عام الحزن
The Year of Sorrow ('Am al-Huzn)
Sha'ban/Ramadan, 3 BH (619 CE)
Makkah
Within a short period, the Prophet ﷺ lost both Abu Talib — his uncle and protector — and Khadijah — his beloved wife of 25 years and his greatest supporter. Abu Talib died without accepting Islam despite the Prophet's ﷺ plea. Khadijah passed away in Ramadan of the same year.
Why this matters
These twin losses left the Prophet ﷺ more vulnerable than ever. Abu Talib's protection had been the primary barrier preventing the Quraysh from physically harming him. Khadijah had been his emotional anchor, the first believer, and his confidante. The Prophet ﷺ called this period his greatest sorrow. Allah later consoled him with the Night Journey.
Quran references
إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِى مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ
Surah Al-Qasas, 56
Indeed, [O Muhammad], you do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided.
Hadith references
Sahih al-Bukhari, #3816
Narrated by: Aisha
Grading: Sahih
“Aishah said: I did not feel jealous of any of the wives of the Prophet ﷺ as much as I did of Khadijah, though she died before he married me, because I often heard him mentioning her, and Allah had commanded him to give her the good tidings of a palace in Paradise. Whenever he slaughtered a sheep he would send a share of it to her friends.”