Lady Khadijah (sa) was one of the wealthiest merchants of Quraish. She dispatched some men to different cities to trade; afterwards, she would get her share from the profit of their business.
When Lady Khadijah (sa) was informed of Prophet Muhammad’s(s.a.w.w.) truthfulness, moral virtues, and his trustworthiness (as he was well-known for), she offered him to go to Syria for trade. She also gave him a larger share than the rest men.
Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w.) accepted this offer and left for Syria; he was being accompanied with Meysara, Lady Khadijah’s (s.a) special servant.
When they arrived in Syria, Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w.) came down in the shadow of a tree near a monastery. A monk asked Meysara: “Who is the man under that tree?” Meysara replied:” He is of Quraish tribe and from Mecca.” The monk said: “I swear to Allah that he is no one except a Prophet.”
Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w.) sold what he had brought; he bought some other material and then returned to Mecca. In this journey, all businessmen made profit, especially Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w.) who made more than others. Once they returned, Lady Khadijah (sa) asked Meysara about Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w.); he said that whatever he did was orderly, logical and wise. He also narrated the happenings throughout the journey and said: “When one of the traders asked him to swear to Laat and Ozza, the two famous idols in Mecca, he refused to do that and said: ‘To me, nothing is inferior to Lat and Ozza.’”
Once Lady Khadijah (s.a.) became aware of these incidents, she sent a messenger to Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w.) to express her proposal for marriage. She wanted to marry him because of his dignity honourable family, truthfulness, moral virtues, and trustworthiness.
Once Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w.) was informed of this issue, he sent his uncles to house of Lady Khadijah (PBUH) to propose for her hand in marriage. In the proposal session, Hazrat Abu Talib (as), the Prophet’s uncle, praised Allah (s.w.t.) and then spoke of the virtues of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w.). He proposed marriage on behalf of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w.) to Lady Khadijah (sa). Lady Khadijah (sa) accepted the proposal and got married to Prophet Muhammad(s.a.w.w.).
The wedding took place. The leader of Quraysh and the master of the Arabs, at that time, Hazrat Abu Talib stood up to do a speech. He said: “Praise be to Allah, Who has made us of the progeny of Abraham and the descent of Ishmael and the origin of Mi’add and the race of Mudhar. He has made us the guardians of His House and the guards of His sanctum. He has made for us a House, to which people intend from everywhere, made for us a safe sanctum and has made us the rulers over the people.
My nephew Muhammad bin Abdullah(s.a.w.w.) isn’t compared with a man unless he will be preferred to him in honor, nobility, virtue and reason. If he has a little money; money is a transient shadow, a changeable thing and a paid back dept.
Here is Muhammad. You Know his lineage well.... He proposed to engage Khadeeja bint Khuwaylid and paid her dowry as so and so...
By Allah, he will be high position and great importance.”
This speech of Abu Talib showed two things;
He began his speech with praising Allah for making them of the progeny of Abraham and the descents of Ishmael that the idolatry had never polluted them with its filths and that they-the Hashemites- were a continuous origin and a remainder ray connected with the first light of Abraham so they were an eternal symbol of the divine mission of Abraham(s).
This quality that distinguished them from the rest of people made them the guardians of the Holy House (the Kaaba), which had been built by their father Abraham on the order of Allah. Hence they alone were the guardians of the Kaaba; therefore they became the rulers over the people.
Then he went on showing the excellences of his nephew. He declared that his nephew was the most perfect man and he was preferable to the all in the scales of morals and values. No one would be comparable to him in his qualities and excellences at all.
After all that he would be-in the near future- greater and higher than what he was at that day. Abu Talib swore by Allah and definitely his swear had its meaning and value when he said: He will be of high position and great importance.