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It must be taken into consideration that Khadijah bint KhuwaylJ. d<br />
who had a'remarkable position before and after Islam, had grown up in<br />
pre-I'slimic time. When ihe married the Prophet, she was forty years<br />
old, and the message was revealed when he was forty years I old, that is.<br />
fifteen-years after his marriage. Her character may be contrasted<br />
C-0<br />
with other Muslims, for example. Aisha. who grew up in the Ifilamic<br />
milieu. Khadijah had'a remarkable position in pre-Isla'mic Arabia.<br />
She was one '<strong>of</strong> the strongest personalities in the Meccan society<br />
before Islam. This exceptional strength <strong>of</strong> character could be due<br />
to her family position in the society or due to her wealth or to her<br />
intelligence, or to all <strong>of</strong> these factors put together. Islam did not<br />
change her position; on the contrary, Islam recognised her status<br />
and did not take away her wealth, nor prevent her from running her<br />
business. Accordingly, her position is good evidence that a Muslim<br />
woman could have a high position in Islamic society.<br />
AISHA AL-ýIODIQA<br />
?10<br />
iisha<br />
al-Sidd-iqa, 'Mother <strong>of</strong> the Believers! (Ummal - Mulamij. n)<br />
is an example <strong>of</strong> a woman who was pr<strong>of</strong>oundly influenced by Islam. Raised<br />
in a totally Islamic householdq she embraced Islam from her earliest<br />
1<br />
youth. Her father, AbZ; Bakr bin AbT Quhafahs was a well-respected<br />
Qurayshi merchant who 'called all men he confided in to embrace<br />
Islam and urged whoever visited him or sought counsel to believe in<br />
God. 1<br />
1., See Ibn Histram, Vol. 1. op. 'cit., P. 232<br />
2. Ibid<br />
136