SPEAKER_00: Hey, I'm Hibba Fisher, host of Corning Cultures and another show called Little Empire, and today I'm excited to introduce one of my favorite feminists that's been featured on Encyclopedia Wamanica, Khadija. Khadija was Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam's wife and an entrepreneur. As a Muslim, I grew up hearing stories about how strong and daring she was, which always really inspired me. This episode initially aired in October, but I think Khadija should also be celebrated as a remarkable feminist. Now here is host Jenny Kaplan to tell you all about Khadija.
SPEAKER_01: Hello! From Wonder Media Network, I'm Jenny Kaplan, and this is Encyclopedia Wamanica. In case you're just tuning in, here's the deal. Every weekday we're telling the stories of women from throughout history who you may not know about, but definitely should. Each month is themed, and this month we're talking about witches and saints. Throughout history, women have been celebrated and condemned for wielding spiritual power. This month we're highlighting women who made incredible contributions to and through religions, as well as those who were charged and punished for alleged heresies or supernatural abilities. Today we're talking about probably the most famous woman in the history of Islam, the first wife of the prophet Muhammad, Khadija. Khadija was born in the year 556. Her father was a leader in her tribe, and she grew up comfortably. Her father was a merchant who died in battle and passed his profitable business on to his daughter. Khadija got married and had two children by her first husband, who passed away. She then married again and got divorced. After her second unsuccessful union, Khadija had three children and a big-time business to run. She devoted herself to her work and her business became one of the largest in the region, earning her widespread respect. It was at this time that she heard about Muhammad, who was in his early 20s and hadn't yet had his first revelations. Khadija invited Muhammad to lead a merchant caravan for her. When he returned, other employees shared accounts of his business prowess and integrity. Even though Khadija had spent the last few years immersed in her business, rejecting proposals from even the most prominent noblemen, she started to consider proposing to the future prophet of Islam. But Muhammad had no status or wealth and Khadija knew her family and tribe would react poorly. Still, her mind was made up. Khadija overcame those qualms after she had a prophetic dream that the marriage would go well. She decided to act on it, proposed, and Muhammad said yes. Most sources claim that Khadija was around 40 years old and Muhammad around 25 years old when they got married. Different religious sources say that the couple had different numbers of children. Most agree that they had at least one son and as many as four daughters. Muhammad and Khadija's marriage provided instrumental help during the beginning of Muhammad's life as a prophet. Because Khadija had such a successful business, she was able to support her husband during his periods of meditation, which could last as long as a month. Islamic scripture says that Muhammad had his first prophetic visions during one of these long meditations. When he returned home, terrified of what he'd seen, Khadija was the first one to believe him. It reassured him that his visions were legitimate. As Muhammad continued his life of preaching and gained more followers, he and his supporters faced opposition and economic boycotts from rival groups. According to scripture, though Khadija was accustomed to a more luxurious life, she stuck by her husband's side during these times of need and continued to support her children through the hardship. Khadija died in the year 619, shortly before Islam really began to coalesce into a new and popular religion. Still, scripture claims that Muhammad continued to praise her as his best wife for her steadfast faith. Tune in tomorrow to learn about another spiritual woman who changed the course of history. Special thanks to Liz Kaplan, my favorite sister and co-creator. Talk to you tomorrow!
