“What makes this mosque so special?” you might ask yourselves. The Khadijah Bint Khuwailed Mosque whispers tales of devotion. It echoes with the strength of a remarkable woman.
Before us stands the Khadijah Bint Khuwailed Mosque. It is a place of peace in bustling Riyadh. This mosque connects us to Khadijah bint Khuwaylid. She was the first wife of Prophet Muhammad.
Khadijah was more than just a wife. She was a successful merchant. It is said her caravans equaled all the other Quraysh traders combined. Khadijah was also known as “The Pious One” and “Princess of Quraysh”. She fed the poor and helped her relatives. Khadijah never worshiped idols.
She hired Muhammad for a trade transaction in Syria. Khadijah paid him double her usual commission. Muhammad earned the titles al-Sadiq “the Truthful” and al-Amin “the Trustworthy”.
Khadijah proposed marriage to Muhammad. They were married monogamously for 25 years. She was the first to accept Islam when Muhammad received his first revelation. He returned home terrified asking Khadijah to cover him. She comforted him saying Allah would protect him.
Khadijah supported Muhammad’s mission. She used her wealth to ransom Muslim slaves. She helped the Muslim community. When the Quraysh boycotted the Hashim clan Khadijah maintained the community.
Khadijah died in the year 619 CE. Muhammad called it the “Year of Sorrow”. She was buried in Jannat al-Mu’alla cemetery. Khadijah was about 65 years old.
The house of Khadija was significant. It was where she accepted Islam. Zaid bin Haritha and Ali bin Abi Talib also joined the religion there. Jibraeel brought down revelations of the Quran in that house.
When Muhammad received his first revelation he said to Khadijah “Wrap me up wrap me up.” She replied “Allah would never put you to shame.” She believed in him immediately. Khadijah was a trusted advisor and loyal companion. The Prophet said “When no one believed me she believed in me.”
The idolaters plotted to assassinate the Prophet at his house. Ali slept in his bed to protect him. The Prophet escaped to Abu Bakr’s house.
Muawiyyah bin Abi Sufyan purchased Khadijah’s home. He connected it to his father’s house. He constructed a mosque that extended west and northwest.
Inside the mosque people could pray in the Prophet’s prayer room. They could also visit the room where Fatima was born.
In 1989 an archaeological excavation was carried out. Detailed recordings and photographs were made. The site was covered with special soft sand. Today it is part of the women’s prayer area.
Standing here at the Khadijah Bint Khuwailed Mosque we remember her legacy. We reflect on her faith her strength and her unwavering support. It is a testament to a remarkable woman in Islamic history.