He never heard a word of rejection or accusation of falsehood—anything that pained him—without Allah easing his distress through her. Whenever he returned to her, she would reassure him, lighten his burden, confirm his mission, and make light for him the affair of the people. May Allah be pleased with her and make her pleasing to Him.

Ibn Isḥāq relates: Hishām ibn ʿUrwah told me, on the authority of his father, from ʿAbd Allāh ibn Jaʿfar, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “I have been commanded to give Khadījah the glad tidings of a house of qasab in Paradise in which there is neither clamour nor fatigue.” This ḥadīth is recorded in the two Ṣaḥīḥs through the narration of Hishām. Ibn Hishām explained that qasab here means “a hollow pearl.”

Ibn Isḥāq also said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would speak privately to those members of his household in whom he had confidence, recounting the favour with which Allah had honoured him and all His servants by granting Prophethood.

Mūsā ibn ʿUqbah reports from al-Zuhrī: “Khadījah was the first to believe in Allah and to affirm His Messenger, before the prayer had been made obligatory.” I say: that is, before the five prescribed prayers were enjoined on the night of the Miʿrāj; the original obligation of prayer itself, however, was imposed during Khadījah’s lifetime, as we shall explain.

Ibn Isḥāq further said: Khadījah was the first to believe in Allah and His Messenger and to testify to what he brought.

Thereafter Gabriel came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ when the prayer had been enjoined. He struck the ground with his heel at one side of the valley and a spring of Zamzam water burst forth. Gabriel and Muhammad ﷺ performed ablution, prayed two rakʿahs, and made four prostrations. The Prophet ﷺ then returned, his eyes cooled and his heart at ease, having received from Allah what he loved. He took Khadījah’s hand and led her to the spring; she performed ablution as Gabriel had done, then prayed two rakʿahs and four prostrations. From that time he and Khadījah would pray together in secret.

I say: This prayer of Gabriel is distinct from the two occasions on which he led the Prophet in prayer at the Kaʿbah, clarifying the beginning and end of the times of the five prayers. That occurred after the prayers had been prescribed on the night of the Miʿrāj. A full explanation will follow, if Allah wills; in Him we trust and upon Him we rely.