The Household

Khadija and Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, were not alone in the house that they shared. Actually, the parents of both had passed away and could not be there to see their happiness or visit them in their earthly home. Yet, the fact that someone’s parents have died does not mean that they cannot have other people living with them. For it is the duty of people who have dedicated themselves to humanity, of everyone who has a sense of responsibility, to take care of those who are lonely, needy, and poor.

Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and Khadija were such people; they took this responsibility very seriously. It is because of this that their house was not only theirs, but the doors were open to all. They were, in fact, rising to the highest level of humanity through their generosity in sharing their house with those close to them.

It is worth briefly mentioning those who shared this peaceful family environment with them.

Out of loyalty and support in the difficult times of famine, Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, asked his uncle Abbas to take care of one of Abu Talib’s sons, and he himself took in Ali ibn Abu Talib, the other son. In doing so, he was able to show his gratitude to his uncle Abu Talib for taking him under his wing years before. Khadija, then, was the one who assumed the role of mother to Ali in his new home. Ali was, on the one hand, under the educational instruction of the most noble of persons, and on the other, he was benefiting from Khadija’s kindness and grace.

Zayd ibn Haritha also lived there. This youth was, in fact, the son of a free family, but was captured as a boy and brought to the slave market to be sold. Hakim ibn Hizam, the nephew of Khadija, bought him from the Ukaz fair and brought him to her. Zayd continued serving Khadija until she entered matrimony with Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. She then assigned him to the service of her husband after the marriage. Zayd would later be adopted as a son by the couple, as he refused to leave them. In fact, years later, when his uncle and father came all the way to Mecca to take him away, he chose to stay with the Prophet in peace instead of returning with his parents.

Umm Ayman, the person Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, called “my second mother,” and his nanny from his father’s time, was also among the inhabitants of this house.

Khadija gave birth by her first husband, Abu Hala, to a son, Hind, who was brought up under the guidance of the Prophet in this blessed house.

At one stage, Zubayr ibn Awwam would be blessed with the opportunity of growing up in this house, after the death of his father, Awwam. Perhaps it is because of this direct training from the Prophet that he was among the first to become Muslim, and was the first to raise arms to protect the Messenger and the faith of Islam.