For parents · Seerah
Khadijah radiyallahu anha for kids: the first to believe
The short answer
Khadijah radiyallahu anha was the first wife of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the first person to believe in his message. She was a respected businesswoman of Makkah, known for her kindness and good character. She comforted the Prophet ﷺ after the first revelation, and Allah Himself sent her His salam and promised her a house in Jannah.
When children learn about Khadijah radiyallahu anha, they meet one of the most loved women in Islam: a successful businesswoman, a loyal wife, the first believer, and a woman to whom Allah Himself sent salam through the angel Jibreel. Her story is short, true and full of warmth, and it shows children what real support looks like.
Who was Khadijah radiyallahu anha?
Khadijah bint Khuwaylid lived in Makkah. She was a merchant whose caravans carried goods to other lands, and she was known for her good character; the books of seerah say people called her at-Tahirah, the Pure One. She hired the young Muhammad ﷺ to trade for her, saw how honest he was, and they married when he was twenty-five. Allah gave them children, among them Fatimah radiyallahu anha.
How did Khadijah help the Prophet ﷺ after the cave of Hira?
When the angel Jibreel first came to the Prophet ﷺ in the cave of Hira with the words “Read in the name of your Lord who created” (Qur’an 96:1-5), he hurried home shaking and said, “Cover me, cover me.” Khadijah wrapped him up and listened. Then she said words that Muslims still remember (Sahih al-Bukhari):
“Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good ties with your family, you help the weak, you give to those who have nothing, you are generous to guests, and you help people in hard times.”
She believed him straight away, before anyone else. She took him to her cousin Waraqah, an old man who knew the earlier scriptures, and he told the Prophet ﷺ that this was the same angel who had come to Musa alayhis salaam (Sahih al-Bukhari).
A good point to make to children: Khadijah comforted him by reminding him of his good deeds. When someone we love is scared, we can do the same.
Why did Allah send salam to Khadijah?
This is the story of ilmbee’s Khadijah Receives Salam From Allah (Book 94). One day, Khadijah set out carrying food and drink for the Prophet ﷺ. Before she arrived, Jibreel came to him and said: Khadijah is coming with a dish of food. When she reaches you, give her salam from her Lord and from me, and give her the good news of a house in Paradise made of hollowed pearl, where there will be no noise and no tiredness (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim).
Imagine it: Allah, the Lord of everything, sending His greeting of peace to one woman carrying food to her husband. In another narration, she answered, “Allah is as-Salam, and from Him is peace, and on Jibreel be peace,” because as-Salam is one of Allah’s own names (an-Nasa’i, al-Hakim). Her reply shows how well she knew her Lord.
How did the Prophet ﷺ love and honour her?
- He called her one of the best of women. He said that the best of the women of her time was Maryam, and the best of the women of her time was Khadijah (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim).
- He spoke of her often. He said, “I was given her love” (Sahih Muslim).
- He was kind to her friends. Years after she died, when he had meat to share, he would send some to Khadijah’s friends (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim).
She died in Makkah about three years before the Hijrah (Sahih al-Bukhari), in the year the seerah calls the Year of Sorrow. As one of the Prophet’s ﷺ wives, she is a Mother of the Believers (Qur’an 33:6).
What does Khadijah’s story teach children?
- Believe in the truth, even first. She did not wait to see what others did.
- Comfort people with kind words. Her words at the door of their home are a model for any family.
- Small acts of love are noticed by Allah. She was carrying a meal when the salam came.
- Loyalty lasts. The Prophet ﷺ kept honouring her long after she was gone.
- Women have a great place in Islam. The first Muslim was a woman.
Questions to ask your child
- Who was the very first person to believe in the Prophet ﷺ?
- What did Khadijah say to make the Prophet ﷺ feel better?
- What special message did Jibreel bring for her?
- What will her house in Jannah be like?
- Who in our family can you comfort with kind words this week?
What age is this for?
Ages 4 to 6: the salam story on its own is perfect: a meal, an angel, a greeting from Allah and a house of pearl. Ages 7 to 11: add the night of the first revelation, her words of comfort, and why the Prophet ﷺ remembered her all his life. Daughters and sons both gain from knowing that the first Muslim was a woman.
Khadijah Receives Salam From Allah (Book 94) tells her story in twenty narrated pages, and Prophet Muhammad (Book 12) places it in the Prophet’s ﷺ life. To try ilmbee’s narrated books first, read 3 books free.
The books in this guide
From ilmbee Series 01, 100 illustrated books read in order. The first 3 are free to read.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Khadijah in Islam?
Khadijah bint Khuwaylid radiyallahu anha was the first wife of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the first person to believe in him, and one of the best women who ever lived. She supported him with her wealth, her wisdom and her love.
What did Khadijah say to the Prophet ﷺ after the first revelation?
She told him that Allah would never disgrace him, because he kept good ties with his relatives, helped the weak, gave to the poor, honoured guests and helped people in hard times (Sahih al-Bukhari).
Why did Allah send salam to Khadijah?
Jibreel told the Prophet ﷺ to give her salam from her Lord and from Jibreel, with good news of a house in Paradise where there is no noise and no tiredness (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim). It was an honour for her faith and her service.
How did the Prophet ﷺ show his love for Khadijah?
He spoke of her often, said that he had been given her love, and after she died he would send gifts of meat to her friends (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim).
When did Khadijah die?
She died in Makkah about three years before the Hijrah to Madinah (Sahih al-Bukhari). The seerah calls that year the Year of Sorrow.
Sources
Qur'an references are given as surah:ayah, with the meaning in plain English. Hadith are from the collections named.
- Qur'an 33:6 (Al-Ahzab): the Prophet's wives are the mothers of the believers.
- Qur'an 96:1-5 (Al-Alaq): the first verses revealed in the cave of Hira.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 3: the first revelation; Khadijah says, “Allah will never disgrace you,” and names his good deeds.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 3820; Sahih Muslim 2432: Jibreel tells the Prophet ﷺ that Khadijah is coming with food, and to convey to her salam from her Lord and from him, and good news of a house in Paradise of hollowed pearl (qasab) with no noise and no tiredness.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 3432; Sahih Muslim 2430: the best of its women is Maryam, and the best of its women is Khadijah.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 3818; Sahih Muslim 2435: he mentioned her often and sent meat to her friends; “I was given her love.”
- Sahih al-Bukhari 3896: Khadijah died three years before the Prophet ﷺ left for Madinah.
- For scholar review: Khadijah's reply, “Allah is as-Salam, and from Him is salam, and upon Jibreel salam,” is narrated by Anas in an-Nasa'i, as-Sunan al-Kubra (8301), and al-Hakim, al-Mustadrak, who graded it sahih. ilmbee Book 94 includes it.
- Seerah (Ibn Ishaq, via Ibn Hisham), for scholar review: she was a merchant who employed him to trade for her; she was known as at-Tahirah; they married when he was twenty-five; their children included Fatimah.