خَدِيجَةُ وَعَائِشَةُ وَفَاطِمَةُ

Women at the heart of history People often talk about the great men among the Companions. But Islam was also carried by women: the first person to believe in the Prophet ﷺ was a woman, and a large part of the Sunna reached us through a woman. The Qur'an mentions believing women alongside believing men (33:35, text below). This lesson presents three of them; there are many others (Umm Salama, Asmaa' bint Abi Bakr, Nusayba bint Ka'b…).

Khadiija bint Khuwaylid: the first to believe Khadiija was a respected businesswoman of Mecca. She married the Prophet ﷺ long before the revelation. When the angel Jibriil came for the first time in the cave of Ḥiraa', the Prophet ﷺ came home trembling and said: "Cover me!" Khadiija reassured him with these words: "No, by Allah, Allah will never disgrace you: you keep the ties of kinship, you carry the burden of the weak, you give to the one who has nothing, you honour the guest and you help against misfortunes" (Bukhari 3, Muslim 160). Then she took him to her cousin Waraqa ibn Nawfal. She supported the Prophet ﷺ with her wealth and her heart during the difficult years of Mecca. Jibriil once came to tell the Prophet ﷺ: "Convey to her the greeting of peace from her Lord and from me, and give her the good news of a house in Paradise, made of hollow pearl, in which there is neither noise nor fatigue" (Bukhari 3820, Muslim 2432). The Prophet ﷺ said: "The best of the women of her time is Maryam, and the best of the women of her time is Khadiija" (Bukhari 3432, Muslim 2430). After her death, the Prophet ﷺ kept speaking of her with love and honouring her friends; 'Aa'isha said she had not been jealous of any woman as much as of Khadiija, so often did he mention her (Bukhari 3818, Muslim 2435).

'Aa'isha bint Abi Bakr: the mother of the believers and the scholar 'Aa'isha is the daughter of Abu Bakr and one of the wives of the Prophet ﷺ. The Qur'an calls the wives of the Prophet ﷺ "the mothers of the believers" (meaning of 33:6). • She was much loved by the Prophet ﷺ: it was she whom he named when asked whom he loved most (Bukhari 3662, Muslim 2384, lesson 2). • Jibriil sent her his greeting of peace (Bukhari 3768, Muslim 2447), and the Prophet ﷺ said: "The superiority of 'Aa'isha over other women is like that of thariid [a much-loved dish] over other dishes" (Bukhari 3770, Muslim 2446). • Allah revealed her innocence in Surah An-Nuur, when people had falsely accused her (24:11-20). • She was one of the greatest scholars of Islam: she reported more than two thousand hadiths [À VÉRIFIER : nombre], and great Companions came to put their questions to her [À VÉRIFIER : At-Tirmidhî 3883]. Much of what we know of the Prophet's ﷺ life at home comes from her.

Faaṭima bint Muhammad: "a part of me" Faaṭima is the youngest daughter of the Prophet ﷺ and Khadiija [À VÉRIFIER : ordre des filles], the wife of 'Ali and the mother of al-Ḥasan and al-Ḥusayn. • The Prophet ﷺ said: "Faaṭima is a part of me: whoever angers her angers me" (Bukhari 3714, Muslim 2449). • During the Prophet's ﷺ last illness, he told her a secret that made her weep, then another that made her smile: that she would be the first of his family to join him, and that she would be the leader of the women of Paradise (or of the believing women) (Bukhari 3623-3624, Muslim 2450) [À VÉRIFIER : numéros et formulation]. • Housework tired her; she went to ask her father for a servant. He came to her and 'Ali and said: "Shall I not show you something better than a servant? When you go to bed, say Subḥaana llaah thirty-three times, Al-ḥamdu li-llaah thirty-three times and Allaahu akbar thirty-four times: that is better for you than a servant" (Bukhari 3705, Muslim 2727).

Understanding the lesson

Explanation Khadiija, 'Aa'isha and Faaṭima show three different ways of serving Islam. Khadiija was the support: at the most fragile moment, she reassured the Prophet ﷺ by recalling his good deeds, and she believed without hesitation. 'Aa'isha was the memory and the knowledge: thanks to her, thousands of Muslims learned how the Prophet ﷺ prayed, ate and behaved with his family. A young woman became the teacher of the whole community. Faaṭima was love and simplicity: the daughter closest to her father's heart, who lived modestly, and to whom the Prophet ﷺ offered, instead of a servant, a dhikr that gives strength. Together, they show that the faith, knowledge and good character of women are at the heart of the history of Islam, not on the side.

Lessons to draw from it • Like Khadiija, reassure those you love in difficult moments, with true and positive words. • Like 'Aa'isha, love learning and passing on: ask questions, remember, explain to others. • Like Faaṭima, look for strength in dhikr: recite the bedtime tasbiiḥ (33, 33, 34). • Speak of the mothers of the believers and of the Prophet's ﷺ family with respect and affection. • Boys and girls: look for role models among the women Companions as much as among the men.

Key points to remember • Khadiija: "Allah will never disgrace you" (Bukhari 3, Muslim 160); a house of pearl in Paradise (Bukhari 3820, Muslim 2432). • "The best of the women of her time is Khadiija" (Bukhari 3432, Muslim 2430). • 'Aa'isha: mother of the believers (33:6), innocence revealed (24:11-20), a great scholar. • Faaṭima: "a part of me" (Bukhari 3714, Muslim 2449). • The bedtime tasbiiḥ: 33 Subḥaana llaah, 33 Al-ḥamdu li-llaah, 34 Allaahu akbar (Bukhari 3705, Muslim 2727).

The main message Khadiija, 'Aa'isha and Faaṭima carried Islam through their faith, their knowledge and their kindness: they are role models for every young Muslim man and woman.

The text: Surah Al-Aḥzaab (33), verse 35 [TEXTE ARABE À INSÉRER : sourate 33:35]

Meaning: "Muslim men and Muslim women, believing men and believing women, devoutly obedient men and women, truthful men and women, patient men and women, humble men and women, men and women who give charity, men and women who fast, men and women who guard their chastity, and men and women who remember Allah often: Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and an immense reward." The verse names each quality in the masculine and the feminine: the reward is the same for men and for women.

Arabic text: deliberately not typed, to avoid any error; it is to be copied from the centre's mushaf (or a verified source) at the place indicated.