The Prophet Muhammad: His Youth and Marriage to Khadijah – JSS1 Islamic Studies Lesson Note (Second Term)

Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, S.A.W) spent his youth in Makkah, where people called him Al-Amin (The Trustworthy), and at about 25 years old he married Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, who became the first person to accept Islam.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. describe the Prophet’s character and early work as a young man;
2. explain the Hilf al-Fudul and how the Prophet settled the dispute over the Black Stone;
3. state how Khadijah came to marry the Prophet;
4. name the children of the Prophet and Khadijah;
5. explain how Khadijah supported the Prophet after the first revelation;
6. state lessons from the Prophet’s youth and marriage.

What are the key events in the Prophet’s early life?

The table below shows the main events in order, with his approximate age.

What was the Prophet’s early youth like?

The Prophet grew up as an orphan in the care of his uncle Abu Talib and became known in Makkah for honesty.

How did he grow up as an orphan?

• Loss of family: his mother died when he was six and his grandfather when he was eight.
• Abu Talib: his uncle raised him. He was not wealthy but cared for the Prophet and protected him until his death.
• Cousins: he grew up with Abu Talib’s children, including Ali ibn Abi Talib.
• Lesson from orphanhood: it taught him compassion for the weak and the poor.

What was his character as a young man?

Before prophethood, Muhammad (S.A.W) was already known for excellent character.

• Al-Amin (The Trustworthy): the name the people of Makkah gave him.
• As-Sadiq (The Truthful): he never told lies.
• Humble: he was modest although he came from a noble family.
• Clean living: he avoided alcohol, gambling and idol worship.
• Kind: he was good to the poor, orphans and the needy.
• Reliable: he kept his promises and fulfilled his duties.

What work did he do in his youth?

• Shepherd: he looked after sheep in the hills around Makkah. He later said that Allah sent every prophet as a shepherd at some time.
• Lessons from shepherding: patience, responsibility and care for others.
• Trader: he travelled to Syria with Abu Talib on trading trips.
• Lessons from trading: he met different peoples, cultures and religions.
• Bahira: on one trip, a Christian monk named Bahira recognised signs of prophethood in him.

What was the Hilf al-Fudul (Alliance of the Virtuous)?

The Hilf al-Fudul was an agreement among some Makkan tribes to protect the rights of the weak and wronged.

Why and how was it formed?

• Cause: a merchant from another town was denied payment for his goods in Makkah.
• Pledge: the members promised to stand together against injustice.
• Protection: they promised to help any visitor to Makkah who was wronged.

What was the Prophet’s part?

• Attendance: he was present when the alliance was agreed, in his twenties.
• Pride: after he became a prophet, he said he would still respond if invited to such an alliance in the time of Islam.

Why was it important?

• Justice: it showed his concern for justice in his youth.
• Teamwork: it showed his willingness to work with others for good causes.
• Morals: it showed his principles before revelation.

How did the Prophet settle the dispute over the Black Stone?

The Prophet settled the dispute by placing the Black Stone on a cloth so that every tribe could lift it together.

What caused the dispute?

1. When the Prophet was about 35, the Quraysh decided to rebuild the Kaaba after flood damage.
2. Different tribes shared the work of building.
3. When the Black Stone (Al-Hajar Al-Aswad) had to be set in place, each tribe wanted the honour of placing it.
4. The argument nearly led to fighting.

What was the Prophet’s solution?

1. The Quraysh agreed that the next person to enter the Sacred Mosque would decide.
2. That person was Muhammad (S.A.W), and all were glad because they trusted him.
3. He asked for a cloth and placed the Black Stone in its middle.
4. A representative of each tribe held one edge of the cloth.
5. Together they lifted the stone to its position.
6. The Prophet himself then set the stone in its place.

What does the event show?

• Wisdom: he solved a serious problem peacefully.
• Respect: people trusted him before he became a prophet.
• Unity: he brought the tribes together and prevented conflict.

Who was Khadijah and how did the Prophet meet her?

Khadijah bint Khuwaylid was a wealthy, respected businesswoman of the Quraysh who hired Muhammad (S.A.W) to manage her trade.

Who was Khadijah?

• Trader: she sent goods out with trading caravans.
• Respected: people honoured her for her intelligence, character and business skill.
• Widow: she had been married twice before.
• Age: she was about 40 when she married the Prophet.
• Family: she came from a noble family of the Quraysh.

How did he work for her?

• Hiring: she heard of his honesty and asked him to manage a caravan to Syria.
• Observer: she sent her servant Maysarah with him.
• Result: the trade was very profitable.
• Report: Maysarah told her about the Prophet’s character.

What did Maysarah notice?

• Honesty: the Prophet was fair and truthful in all his dealings.
• Peace: he avoided arguments and settled disputes calmly.
• Respect: people from other lands respected him.
• Special sign: according to the seerah (biography of the Prophet), Maysarah saw two angels shading him from the sun.

How did the marriage to Khadijah take place?

Khadijah sent her friend Nafisah to ask the Prophet about marriage, and the families then agreed the marriage contract.

What did Khadijah do after Maysarah’s report?

• Interest: she valued his character, honesty and intelligence.
• Nafisah: she talked with her friend Nafisah about the matter.

How was the proposal made?

1. Khadijah sent Nafisah to ask the Prophet quietly if he would marry her.
2. The Prophet agreed.
3. He told his uncles, who approved.

How was the marriage contract agreed?

• Delegation: his uncles, including Abu Talib, met Khadijah’s family.
• Her representative: her uncle, Amr ibn Asad, spoke for her family.
• Mahr (dowry): the gift a husband gives his wife at marriage. It is reported as 20 camels.
• Walimah: a wedding feast held to celebrate the marriage.

What was life with Khadijah like?

Their marriage lasted 25 years and was full of love, respect and mutual support.

What was their home life?

• Age: the Prophet was about 25 and Khadijah about 40, yet they respected each other deeply.
• Home: they lived in Khadijah’s house in Makkah.
• Lifestyle: it was simple, despite her wealth.
• Roles: he was a kind husband and she was caring and supportive.

Who were their children?

The Prophet and Khadijah had two sons and four daughters.

What did the Prophet do before the first revelation?

Before the first revelation, the Prophet traded honestly and spent more time in quiet worship in the Cave of Hira.

What was his work and meditation?

• Trade: he continued to trade honestly.
• Retreat: he often went to the Cave of Hira on Mount Nur to think and worship.
• Khadijah’s help: she provided food and other needs for these retreats.

What signs appeared?

• True dreams: his dreams came true exactly as he saw them.
• Concern: he was troubled by idol worship and injustice in Makkah.
• Solitude: he was drawn to quiet and deep thought about life’s purpose.
• Greetings: reports say stones and trees greeted him with peace.

How did Khadijah support the Prophet after the first revelation?

Khadijah comforted the Prophet, took him to Waraqah ibn Nawfal, and supported him with her faith and wealth.

What happened at the first revelation?

1. At age 40, the Prophet received the first revelation from Angel Jibreel (Gabriel) in the Cave of Hira.
2. He returned home trembling and frightened.
3. He asked Khadijah to cover him with a blanket.
4. He told her what had happened and feared something was wrong with him.

How did Khadijah respond?

• Comfort: she calmed his fears.
• Her words: “Never! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good relations with your relatives, help the poor, serve your guests generously, and assist those struck with calamity.”
• Waraqah: she took him to her cousin Waraqah ibn Nawfal, a knowledgeable Christian scholar.
• Confirmation: Waraqah confirmed that Muhammad had been chosen as a prophet.

How did she help in the early years of Islam?

• First believer: she was the first person to accept Islam.
• Emotional support: she comforted him when people mocked and rejected his message.
• Money: she gave her wealth to help the early Muslims.
• Loyalty: she stood by him through persecution.

How did the Prophet show his love for Khadijah?

The Prophet stayed faithful to Khadijah during her life and honoured her memory after she died.

How was their relationship?

• Length: they were married for 25 years until her death.
• Faithfulness: he remained faithful to her throughout.
• Advice: he asked her opinion on important matters.
• Partnership: they supported each other in hard times.

How did he remember her after her death?

• Age: she died when the Prophet was about 50 years old.
• Praise: he often spoke highly of her.
• Her friends: he kept good relations with them and sent them gifts in her memory.
• Rank: he named her among the best women of all time.
• Aisha’s jealousy: Aisha said she was never as jealous of any woman as she was of Khadijah, whom she never met.

What did the Prophet say to Aisha about Khadijah?

When Aisha once spoke of Khadijah as an old woman, the Prophet was upset and answered that Allah had given him no better wife.

• Belief: she believed in him when others rejected him.
• Truthfulness: she accepted his truthfulness when others called him a liar.
• Wealth: she shared her wealth when others denied him.
• Children: Allah blessed him with children through her.

What lessons do we learn from the Prophet’s youth and marriage?

The Prophet’s youth and marriage teach good character, a good marriage and spiritual growth.

Character development

• Early character: good character shows even before great responsibility.
• Trust: truthfulness and honesty earn respect.
• Hardship: early difficulties such as orphanhood can build compassion.
• Integrity: honest work brings respect and opportunity.

Marriage

• Character first: good character and shared values matter more than age.
• Respect: mutual respect and support are the base of a good marriage.
• Support: a good spouse stands by you in hard times.
• Wealth: money should be used to support good causes.
• Partnership: both partners contribute in different ways.

Spiritual growth

• Reflection: set aside time to think and worship.
• Good company: supportive people help faith to grow.
• Trials: challenges test and strengthen faith.

Evaluation

1. Describe the Prophet’s character in his youth. Why was he called “Al-Amin”?
2. How did the Prophet settle the dispute over placing the Black Stone?
3. How did the Prophet meet Khadijah, and what impressed her about him?
4. Name the children of the Prophet and Khadijah.
5. How did Khadijah support the Prophet after he received the first revelation?

Assignment

Write a short account of the Prophet’s youth and marriage that includes the following:

1. what the Hilf al-Fudul was, and what the Prophet said about it after he became a prophet;
2. three things Maysarah noticed about the Prophet during the trip to Syria;
3. three lessons from the Prophet’s marriage to Khadijah.