them – so they covered him until his fear subsided. He then informed Khadijah about what had happened and said, ‘I fear for myself.’ Khadijah replied, ‘Never! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You maintain family ties, bear the burdens of others, help the destitute, honor guests, and support others in times of truth and difficulty.’”
Explanation of the Terms:
- "Cover me" (زَمِّلُونِي): The Prophet ﷺ asked to be wrapped in garments due to the intense fear and trembling he experienced. This is a natural reaction to intense fear or shock. Wrapping the body helps calm such trembling.
- "Bear the burdens of others" (تَحْمِلُ الكَلَّ): The term "kall" refers to a burden or responsibility. This phrase implies providing for the weak, orphans, dependents, and others in need.
- "Help the destitute" (تَكْسِبُ المَعْدُومَ): This means providing people with what they cannot find elsewhere, whether in terms of valuable resources, exemplary morals, or significant wealth, which the Prophet ﷺ then distributed generously for noble causes.
- "Support others in times of truth and difficulty" (تُعِينُ عَلَى نَوَائِبِ الحَقِّ): The word "nawa'ib" (pl. of na'ibah) refers to significant events or calamities. The phrase specifically highlights aiding others in matters of righteousness and justice.
Ibn Al-Qayyim’s Reflection on Khadijah’s Wisdom
In Zaad Al-Ma’ad (3/17), Ibn Al-Qayyim explains:
"Khadijah concluded from the Prophet's ﷺ noble traits and virtuous character that Allah would not forsake him. She realized, with her sound intellect and innate understanding, that good deeds, noble morals, and honorable qualities align with Allah's grace and favor, not disgrace or abandonment. Those whom Allah endows with the best attributes are most deserving of His honor and blessings, while those with vile traits are suited for the opposite."
Through this wisdom and faith, Khadijah was honored to receive greetings of peace directly from Allah through Jibril and the Prophet ﷺ.
