People knew that he was fair, decent and honest with a clear
conscience, so they nicknamed him Al-ameen, the honest. Khadija was a
noble rich woman of Quraysh. Each year Khadija hired some men to trade
for her. She loaned money to merchants and made them her partners in
trade and profits. That way she guaranteed that they would be honest
in their business. On the day Khadija was making arrangements with the
merchants, Abu Talib met his nephew Muhammad. Abu Talib said to him,
"I ama penniless man. Business is getting very bad for we have had a
couple of bad years. Now we have to trade. The caravan is preparing to
leave and Khadija, the daughter of Khuwaylid, is hiring men totrade
for her. Those men make lots of money. Why don't you go and ask her
tohire you. She will give you preference over the others for she has
heard a lot about your decency." Muhammad said, "Maybe she is going to
suggest that herself." His uncle said that he was afraid she might
hire someone else if they did not ask. Muhammad refused to ask her. He
did not want to askpeople to do things for him.
Abu Talib went to Khadija and asked, "Would you hireMuhammad?" Khadija
answered, " If you asked me to hire a stranger, I would have done it
for you. How can I refuse such a decent honest man as Muhammad." Then
she sent for Muhammad. Whenhe came she said to him, "I have decided to
hire you because I have heard aboutyour truthfulness, your honesty and
your decent manners. I am offering youtwice what I would offer another
man." Muhammad accepted the offer to trade for her. Later he met his
uncle Abu Talib and told him about Khadija's offer. Abu Talib said,
"That is something Allah sent to you." Muhammad preparedto leave with
Khadija's caravan. Her servant Maysara was going with him. Muhammad's
uncles came to say goodbye to him. They asked the other merchants to
take care of him and help him. This wasthe first time Muhammad had
gone trading without his uncles. The caravan traveled for days and
nights. Muhammad and Maysara chatted together. Maysara enjoyed hearing
Muhammad. He liked his good manners and the longer they stayed
together, the more Maysara admired Muhammad.
The caravan arrived at the market at Busraa. Muhammad and Maysara
started to sell Khadija's goods. In one sale a dispute arose between
Muhammad and a customer. The customer said to Muhammad, "Swearby the
Latt and the Uzzaa." Latt and Uzzaa were two idols which some of the
people worshipped at the time. Muhammad said, "I never swear by the
Latt and Uzzaa." The customer was astounded. All the Arabs swore by
these two idols. So he said, "Whateveryou say." The customer accepted
Muhammad's word because he realized that Muhammad was not like other
merchants. They swore by the idols and still told lies and cheated.
The men sold all the goods they had. They made good profits. So
Maysara said to Muhammad happily, "Muhammad, we have traded for years
for Khadijabut we never made as much profit as we made with you."
Khadija stood looking through a high window, waiting. It was time for
hercaravan to return. Finally she saw the camels, donkeys and mules
causingthe dust to rise in the distance. The returning caravan was
indeed Khadija's. Muhammad and Maysara were in front when Maysara said
to Muhammad, "Why don't you hurry to Khadija to tell her about the
profits Allah has given to us." So Muhammad went ahead. Khadija was
watching at the window when she saw Muhammad on his camel. She
recognized him and prepared herself to meet him. Muhammad walked in,
handsome and beautiful. He told her aboutwhat he did not the trip and
about the profits they had made. She was listening to him delighted.
Her heart opened to him. After he told her everything, she asked,
Where is Maysara now?" Muhammad answered, "Still in the desert."
Khadijasaid, "Go back to him and ask him to hurry."
Maysara came and told her about profits made in the trip. It was twice
what she usually made, but she was not interested in how the business
went. She wantedto know about Muhammadand what he did on the trip.
Maysara told her everything.
Khadija was forty years old.The people nicknamed her the pure woman
and the "Lady of the Quraysh". She was beautiful. She had a fair
complexion, and was slightly plump. Her hair was raven black and
smooth while her eyes were wide. Many of the noble people of Quraysh
wanted to marry her, but she refused them all. However, when she saw
Muhammad, she loved him and thought of marrying him. But how could she
propose to him?
Since Muhammad and Maysara had become friends on the caravan, Khadija
decided to send Maysara to Muhammad to talk to him.
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