Fellow Muslims! Fear Allah as He should be feared. Fear of Allah is a reminder for His devoted servants and it is safety from His punishment. Dear sisters! Muslim woman attains prosperity by following the path of the best women who lived in the best generation and got nurtured in the house of Prophethood. They are women of high status and outstanding estimation. Allah praises them in the Qur’aan where He says,
“O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women. If you keep your duty (to Allah), then be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy, or evil desire for adultery) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honourable manner.” (Al-Ahzaab 33:32)
They are blessed and great women. Foremost among them is the intelligent and wise woman, Khadeejah bint Khuwaylid, the religious and noble woman. She grew up upon virtuous character and manners. She was chaste and gracious. She was known among Makkah womenfolk as ‘the pure woman’. The Messenger of Allah married her and she became an excellent wife for him. She supported him with her life, wealth and wisdom. During his sorrowful days, he would seek shelter with her and confide in her.
When the first revelation came to him he went to his wife frightened, and he said, “O Khadeejah, I fear for myself.” But Khadeejah R.A responded to his fear with a firm heart. She told him, “By Allah, Allah will not disgrace you.”
Islam started in her house and she was the first person to embrace it. Ibn al-Atheer said, “Khadeejah R.A was the first person to embrace Islam, according to the consensus of the Muslims. No man or woman ever embraced Islam before her.”