Hazrat Khadija (a.s.) is still oppressed: Rafi’i
The professor of Qom seminary said, “We are all indebted to the efforts of Hazrat Khadija al-Kobra (a.s.) and we should praise her much more. But she is still oppressed.”
On Wednesday, April 21, 2021, the anniversary of Hazrat Khadija’s demise, the “International Conference Umm Al-Momenin Khadija Kobra (a.s.), First Lady of Islam” was held virtually with the speech of the thinkers of the Islamic world and with the message of the Grand Ayatollah Javadi Amoli.
In the General meeting of the conference, referring to the characteristics of Hazrat Khadija (a.s.), Hojat al-Islam Nasser Rafi’i said, “There are two types of characteristics that people have. Some perfections are inherent and involuntary, but some attributes and perfections are acquired. Beauty is not an acquired attribute, but knowledge, faith, and piety are acquired perfections that must be pursued and achieved.”
“Regarding the inherent and involuntary perfections, it is narrated that there are three characteristics that if God gives to someone, he is perfect: intellect, beauty, and eloquence. Hazrat Khadija had inherent characteristics. For example, it is said that she was the most beautiful woman of her time. This is an involuntary attribute. She was one of the most perfect women of her time in terms of intellect and wisdom, and she was one of the most complete in terms of votes and decisions. These are inherent and involuntary traits,” Rafi’i continued, according to Arbaeen website.
“Acquired attributes are of two types. Some traits are acquired but only one person has them. That is, if one acquires that attribute, the others cannot acquire it. For example, achieving first place in the entrance exam or becoming the first person in a competition. When we examine the life of Hazrat Khadija (a.s.), in this section too, she has the first places that no one has,” said the professor of the seminary of Qom regarding the acquired attributes of Hazrat Khadija.
The first ranks, which only she has
“Hazrat Khadija (a.s.) is the first wife of the Prophet. She was the first woman to live the longest time with the Prophet, 25 years. She was the first woman who believed in the Prophet. She was the first supporter of the Prophet among women. She was the first devotee who gave all his property to the Prophet. Therefore, none of the wives of the Prophet have the position that Hazrat Khadija (a.s.) has. The other wives of the Prophet became the wives of the Prophet after the Be’that and in a situation where the problems had decreased. But Hazrat Khadija (a.s.) married the Prophet 15 years before the mission,” he continued.
Hazrat Khadija (a.s.) clear example of verses: “And the Foremost Ones are the foremost ones: they are the ones brought near [to Allah]” (Al-Waqi'a: 10, 11)
“The person who became Khadija’s husband was not yet a prophet. Rather, he was a 25-year-old man who grew up an orphan and has no property. He does not even have a house and grew up in Abu Talib’s house. On this basis, is not Khadija an example of “And the Foremost Ones are the foremost ones: they are the ones brought near [to Allah]” (Al-Waqi'a: 10, 11)? Did not the Quran say that those who participated in jihad and gave alms before the conquest of Mecca are not equal to those who gave alms and participated in jihad after the conquest of Mecca? Is a person who honored the Prophet before Islam equal to someone who married him after Islam and after the Prophet became the head of government?” Rafi’i noted.
“Hazrat Khadija lived in the society of Jahiliyyah (ignorance. The age of ignorance is an Islamic concept referring to the period of time and state of affairs in Arabia before the advent of Islam) before Islam. The Quran uses the word Jahiliyyah four times and mentions four characteristics of this period. These characteristics are: the prejudices that were in Jahiliyyah, the bedizenment of Jahiliyyah means the absence of chastity in the society, the “ruling” of Jahiliyyah means the rulings that were in Jahiliyyah and the suspicion of Jahiliyyah. In such a society where people worshiped idols and did not observe moral values, this lady was Mowahed (monotheist) and was not tainted with the corruption of society,” he continued.
“One of the prejudices of that time was that because their fathers were Moshrek (polytheists), they also persisted to follow their fathers’ religion. In such a society, Hazrat Khadija broke with traditions. Many people blamed her for getting married Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h). Especially since she was very rich and very beautiful. She married the Prophet, gave the dowry herself, and gave her house to the Prophet. The whole life of the Prophet was in Khadija’s house,” Rafi’i said, recognizing the breaking of tradition and fighting against prejudices as the characteristics of Hazrat Khadija.
“When Mecca was conquered a few years later, many wanted to see where the Prophet who had defeated people like Abu Sufyan and Abu Jahl would settle in Mecca. The Prophet pitched a tent next to Khadija’s grave and settled there,” he continued.
“She was an entrepreneur and economic manager and had dozens of workers and agents. At one time, the Prophet himself was one of these agents. In such circumstances, this figure supported many people in Hejaz. In the year of “Removing the barriers to production” (Named by the Supreme Leader of I.R of Iran), Hazrat Khadija (a.s.) is a role model,” said Hojat al-Islam Rafi’I, referring to the management of Hazrat Khadija in a society that does not value women.
“Not everyone can sacrifice. Sacrifice is the highest cognition and value. Sacrifice is to give your property and live without it. To give a part of the property and live with another part is charity. Sacrifice is what Hazrat Zahra (a.s.) did and gave her iftar to the poor and captive for three nights and broke her iftar with water. Khadija’s self-sacrifice was so great that she gave all her wealth. So much so that in the She’b (Valley) of Abi Talib (during the Quraysh boycott on Bani Hashem, Prophet Muhammad, and his followers), she slept on the ground and raised his dearest child, Hazrat Zahra (a.s.), on a mat,” he said, describing self-sacrifice as the next point in the life of Hazrat Khadija.
Imam Ali was also raised by Khadija Kobra
“She is a lady whom God repeatedly greets and praises her before the angels. She is the mother of 12 Imams. Imam Ali was also raised by Hazrat Khadija. She is a person that in the Ziarat of all Imams we say: “Peace be upon you, son of Khadija”,” Hojat al-Islam Rafi’i pointed out.
“She was the manifestation of modesty, contentment (of God), loyalty, self-sacrifice, servitude (to God), and most importantly, she had the foresight to see the light of prophecy in the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h). He believed in the Prophet without any hesitation and confronted disbelief alone. We are all indebted to the efforts of Hazrat Khadija al-Kobra (a.s.) and we should praise her much more. But she is still oppressed,” he concluded in the end.
It should be mentioned that the “International Conference Umm Al-Momenin Khadija al-Kobra (a.s.), First Lady of Islam” is held and organized by the Deputy of Women of Cultural and Educational Committee of Arbaeen, AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, Arbaeen International Foundation, Al-Hawra Zainab Center affiliated with the Holy Shrine of Imam Hussein (a.s.), Qom Sisters Seminary, Sisters Seminary Management Center, Women, and Family Affairs Center of Razavi Research Foundation, Institute of Islamic Culture and Education affiliated with the Representation of the Supreme Leader in Universities, The World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, Basij of professors of universities of Greater Tehran, Basij Organization for Students and Clerics, and Al-Mustafa International University.
The professor of Qom seminary said, “We are all indebted to the efforts of Hazrat Khadija al-Kobra (a.s.) and we should praise her much more. But she is still oppressed.”
On Wednesday, April 21, 2021, the anniversary of Hazrat Khadija’s demise, the “International Conference Umm Al-Momenin Khadija Kobra (a.s.), First Lady of Islam” was held virtually with the speech of the thinkers of the Islamic world and with the message of the Grand Ayatollah Javadi Amoli.
In the General meeting of the conference, referring to the characteristics of Hazrat Khadija (a.s.), Hojat al-Islam Nasser Rafi’i said, “There are two types of characteristics that people have. Some perfections are inherent and involuntary, but some attributes and perfections are acquired. Beauty is not an acquired attribute, but knowledge, faith, and piety are acquired perfections that must be pursued and achieved.”
“Regarding the inherent and involuntary perfections, it is narrated that there are three characteristics that if God gives to someone, he is perfect: intellect, beauty, and eloquence. Hazrat Khadija had inherent characteristics. For example, it is said that she was the most beautiful woman of her time. This is an involuntary attribute. She was one of the most perfect women of her time in terms of intellect and wisdom, and she was one of the most complete in terms of votes and decisions. These are inherent and involuntary traits,” Rafi’i continued, according to Arbaeen website.
“Acquired attributes are of two types. Some traits are acquired but only one person has them. That is, if one acquires that attribute, the others cannot acquire it. For example, achieving first place in the entrance exam or becoming the first person in a competition. When we examine the life of Hazrat Khadija (a.s.), in this section too, she has the first places that no one has,” said the professor of the seminary of Qom regarding the acquired attributes of Hazrat Khadija.
The first ranks, which only she has
“Hazrat Khadija (a.s.) is the first wife of the Prophet. She was the first woman to live the longest time with the Prophet, 25 years. She was the first woman who believed in the Prophet. She was the first supporter of the Prophet among women. She was the first devotee who gave all his property to the Prophet. Therefore, none of the wives of the Prophet have the position that Hazrat Khadija (a.s.) has. The other wives of the Prophet became the wives of the Prophet after the Be’that and in a situation where the problems had decreased. But Hazrat Khadija (a.s.) married the Prophet 15 years before the mission,” he continued.
Hazrat Khadija (a.s.) clear example of verses: “And the Foremost Ones are the foremost ones: they are the ones brought near [to Allah]” (Al-Waqi'a: 10, 11)
“The person who became Khadija’s husband was not yet a prophet. Rather, he was a 25-year-old man who grew up an orphan and has no property. He does not even have a house and grew up in Abu Talib’s house. On this basis, is not Khadija an example of “And the Foremost Ones are the foremost ones: they are the ones brought near [to Allah]” (Al-Waqi'a: 10, 11)? Did not the Quran say that those who participated in jihad and gave alms before the conquest of Mecca are not equal to those who gave alms and participated in jihad after the conquest of Mecca? Is a person who honored the Prophet before Islam equal to someone who married him after Islam and after the Prophet became the head of government?” Rafi’i noted.
“Hazrat Khadija lived in the society of Jahiliyyah (ignorance. The age of ignorance is an Islamic concept referring to the period of time and state of affairs in Arabia before the advent of Islam) before Islam. The Quran uses the word Jahiliyyah four times and mentions four characteristics of this period. These characteristics are: the prejudices that were in Jahiliyyah, the bedizenment of Jahiliyyah means the absence of chastity in the society, the “ruling” of Jahiliyyah means the rulings that were in Jahiliyyah and the suspicion of Jahiliyyah. In such a society where people worshiped idols and did not observe moral values, this lady was Mowahed (monotheist) and was not tainted with the corruption of society,” he continued.
“One of the prejudices of that time was that because their fathers were Moshrek (polytheists), they also persisted to follow their fathers’ religion. In such a society, Hazrat Khadija broke with traditions. Many people blamed her for getting married Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h). Especially since she was very rich and very beautiful. She married the Prophet, gave the dowry herself, and gave her house to the Prophet. The whole life of the Prophet was in Khadija’s house,” Rafi’i said, recognizing the breaking of tradition and fighting against prejudices as the characteristics of Hazrat Khadija.
“When Mecca was conquered a few years later, many wanted to see where the Prophet who had defeated people like Abu Sufyan and Abu Jahl would settle in Mecca. The Prophet pitched a tent next to Khadija’s grave and settled there,” he continued.
“She was an entrepreneur and economic manager and had dozens of workers and agents. At one time, the Prophet himself was one of these agents. In such circumstances, this figure supported many people in Hejaz. In the year of “Removing the barriers to production” (Named by the Supreme Leader of I.R of Iran), Hazrat Khadija (a.s.) is a role model,” said Hojat al-Islam Rafi’I, referring to the management of Hazrat Khadija in a society that does not value women.
“Not everyone can sacrifice. Sacrifice is the highest cognition and value. Sacrifice is to give your property and live without it. To give a part of the property and live with another part is charity. Sacrifice is what Hazrat Zahra (a.s.) did and gave her iftar to the poor and captive for three nights and broke her iftar with water. Khadija’s self-sacrifice was so great that she gave all her wealth. So much so that in the She’b (Valley) of Abi Talib (during the Quraysh boycott on Bani Hashem, Prophet Muhammad, and his followers), she slept on the ground and raised his dearest child, Hazrat Zahra (a.s.), on a mat,” he said, describing self-sacrifice as the next point in the life of Hazrat Khadija.
Imam Ali was also raised by Khadija Kobra
“She is a lady whom God repeatedly greets and praises her before the angels. She is the mother of 12 Imams. Imam Ali was also raised by Hazrat Khadija. She is a person that in the Ziarat of all Imams we say: “Peace be upon you, son of Khadija”,” Hojat al-Islam Rafi’i pointed out.
“She was the manifestation of modesty, contentment (of God), loyalty, self-sacrifice, servitude (to God), and most importantly, she had the foresight to see the light of prophecy in the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h). He believed in the Prophet without any hesitation and confronted disbelief alone. We are all indebted to the efforts of Hazrat Khadija al-Kobra (a.s.) and we should praise her much more. But she is still oppressed,” he concluded in the end.
It should be mentioned that the “International Conference Umm Al-Momenin Khadija al-Kobra (a.s.), First Lady of Islam” is held and organized by the Deputy of Women of Cultural and Educational Committee of Arbaeen, AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, Arbaeen International Foundation, Al-Hawra Zainab Center affiliated with the Holy Shrine of Imam Hussein (a.s.), Qom Sisters Seminary, Sisters Seminary Management Center, Women, and Family Affairs Center of Razavi Research Foundation, Institute of Islamic Culture and Education affiliated with the Representation of the Supreme Leader in Universities, The World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, Basij of professors of universities of Greater Tehran, Basij Organization for Students and Clerics, and Al-Mustafa International University.