Khadijah, may Allah be pleased with her, came from a noble
family. Her father Khuwaylid had been one of the most honored
leaders of their tribe until he was killed in battle. Her
husband had also died, leaving her a very wealthy woman. When
Muhammad (peace be upon him) was still a young man, she
entrusted him with some of her wealth, asking him to trade with
it in Syria on her behalf. He was already well known for his
honesty, truthfulness and trustworthiness. He returned from
Syria after having made a large profit for Khadijah. After
hearing his account of the journey, she decided that he would
make the best of the husbands, even though many of the most
important nobles of the Quraish had already proposed to her and
had been refused, and in due course she proposed to him. After
the Prophet’s uncle, Abu Talib, had given the proposed marriage
his blessing, Muhammad and Khadijah were married. At the time of
the marriage, the Prophet was twenty-five years old, while
Khadijah was forty years old. For the next fif