Khadija bint Khuwaylid

Khadija bint Khuwaylid (Arabic: خَدِيجَة بِنْت خُوَيْلِد, romanized: Khadīja bint Khuwaylid; c. 554 – November 619) was the first wife of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Born into an aristocratic clan of the Quraysh, she was an affluent merchant and was known to have a noble personality within her tribe. She employed Muhammad to manage a trade caravan to Syria and, impressed by his skills, subsequently offered him marriage, which he accepted. Khadija had married thrice before Muhammad.

The couple had two sons, Qasim and Abd Allah, and four daughters, Zaynab, Ruqayya, Umm Kulthum and Fatima. In the aftermath of Muhammad's first revelation, Khadija is credited to have been the first convert to Islam. She continued to support her husband throughout her life and died in November 619 (Ramadan BH 3); the year was termed the Year of Sorrow by Muhammad. Her grave al-Mu'alla in Mecca attracts many pilgrims. Honored by Muslims as Mother of the Believers, Khadija is considered as one of the Four Ladies of Heaven alongside Fatima, Asiya, and Mary, mother of Jesus.