He asked, “And whom do you suggest?”
She replied, “Sawdah bint Zamʿah; she has believed in you and followed you …” — the report continues at length (1), and its chain is mursal.

Ibn Isḥāq said: “One affliction after another struck the Messenger of Allah ﷺ when Abū Ṭālib and Khadījah passed away. Khadījah had been a loyal minister (2). She traced her lineage to Qusayy one forefather closer than the Prophet ﷺ. A woman of considerable wealth, she offered the Prophet ﷺ the opportunity to trade with her capital in Syria, so he travelled with her servant Maysarah. When he returned, Khadījah sold the merchandise he had brought back and her profits doubled. Impressed, she proposed to him; he married her and set her bridal gift at twenty young she-camels.

Her children by him were: al-Qāsim, al-Ṭayyib, and al-Ṭāhir—who all died in infancy—as well as Ruqayyah, Zaynab, Umm Kulthūm, and Fāṭimah (3).

ʿĀʾishah said: “The very first form of revelation granted to the Prophet ﷺ was the righteous dream …” until she related that he said, “Recite in the name of your Lord who created.”

She continued: “He came back with it, his heart quaking (4), until he entered upon Khadījah and said, ‘Cover me, cover me!’ They wrapped him up until the fear had left him, whereupon he said, ‘What is the matter with me, O Khadījah?’ He then told her what had happened, adding, ‘I feared for myself.’ She said to him, ‘Never! Rejoice, for by Allah, Allah will never disgrace you (5).’”