The Perfect Role Model

Amtul Kafi Bhunnoo, London

When the world is looking for the perfect role model for 21^st century women, tendency goes towards corporate women making it to the list of the top “richest” or “women of the year” or “women to look up to”. However, one of the most overlooked women in history, who was a most successful businesswoman, was none other than Hazrat* Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her). She was the first wife of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and the first Muslim woman. She had two sons who died in infancy and four daughters with the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him); she was also one of the richest women in Arabia. A woman of such calibre, just imagine her daily dealings of business with men, something generally unheard of in that period. Of course, this was the period of pre-Islamic Arabia; post-Islamic Arabia had many businesswomen in Mecca because they had the backing and support of the religion of Islam, but Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her) was completely on her own and up against large numbers of men before this. How many of us have faced obstacles we have had to overcome? Pre-Islamic Arabia was a place where girls were buried alive at birth as they were unwanted. What kind of society must it have been for women?

She was a true go-getter, and knew the value of the most precious thing – a good character, something she saw in the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) when she proposed to him. Now also imagine the line of beliefs she must have had – the kindness, the understanding, the truth in her heart – believing in the Holy Prophet, when he told her that an angel came to him. She didn’t laugh and reject him, but believed in every single word. She went on to help him find someone to make him understand what he was really seeing, as it is narrated by Hazrat ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her): ‘The Prophet returned to Khadija while his heart was beating rapidly. She took him to Waraqa bin Naufal who was a Christian convert and used to read the Gospels in Arabic. Waraqa asked, “What do you see?” When he told him, Waraqa said, “That is the same angel whom Allah sent to Prophet Moses’. (Sahih Bukhari )

Human nature doesn’t change and so there is much we can learn from Hazrat Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her). The role model that the world needs is not a woman who has gained it all monetarily or is driven by reaching the top rank, but a woman who has balanced it all and holds precious the real values of humanity; a true businesswoman, an achiever, and survivor of a harsh climate when the tide was certainly against women. We must also note that with her we see that being honest in business can get you much farther than cheating people out of their money.

It is also narrated by Hazrat Abu Huraira, ‘Gabriel came to the Prophet and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! This is Khadija coming to you with a dish having meat soup . When she reaches you, greet her on behalf of her Lord  and on my behalf, and give her the glad tidings of having a Qasab palace in Paradise wherein there will be neither any noise nor any fatigue’ (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

In Islam, the role of a Muslim woman is multi-faceted and endless. There are some responsibilities Allah has given specifically to women, and others He has given to all of mankind; she has the responsibility of raising her children, of being a good wife, of calling people to the beauty of Islam, of speaking out against oppression, of giving charity, of being kind to her neighbours, of helping the poor, and the list goes on. We should take pride in these responsibilities that Allah has favoured us with, and fulfil them to the best of our abilities.

It is narrated by Hazrat Ali,‘I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) saying, “Mary, the daughter of Imran, was the best among the women of the world of her time and Khadija is the best amongst the women of this nation.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari )

Hazrat Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her) was indeed a true leader, and the most perfect role model for women for all time and so aptly given the honorific Khadijatul Kubra, meaning Khadija the Great.

*An honorific Arabic title used to honour a person.