Khadijah (ra) was now forty years old. She was convinced of the noble qualities and refined manners of Muhammad (sas). He was twenty-five years old. Khadijah (ra) wanted to make him a proposal for marriage. She sought the opinion of her best friend Nafeesah, who approved of the idea and offered her help. One day Nafeesah went to Muhammad (sas) and during the conversation asked him why he had not married.
Muhammad (sas) replied that he was not rich enough to do so. Nafeesah asked him whether he would be willing to marry a respectable rich woman. Muhammad (sas) asked, ‘ Who is that woman?’ Nafeesah told him about Khadijah (ra). Muhammad (sas) apologised and said, ‘ How can that be possible? Khadijah (ra) is too highly placed for me. She is a wealthy woman and I am a poor person.’ Nafeesah said, ‘Let me take care of that.’ Muhammad (sas) remarked, ‘In that case I have nothing to say but to agree.’
When Nafeesah told Khadijah (ra) the result of her talk with Muhammad (sas), she sent him an offer of marriage. The offer was made to Muhammad (sas) through his uncle Abu Taalib. Muhammad (sas) consulted Abu Taalib, who advised him to accept the offer. As Hazrat Khadijah’s (ra) father had died earlier, Abu Taalib called on Hazrat Khadijah’s (ra) uncle ‘Amr bin Asad, and asked for the hand of his niece in marriage to Muhammad (sas). ‘Amr bin Asad, being her wali, gave his consent for the marriage. Thus the marriage between Muhammad (sas) and Khadijah (ra) was settled. The marriage ceremony was solemnised by Abu Taalib and the haq mahr was fixed at five hundred dirhams.
Khadijah (ra) arranged a big feast and invited relatives and friends of both families. The bride and the bridegroom passed their first night in the house of Abu Taalib, and then Khadijah (ra) returned to her house together with her husband. The bridegroom arranged the waleemah dinner.
The marriage brought domestic contentment and happiness to both. The couple was blessed with children. The first-born was a son. They named him Qaasim. According to Arab custom, Muhammad (sas) became known as Abul Qaasim, which means the father of Qaasim. They had another son whom they named Abdullah. He was also known as Tayyab and Taahir. Some historians, however, say that Muhammad, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, had three sons from Hazrat Khadijah (ra). They mention their names as Qaasim (ra), Taahir (ra) and Tayyab (ra). The blessed couple had four daughters, Zainab (ra), Ruqayyah (ra), Umme-Kulsoom (ra) and Faatimah (ra). All his sons died in their childhood while all daughters grew up and accepted Islam but they did not live very long. Only Hazrat Faatimah, may Allah be pleased with her, survived the Holy Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and lived about six months after the demise of the Holy Prophet (sas).
It should be noted that the Holy Prophet (sas) had all his children from his wife Hazrat Khadijah (ra), except one boy Ibraaheem (ra), who was from Hazrat Maariah Qibtiyah (ra). Ibraaheem (ra) died when he was about eighteen months old.
Salmah acted as midwife on the birth of Hazrat Khadijah’s (ra) children. She was a domestic servant of Hazrat Safiyah (ra), an aunt of the Holy Prophet (sas).
It is related that one goat was slaughtered as a sacrifice at the birth of each daughter, while two goats were slaughtered at the birth of each son.
After Muhammad’s (sas) marriage to Khadijah (ra), Abu Taalib was deprived of the helping hand of his nephew Muhammad (sas) to earn a livelihood for his family. Muhammad’s (sas) youngest uncle ‘Abbaas was well off. Muhammad (sas) therefore suggested to his uncle ‘Abbaas that they should lessen Abu Taalib’s burden by taking care of two of his children at least. ‘Abbaas agreed and both went to Abu Taalib with a proposal. It was decided that Muhammad (sas) would take care of ‘Ali and ‘Abbaas would take charge of Ja‘far. ‘Ali was about six years old at that time. Khadijah (ra) welcomed ‘Ali in her house and he remained with the family and grew very attached to Khadijah (ra) and Muhammad (sas).
Hazrat ‘Ali (ra) has also the honour of being the son-in-law of the Holy Prophet (sas).
Muhammad (sas) admitted another person into his family. His name was Zaid, son of Haarithah. Zaid belonged to a noble family, which lived in the south of Syria. He was an intelligent boy. Zaid was kidnapped in a tribal raid and was sold from one person to another until he reached the hands of Hakeem bin Hizaam, a nephew of Khadijah (ra). Hakeem offered Zaid to his aunt shortly after her marriage to Muhammad (sas). Zaid was then about twenty years of age. He was small in stature and dark in complexion. He proved to be a very faithful servant. Khadijah (ra) and Muhammad (sas) developed a deep affection for him.
Muhammad (sas) was a loving and affectionate husband who showed great regard and consideration for his wife. She, on her part, proved to be a constant source of comfort to her husband. Soon after the marriage, Khadijah (ra) proposed to hand over all her wealth, as well as her slaves, to her husband. Muhammad (sas), after making sure, that Khadijah (ra) was sincere in doing so, declared that he would distribute the wealth among the poor and the needy and would set free all slaves. He therefore distributed most of the wealth; he received from his wife, among the poor and set all slaves free including Zaid. Zaid, however, refused to be freed and begged his master to let him continue to live with him.
It so happened that the father and an uncle of Zaid traced him to Makkah. They tried to persuade him to return home but failed. Zaid remained firm in his decision not to leave his gracious master, though he sent a loving message to his mother. When the Holy Prophet (sas) saw his devotion, he took him to the Ka‘bah and in the presence of his father and uncle declared that Zaid would henceforth be treated as his son.
Hazrat Zaid’s father was satisfied with the situation and returned home glad at heart. Zaid (ra) remained loyal to the Holy Prophet (sas) and lived with the family for a long time.