It was a happy marriage. Most biographers of the Prophet (peace be upon him) put his age at 25, saying that Khadijah was 40. Some reports suggest that the Prophet was nearer 30. Khadijah, on the other hand, was reported to have been 35, or even 25. In view of the fact that she gave Prophet Muhammad six children, the report which allots her a younger age seems more accurate.
Whatever their respective ages, the Prophet was to spend 25 happy years with Khadijah. The marriage gave Khadijah a man whom she could love, respect and trust. He was the most caring and loving husband who attended to his family duties with his customary seriousness. She gave him four daughters and two sons. Although polygamy was the normal practice in Arabia, Prophet Muhammad did not have a second wife while Khadijah was alive. The marriage gave him a settled life, but the real benefit of marrying Khadijah was not fully apparent until after he began to receive the divine revelations and face opposition to his message from all quarters. At that time, Khadijah’s support was most valuable to the Prophet. She stood by his side, reassuring him and giving him all the comfort he needed. No matter how great his troubles when he called on his people to accept Islam, the moment he went home he was certain of a comforting welcome from his wife. Long after her death, and when he had married several other wives, the Prophet continued to cherish Khadijah’s memory.
Khadijah gave birth first to a boy who was named Al-Qasim. Four daughters then followed, named Zaynab, Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthum and Fatimah. Abdullah was the last child to be born to Khadijah. Only one of his later wives gave the Prophet a child: Maria, the Coptic slave who was sent to him as a present by the ruler of Egypt.
She gave birth to a boy, Ibraheem. Al-Qasim lived only a few years while Abdullah died before it was time for him to be weaned. Ibraheem, on the other hand, lived only 18 months.
All four daughters of the Prophet lived until after Islamic revelations started. They all accepted Islam. They all were married to men of noble descent who were well respected in their society. The first three, however, died in Madinah, while Fatimah was the only daughter of the Prophet to survive him. She died six months after his death.
His daughters gave the Prophet several grandchildren, but his most famous ones were Hasan and Husain, born to his youngest daughter, Fatimah who was married to the Prophet’s cousin, Ali ibn Abi Talib.
Both Hasan and Husain lived until they were in their mid-fifties and had many children. Indeed all people who claim to be descendents of the Prophet, make this claim tracing their ancestry to one of his two grandsons.
While such ancestry gives them respect in Muslim society, it does not give them any religious position as Islam does not recognize any special position for anyone.
