SHE WAS JEALOUS OF KHADĪJAH

 FAJR REMINDER: SHE WAS JEALOUS OF KHADĪJAH 

By: Umm Affān

Sha'bān 12, 1447 (31-January-2026)

Over time, the love that Ā’ishah (Raḍiyallāhu ‘Anha) and the Prophet (ﷺ) shared deepened significantly, to the extent that it became widely recognized among the companions that she was his beloved. The companions would often wait to present their gifts until he was in her room.

Similarly, Ā’ishah (Raḍiyallāhu ‘Anha) was always open about her feelings for the Prophet (ﷺ). She frequently inquired about his emotions towards her. Despite the Prophet’s (ﷺ) reassurances, Ā’ishah (Raḍiyallāhu ‘Anha) still experienced jealousy, particularly concerning the other wives and Khadījah (Raḍiyallāhu ‘Anha).

Ā’ishah (Raḍiyallāhu ‘Anha) expressed: “I didn’t feel as jealous of any of the Prophet’s wives as I did with Khadījah, although [she had died] I never saw her. The Prophet (ﷺ) used to mention her very often, and whenever he slaughtered a sheep, he would divide it and send parts to Khadījah’s friends. Whenever I said to him, ‘You act towards Khadījah as if there is no other woman on earth except her,’ he would say [praising her], ‘Khadījah was such and such, and I had children with her.’” [Jami‘ At-Tirmidhī 2017]

In another narration, she (Raḍiyallāhu ‘Anha) noted: “I never felt so jealous of any wife of Allāh's Messenger (ﷺ) as I did of Khadījah because Allāh's Messenger (ﷺ) used to remember and praise her too often and because it was revealed to Allāh's Messenger (ﷺ) that he should give her (Khadījah) the glad tidings of her having a palace of Qasab in Paradise.” [Ṣaḥiḥ al-Bukhārī 5229]

On another occasion, Khadījah’s sister, Halah Bint Khuwaylid, visited Madīnah and sought to meet the Prophet (ﷺ). He was delighted by her visit and received her warmly. Ā’ishah (Raḍiyallāhu ‘Anha) recalled: Once, Halah Bint Khuwaylid, Khadījah's sister, asked for permission to enter. At that moment, the Prophet (ﷺ) was reminded of how Khadījah used to request permission, which troubled him. He exclaimed, “O Allāh! Halah!” Feeling jealous, I remarked, “What makes you remember an old woman among the old women of Quraysh—a woman (with a teethless mouth) of red gums who died long ago, in whose place Allāh has given you someone better than her?” [Ṣaḥiḥ al-Bukhārī 3821]

In response to Ā’ishah (Raḍiyallāhu ‘Anha)’s comment, the Prophet (ﷺ) replied: “Allāh has not given me better than her. She believed in me when the people rejected me, she trusted me while the people denied me, she supported me with her wealth while the people deprived me, and she bore me children while others did not.” [Fatḥ-ul-Bārī 3818]

I beseech Allāh to be Especially Merciful to all the wives of the Prophet (ﷺ). Aameen.