Thursday 16 May 2019 (10 Ramadaan 1440)

Ahlul Bait (a.s) Masjid, Ottery, Cape Town

Mowlana Syed Aftab Haider

Today, 10 Ramadaan, signals the anniversary of the demise of Lady Khadijah (s.a). There are 3 duas recorded from Lady Khadijah (s.a) and in fact in those duas Lady Khadijah (s.a) also uses the glorified names of Almighty Allah (SWT).

One of these duas starts with these 2 very important attributes and names of Almighty Allah (SWT), Ya Khayyu, Ya Qayyum. In fact, everything is in these 2 names! Therefore, philosophers and scholars say that all the remembrance of Almighty Allah (SWT) are basically summarised in these 2 attributes, which refer to everything being dependent on Almighty Allah (SWT), but He is not dependent on anything.

We repeatedly find in the duas of the Ahlul Bait (a.s) that they ask from Almighty Allah (SWT) to not leave them to themselves for even a blink of an eye. We note this trend in the duas of Lady Khadijah (s.a) too.

In another dua recorded from Lady Khadijah (s.a), we read that she again opens with the glorified names of Almighty Allah (SWT), namely “Ya Allahu, Ya Hafizu, Ya Raqeeb”.

The third dua is one which she requested that our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) teaches her, which she should read while making Tawaf of Baitullah. In this dua, she implores the forgiveness from Almighty Allah (SWT) for her shortcomings, committed deliberately or otherwise.

LADY KHADIJAH (S.A) – THE QUINTESSENCE OF SELFLESS DEVOTION

These duas from Lady Khadijah (s.a) shows this great lady’s connection, dependence and trust in Almighty Allah (SWT). We remember her as a pioneer of Islam and an exemplary lady who had all the luxuries and wealth of this world at her disposal. However, she rejected all these worldly pleasures, choosing the pleasure of Almighty Allah (SWT) instead.

This explains the level of Taqwa of Lady Khadijah (s.a) and her level of closeness to Almighty Allah (SWT), that all these hardships and calamities never affected the faith of this pure lady.

Who is Lady Khadijah (s.a) really? Let us understand her status through her Ziyarat, which is taught to us by the Imams of Ahlul Bait (a.s). The Ziyarat of Lady Khadijah (s.a) starts with salutations on her as the mother of the believers, the wife of Rasulullah (SAWA), mother of Lady Fatima (s.a), mother of the Imams of Ahlul Bait (a.s) etc.

This Ziyarat then continues to praise Lady Khadijah with the salutations on whom Allah (SWT) conveyed salaam through angel Jibraeel. Yes, Allah (SWT) conveyed His salaam to Lady Khadijah (s.a) through Jibraeel.

The greatness of Lady Khadijah (s.a) is beyond our imagination really. Her sacrifices are well-documented in history. She gave everything for our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAWA). Her life, her wealth, her luxuries, her prestige…she sacrificed everything for Rasulullah (SAWA). This was our mother Khadijah (s.a).

THE FINAL JOURNEY OF LADY KHADIJAH (S.A) EMPHASISES HER NOBILITY

In the last days of her life, she calls her very young daughter, Lady Fatima Zahra (s.a). She says to Lady Fatima Zahra (s.a) that she has a request from her father, Rasulullah (SAWA), but she feels shy to ask him. It is important to note that this statement is coming from someone who gave everything for Rasulullah (SAWA) and the mission of Islam.

So, despite these completely selfless sacrifices, she still feels shy to make her request directly to Rasulullah (SAWA), and therefore calls upon her young daughter, Lady Fatima (s.a), to ask on her behalf. She asks Lady Fatima (s.a) to first convey her apology to Rasulullah (SAWA) for not being able to do enough and not being able to serve him in companionship and Islam the way she should have. This apology is coming from this noble woman, who gave everything for her husband and for the mission of Islam.

Now, her request to Rasulullah (SAWA) through Lady Fatima (s.a) was that she wants to be buried covered in his shirt as the Kafan. The shirt she was referring to was the one Rasulullah (SAWA) wore when he received the first revelation, namely verse 1 of Surah Alaq (chapter 96 of the Holy Quran):

اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ

Read in the name of your Lord Who created.

Lady Fatima (s.a), as a very young girl at the time, takes this request of her mother Lady Khadijah (s.a) to her father, Prophet Muhammad (SAWA).

The departure of Lady Khadijah (s.a) from this world was very difficult for Rasulullah (SAWA). He lost his dear uncle and guardian, Abu Talib, and Lady Khadijah (s.a) in the month of Ramadaan. They were both so crucial to Rasulullah (SAWA), as their character and influence was pivotal during the early days of Islam.

Rasulullah (SAWA) was naturally overcome with emotion at receiving this request through Lady Fatima (s.a), which he accepted without hesitation, confirming that he will give Lady Khadijah (s.a) Kafan and bury her with his own hands.

However, he requested Lady Fatima (s.a) to inform her mother Lady Khadijah (s.a) that her Kafan will be brought by Jibraeel from Paradise!

It is sufficient to understand the magnificence of the personality of Lady Khadijah (s.a), that Almighty Allah (SWT) rewarded her with Lady Fatima (s.a). What else can we say?!

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