Table of Contents
Home as a Place of Tranquility
When the Prophet ﷺ married Khadijah رضي الله عنها, his home became a place of peace, dignity, and trust. He entered marriage not as a harsh authority but as a gentle, responsible husband. Allah later described the general purpose of marriage in the Quran in words that perfectly fit his life with Khadijah:
هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَجَعَلَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا لِيَسْكُنَ إِلَيْهَا
“It is He who created you from a single soul, and made from it its mate that he might find tranquility in her.”
(Quran 7:189)
Their house in Makkah was simple in material terms, but it was rich in sakīnah, or inner calm. This was not a life of luxury. It was a life where two noble people shared burdens, encouraged one another, and made their home a safe space while the surrounding society was filled with idolatry, injustice, and moral confusion.
Khadijah رضي الله عنها was a respected, wealthy businesswoman. The Prophet ﷺ did not feel threatened by her status. Instead, he honored it and lived with her in mutual respect. Their marriage did not become a competition of ego, but a partnership of hearts. This became one of the earliest and clearest examples of how Islam views marriage as cooperation and mercy, not oppression or rivalry.
Key idea: The Prophet’s family life with Khadijah رضي الله عنها shows marriage as a partnership based on tranquility, mutual respect, and shared responsibility, rather than power and control.
Love, Respect, and Mutual Support
The relationship between the Prophet ﷺ and Khadijah رضي الله عنها was deeply affectionate. He loved her sincerely, and she loved him with full trust and devotion. Their conversations were honest. They could share fears, hopes, and thoughts without fear of ridicule. The clearest proof of this is found in the famous incident after the first revelation, when he returned from the cave of Hira trembling.
He ﷺ said to Khadijah:
لَقَدْ خَشِيتُ عَلَى نَفْسِي
“I feared for myself.”
(Al Bukhari)
He did not hide his fear or pretend to be strong. He went directly to his wife. This alone shows the depth of trust between them. He expected understanding, not mockery, and that is exactly what he found. Her reply shows how much she knew his character and how she respected him:
كَلَّا وَاللَّهِ مَا يُخْزِيكَ اللَّهُ أَبَدًا، إِنَّكَ لَتَصِلُ الرَّحِمَ، وَتَحْمِلُ الْكَلَّ، وَتَكْسِبُ الْمَعْدُومَ، وَتَقْرِي الضَّيْفَ، وَتُعِينُ عَلَى نَوَائِبِ الْحَقِّ
“No, by Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You maintain the ties of kinship, you bear the burdens of the weak, you give to those who have nothing, you honor the guest, and you help in all cases of truth.”
(Al Bukhari)
Her words were not flattery. They were a clear, reasoned testimony of who he ﷺ truly was at home and in society. She reminded him of his constant goodness. This is a glimpse into their daily married life: she noticed his good traits very carefully, she appreciated them, and she would use them to strengthen him at moments of difficulty.
In turn, he ﷺ honored and loved her, not only in private but also publicly. Long after her death, he would remember her virtues. Aishah رضي الله عنها said:
مَا غِرْتُ عَلَى امْرَأَةٍ لِلنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَا غِرْتُ عَلَى خَدِيجَةَ... وَمَا رَأَيْتُهَا قَطُّ، وَلَكِنْ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُكْثِرُ ذِكْرَهَا
“I was not more jealous of any woman than I was of Khadijah, and I had never seen her, but the Prophet ﷺ used to mention her often.”
(Al Bukhari)
His frequent mention of Khadijah, even after many years, shows that his love for her was deep and enduring. It was not limited to youth or beauty but grounded in gratitude for her character and sacrifice.
Simplicity and Contentment in the Household
Although Khadijah رضي الله عنها was wealthy, their family life was not a story of constant comfort. The Prophet ﷺ was never attracted to extravagance. Even with access to wealth, he preferred simplicity and gave much in charity. Over time, his efforts for da‘wah, and later the boycott by the Quraysh, would bring real financial and social pressure on the family.
Yet we do not find complaints or bitterness from Khadijah. She accepted changes in lifestyle with patience and grace. This is part of what made their home blessed. They shared a vision higher than material comfort. Their contentment came from serving Allah and supporting the emerging message of Islam.
The Prophet ﷺ, within the home, did not behave as a demanding master. He took part in the practical needs of domestic life. Although detailed examples come more clearly from his later years in Madinah, the foundation of that character was already present in his years with Khadijah. Aishah رضي الله عنها described his general habit at home:
كَانَ يَكُونُ فِي مِهْنَةِ أَهْلِهِ، فَإِذَا حَضَرَتِ الصَّلَاةُ خَرَجَ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ
“He was in the service of his family, and when the time for prayer came, he went out to the prayer.”
(Al Bukhari)
This hadith is from a later period, but it reflects a constant pattern in his nature. He did not consider it beneath his dignity to help in the home. He modeled a type of family leadership that combined responsibility with service.
Important principle: True leadership in the family, as modeled by the Prophet ﷺ, includes service, humility, and sharing burdens, not merely giving orders.
Raising Children in an Atmosphere of Mercy
In Makkah, the Prophet ﷺ and Khadijah رضي الله عنها were blessed with children. Their home saw the joy of births and the pain of loss. This shaped the family atmosphere and showed how they dealt with both happiness and sorrow.
The children who grew up in this house experienced mercy and emotional warmth from both parents. The Prophet ﷺ was known to show affection openly to his children, to carry them, and to show gentleness. Even people of the Quraysh noticed this quality and were surprised by it, since some of them considered open affection a sign of weakness.
In one famous narration from later years, which reflects his constant approach as a father, a Bedouin saw him kissing a child and expressed astonishment. The Prophet ﷺ replied:
مَنْ لَا يَرْحَمْ لَا يُرْحَمْ
“Whoever does not show mercy will not be shown mercy.”
(Al Bukhari, Muslim)
This short statement matches the tender environment that must have existed in his early home with Khadijah. They did not raise children in an atmosphere of harshness and cold distance. Instead, they modeled compassion, patience, and loving guidance.
The couple also faced the grief of losing children. They lost sons in childhood, which is one of the hardest trials for any family. These losses did not make them angry with Allah. Their home remained one of faith and trust. Their patience prepared them for even greater trials that would come with the public mission of Islam.
The House of First Belief and Support
The most unique feature of this family life is that their home was the very first center of Islam on earth. The first person to believe in the Prophet ﷺ and to pray with him was his own wife, Khadijah رضي الله عنها. Their house became the starting point of revelation, salah, and secret gatherings of the earliest Muslims.
When Jibril عليه السلام brought revelation and the Prophet ﷺ returned to Khadijah for reassurance, she did not simply console him emotionally. She actively supported the new mission. She took him to her cousin Waraqah ibn Nawfal, a learned Christian who confirmed that he had received revelation as previous prophets had.
This shows that their family decisions included consultation and shared concern for guidance. She used her knowledge and social connections to help him understand his experience. Their marriage was not separate from faith. It was a place where faith grew, questions were discussed, and support for the message of Islam was organized.
Allah Himself sent a special greeting to Khadijah رضي الله عنها, which shows how honored this household was. The Prophet ﷺ said:
أَتَى جِبْرِيلُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، هَذِهِ خَدِيجَةُ، قَدْ أَتَتْ مَعَهَا إِنَاءٌ فِيهِ إِدَامٌ أَوْ طَعَامٌ أَوْ شَرَابٌ، فَإِذَا هِيَ أَتَتْكَ فَقْرَأْ عَلَيْهَا السَّلَامَ مِنْ رَبِّهَا، وَمِنِّي، وَبَشِّرْهَا بِبَيْتٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ مِنْ قَصَبٍ، لَا صَخَبَ فِيهِ وَلَا نَصَبَ
“Jibril came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, here is Khadijah coming to you with a vessel containing some food or drink. When she comes to you, convey to her greetings of peace from her Lord and from me, and give her glad tidings of a house in Paradise made of hollowed pearl, wherein there will be no noise and no fatigue.’”
(Al Bukhari, Muslim)
This hadith shows how Allah honored her service and patience in that early home. The description of her house in Paradise, with no noise and no fatigue, is a reward that mirrors the quiet, patient support she gave in her earthly home.
Unique blessing: The first Muslim household was the Prophet’s home with Khadijah رضي الله عنها, and Allah sent her a direct greeting of peace through Jibril عليه السلام.
Lasting Loyalty to the First Home
Even after the death of Khadijah رضي الله عنها, the memory of that early family life remained alive in the Prophet’s heart. He did not treat his years with her as something that faded with time. Instead, he kept strong emotional loyalty to those memories.
Aishah رضي الله عنها narrated that he would slaughter a sheep and then say:
أَرْسِلُوا إِلَى أَصْدِقَاءِ خَدِيجَةَ
“Send it to the friends of Khadijah.”
(Muslim)
When she expressed human jealousy, wondering why he still spoke so highly of an older woman who had passed away long before, he replied:
إِنِّي قَدْ رُزِقْتُ حُبَّهَا
“I was given her love as a provision.”
(Muslim)
This short sentence sums up how he viewed that part of his life. Her love was a rizq, a gift from Allah, and he knew its value. It shows that Allah’s Messenger ﷺ did not view love and gratitude as something temporary. His loyalty did not weaken when circumstances changed.
This lasting loyalty is part of his family character. It teaches that the years of shared struggle, mutual support, and sincere companionship within a marriage have a value that remains even when one spouse has departed this world. For him ﷺ, the memory of what she did in his earliest, most difficult days was unforgettable.
Conclusion: The Model of a Prophetic Home
The family life of the Prophet ﷺ with Khadijah رضي الله عنها in Makkah was the seed from which the entire Muslim community grew. In that home there was tranquility, mutual respect, shared burdens, compassion in raising children, patience over loss, and firm support for the truth. It was not the life of a ruler on a throne. It was the life of a husband and wife in a modest Makkan home who chose Allah above everything else.
From this small, peaceful household came the strength that allowed the Prophet ﷺ to face mockery, rejection, and persecution outside. Inside the home, he found understanding, affirmation, and love. This balance between external struggle and internal tranquility is one of the most important features of his Seerah in those early years of family life.