After our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) received his first revelation and returned home shaken by the intense experience, he turned to Khadija bint Khuwaylid (may Allah be pleased with her), the person he trusted and loved most of all, for support. Not only did Khadija support and comfort her husband, she believed him and became the first Muslim.
The Prophet’s message of monotheism, justice and mercy was not received well by the elites of Mecca, who saw it as a threat to their power and prestige. All of Meccan society was arrayed against the Prophet, who faced constant persecution. Khadija fearlessly stood by him. Blessed with wealth, she financially supported the growing Muslim community and helped keep it growing despite persecution.
As the first person to believe in our Prophet’s message, Khadija was truly a pioneer. She worked to empower the first Muslim community, and fearlessly stood for what is right despite the difficulties she faced. Khadija is an example to all Muslims, and inspires us to empower and stand up for our community today, no matter how strong the forces of Islamophobia may be.