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<strong>the</strong> <strong>Prophet</strong>’s r distinguished characteristics. She sent for him and<br />
<strong>of</strong>fered him to take part in her business undertakings, to which he<br />
agreed. He was to travel to Syria for <strong>the</strong> purpose. She sent her servant<br />
Maysarah along with him.<br />
Marriage to Khad|jah y<br />
When he returned from Syria, Khad|jah y noticed that her pr<strong>of</strong>its were<br />
greater than ever before. Maysarah also informed her <strong>of</strong> Mu#ammad’s<br />
character and pr<strong>of</strong>iciency in business. Impressed by this and with what<br />
she too had witnessed earlier, Khad|jah y proposed to Mu#ammad r.<br />
<strong>The</strong> proposal was sent through a friend.<br />
Khad|jah y held a distinguished position in Makkah and had herself<br />
received many proposals, but had refused. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Prophet</strong> r accepted<br />
<strong>the</strong> proposal and asked his uncles to discuss <strong>the</strong> affair with Khad|jah’s<br />
appointed representative. Consequently <strong>the</strong>y were married. <strong>The</strong><br />
<strong>Prophet</strong> gave her twenty camels as dowry. Khad|jah y was forty and 15<br />
years his senior. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Prophet</strong> r proved to be a devoted husband, and<br />
until she died, contrary to Arab custom, did not marry any o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
woman.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Prophet</strong>’s Children<br />
Khad|jah y bore Mu#ammad r all his children besides one (Ibr\h|m,<br />
who was born to his slave-girl M\ria). <strong>The</strong>y were: al-Q\sim, Zaynab,<br />
Ruqayyah, Umm Kulth[m, F\{imah and `Abdull\h y. All his sons died<br />
in childhood and all his daughters except F\{imah y died during his<br />
life. F\{imah y died six months after his death.<br />
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