On Wednesday, April 21, 2021, the anniversary of Hazrat Khadija’s demise, the “International Conference Umm Al-Momenin Khadija Kobra (a.s.), First Lady of Islam” was held virtually with the speech of the thinkers of the Islamic world and with the message of the Grand Ayatollah Javadi Amoli.
The conference was organized by the Deputy of Women of Cultural and Educational Committee of Arbaeen with the participation of AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly.
The conference was attended by 14 institutions, organizations, and popular groups from the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Bahrain, and India.
According to the Arbaeen Website, 107 articles in Persian, Arabic, and English from Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, and India submitted to the Secretariat of “International Conference Umm Al-Momenin Khadija Kobra (a.s.), First Lady of Islam” under three topics of “The role of Hazrat Khadija (a.s.) in defending Islam and the Prophet (p.b.u.h), Hazrat Khadija from the point of view of the Prophet (p.b.u.h) and AhlulBayt (a.s.), and Arbaeen, an arena and a platform for introducing the life and thought of Hazrat Khadija (a.s.) as a role model for Muslim women.
The conference was held in three parts: The General Section, the Arabic Section, and the Persian Section, and was broadcast on Abarat TV.
The Arabic part of the conference of Hazrat Khadija (a.s.) started with the speech of Hojat al-Islam Habib Al-Kazemi, one of the Kuwaiti scholars, and the director of Al-Ma'aref TV, and was held with presenting 8 selected articles on the Arabic television of Abarat.
The General Section of the conference was held with the speech of Grand Ayatollah Javadi Amoli, and the speech of the representative of the Supreme Leader in Hajj and Pilgrimage Affairs, Dr. Rafi'i, and Dr. Maryam Haj Abdul Baqi.
Also, the Persian articles section of the conference was broadcast on Abarat internet TV presenting five articles.
At the beginning of the conference, the message of Grand Ayatollah Javadi Amoli about the status of Hazrat Khadija (a.s.) was read.
Ayatollah Javadi Amoli said, “Before the Be’that of the Prophet Muhammad, Hazrat Khadija (a.s.) worshiped God monotheistically and believed in General Prophethood, and Abrahamic prophets. She was a scholar, ascetic, researcher, and monotheist.”
“There are differences between the brokers of knowledge and the theologian, commentator, and jurist. In the era of knowledge brokerage, Hazrat Khadija was a scholar, and worshiped God monotheistically before the Be’that of the Prophet Muhammad,” he said, emphasizing that Hazrat Khadija (a.s.) had learned from the Abrahamic prophets.
“Shouldn’t we introduce the character of Hazrat Khadija (a.s.)? Shouldn’t we follow our mother’s path? Isn’t it time for us, like Umm Al-Momenin, to put aside usury?” said Grand Ayatollah Javadi Amoli, emphasizing that we are the children of Hazrat Khadija (a.s.).
In this meeting, Hojat al-Islam Sayed Abdul Fattah Nawab, the representative of the Supreme Leader in Hajj and Pilgrimage Affairs, also said, “According to Shiite and Sunni hadiths, Hazrat Khadija (a.s.) had both great wealth and special knowledge and understanding. When she got to know the Prophet (p.b.u.h), she herself proposed to Abdullah’s orphan and presented her box of documents to the Prophet on the first night of the marriage. The Prophet did not neglect Hazrat Khadija (a.s.), and sometimes sacrifice sheep and sent the meat to Khadija’s friends. Sometimes other women complained that God had given the Prophet better than Khadija. But the Prophet replied that no, God has never given him better than Khadija, and said, “She believed in me when everyone was away from me and left all his property at my disposal. He married Abdullah’s orphan and became Umm Al-Momenin, not to marry the Prophet and become Umm Al-Momenin”.”
Hojat al-Islam Nasser Rafi'i, as another speaker of the general section of the International Conference of Hazrat Khadija (a.s.), described her characteristics and said, “There are two types of characteristics that people have. Some perfections are inherent and involuntary, but some attributes and perfections are acquired. Beauty is not an acquired attribute, but knowledge, faith, and piety are acquired perfections that must be pursued and achieved.”
“Regarding the inherent and involuntary perfections, it is narrated that there are three characteristics that if God gives to someone, he is perfect: intellect, beauty, and eloquence. Hazrat Khadija had inherent characteristics. For example, it is said that she was the most beautiful woman of her time. This is an involuntary attribute. She was one of the most perfect women of her time in terms of intellect and wisdom, and she was one of the most complete in terms of votes and decisions. These are inherent and involuntary traits,” he continued.
“Acquired traits are of two types. Some traits are acquired but only one person has them. That is, if one acquires that attribute, the others cannot acquire it. For example, achieving first place in the entrance exam or becoming the first person in a competition. When we examine the life of Hazrat Khadija (a.s.), in this section too, she has the first places that no one has,” said the professor of Qom seminary.
“Hazrat Khadija (a.s.) is the first wife of the Prophet. She was the first woman to live the longest time with the Prophet, 25 years. She was the first woman who believed in the Prophet. She was the first supporter of the Prophet among women. She was the first devotee who gave all his property to the Prophet. Therefore, none of the wives of the Prophet have the position that Hazrat Khadija (a.s.) has. The other wives of the Prophet became the wives of the Prophet after the Be’that and in a situation where the problems had decreased. But Hazrat Khadija (a.s.) married the Prophet 15 years before the mission,” he continued.
It should be mentioned that the “International Conference Umm Al-Momenin Khadija al-Kobra (a.s.), First Lady of Islam” is held and organized by the Deputy of Women of Cultural and Educational Committee of Arbaeen, AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, Arbaeen International Foundation, Al-Hawra Zainab Center affiliated with the Holy Shrine of Imam Hussein (a.s.), Qom Sisters Seminary, Sisters Seminary Management Center, Women, and Family Affairs Center of Razavi Research Foundation, Institute of Islamic Culture and Education affiliated with the Representation of the Supreme Leader in Universities, The World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, Basij of professors of universities of Greater Tehran, Basij Organization for Students and Clerics, and Al-Mustafa International University.