Chapter One: Ancestors, Parents, and Relatives — Part Two

Khuwaylid ibn Asad, one of the honored notables of Quraysh

Khuwaylid, the father of Lady Khadijah (peace be upon her), was among the elders and prominent figures of Quraysh and a follower of the religion of Ibrahim. He was in an excellent financial position and held great renown and respect among the people.(1)

Khuwaylid belonged to a well-known clan of Quraysh. During the pre-Islamic era (Jahiliyyah), he was the chief of his tribe.(2)

Khuwaylid, the father of Lady Khadijah, was one of the elders of Quraysh and among the wealthy of Mecca, and he had three children named Awwam, Halah, and Khadijah. Awwam was the father of Zubayr and the son-in-law of the great Qurayshi figure Abd al-Muttalib (the Prophet's grandfather). Thus Zubayr was related to Lady Fatimah al-Zahra from two sides: on one side he was her maternal cousin (son of her maternal uncle), and on the other side he was her paternal cousin (son of her paternal aunt).

Lady Khadijah, daughter of Khuwaylid, was Ummul Mu'minin (Mother of the Believers), the first Muslim woman and supporter of the Prophet, and the mother of Fatimah.

As for Halah, daughter of Khuwaylid and sister of Lady Khadijah, she remained alive even after the Hijrah and would sometimes come to Medina to visit the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family). The Prophet held her in great esteem because of her relation to Lady Khadijah, his devoted and self-sacrificing wife. Aishah, however — like other women who grow jealous of their husbands' other wives — would become upset and jealous over this and would voice objection. The Prophet would stop her from doing so and would explain the exalted station of Lady Khadijah, which was the reason he held her sister in such special regard.(3)

References:

1- Danestaniha-ye Fatemi, vol. 1, p. 37.

2- Zendegani-ye Fatimah al-Zahra (peace be upon her), p. 21.

3- Hedayatgaran-e Rah-e Noor: Biography of the Fourteen Infallibles (peace be upon them), pp. 243–244.