4.3.3 Children of the Prophet ﷺ

Introduction

The children of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ form a tender and very human part of his Seerah. Through their births, lives, and deaths, we see his love as a father, his patience with loss, and the way Allah shaped his life for a higher mission. All of his children were born to him after prophethood except one opinion concerning the exact timing of some births, and all but one were born from his noble wife Khadijah رضي الله عنها. Their stories are simple, yet deeply connected to how Allah supported His Messenger and purified his path.

The Names and Number of His Children

The Prophet ﷺ had three sons and four daughters according to the soundest opinion. Most scholars agree on seven children in total, although some mention eight by counting a son named Tayyib and a son named Tahir separately, while others consider these to be titles for the same child.

His sons were Qasim, Abdullah, and Ibrahim. His daughters were Zaynab, Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthum, and Fatimah رضي الله عنهم أجمعين. The Quraysh, like other Arabs, used to give nicknames based on the name of the first son, so the Prophet ﷺ became known as Abul Qasim, the father of Qasim. This kunya remained his most famous, and he himself said:

عَنْ أَنَسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ: «تَسَمَّوْا بِاسْمِي، وَلَا تَكْتَنُوا بِكُنْيَتِي»
Narrated Anas رضي الله عنه: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Name yourselves with my name, but do not use my kunya.”
(Sahih Muslim)

This hadith shows how closely his identity as a father was tied to the name of his child.

The Sons of the Prophet ﷺ from Khadijah رضي الله عنها

Al Qasim

Al Qasim was the first child born to the Prophet ﷺ and Khadijah رضي الله عنها. Through him, the Prophet ﷺ received his kunya, Abul Qasim. Qasim was born in Makkah, before the beginning of the public message of Islam, in the early years of the Prophet’s married life.

Qasim died in childhood, before reaching the age of maturity. The exact age is not firmly established in authentic reports, but he died quite young. His loss was one of the earliest personal trials in the Prophet’s life as a husband and father. Yet, despite this early bereavement, the Prophet ﷺ remained patient and submitted to Allah’s decree. Even before revelation began, Allah was training him in patience and surrender.

The death of Qasim also meant that the Prophet ﷺ, like many men of his time, did not have a surviving son to carry his name. Among the Arabs, sons were often seen as a sign of strength, continuation, and prestige. This context helps us appreciate later events in his life when his enemies mocked him for lacking surviving sons, and how Allah answered that mockery in the Quran, which belongs to a later chapter.

Abdullah, Also Known as At Tayyib and At Tahir

Abdullah was another son of the Prophet ﷺ from Khadijah رضي الله عنها. Some reports suggest that he was born after the beginning of prophethood, while others place his birth shortly before. What is clear is that he did not live long. He died in infancy in Makkah.

In some narrations he is called At Tayyib and At Tahir. Many scholars say these are descriptive titles for Abdullah, referring to his purity. Others suggested that Tayyib and Tahir were two separate sons. The more accepted view is that they are titles for the same child, Abdullah.

Like Qasim, Abdullah’s early death added to the Prophet’s personal sorrow. Once again, he was deprived of a son who could grow up in front of him. This repeated loss was used by some of his enemies to insult him. They taunted him and called him “abtar,” meaning “cut off,” because they saw no surviving male child to continue his lineage.

Later, Surah al Kawthar would come as a powerful response to these taunts, but at this stage of his life, he bore these pains silently. His role as a father, tested again and again, is part of the preparation for the immense trials of prophethood.

The Son from Maria al Qibtiyyah رضي الله عنها: Ibrahim

His Birth in Madinah

Ibrahim was the last son of the Prophet ﷺ. He was born in Madinah to Maria al Qibtiyyah رضي الله عنها, who had been gifted to the Prophet ﷺ by the ruler of Egypt. Ibrahim’s birth took place after the Hijrah and after the establishment of the Muslim community in Madinah.

The Prophet ﷺ rejoiced greatly at the birth of Ibrahim. He chose for him the name of his noble forefather, the Prophet Ibrahim عليه السلام. In this name there is a clear connection to the line of prophethood and to the covenant Allah made with Ibrahim. It reminded the Muslims that Muhammad ﷺ was from the same prophetic line that they already knew from the scriptures.

The Prophet ﷺ entrusted the nursing of Ibrahim to a woman of the Ansar. He would often visit the house where Ibrahim was being raised, showing his natural affection and concern as a father. Anas ibn Malik رضي الله عنه narrated:

عَنْ أَنَسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «وُلِدَ لِي اللَّيْلَةَ غُلَامٌ، فَسَمَّيْتُهُ بِاسْمِ أَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ»
Narrated Anas رضي الله عنه: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “A son was born to me this night, and I named him with the name of my father Ibrahim.”
(Sahih Muslim)

This hadith shows both his joy as a father and his awareness of the prophetic lineage.

His Death and the Prophet’s Tears

Ibrahim lived for a short time only. When he was about sixteen or eighteen months old, he became ill and approached death. The Prophet ﷺ held him in his arms during his final moments. Anas رضي الله عنه described the scene:

فَقَبَضَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَهُوَ فِي حِجْرِهِ، قَالَ أَنَسٌ: فَقَالَ: «تَدْمَعُ الْعَيْنُ، وَيَحْزَنُ الْقَلْبُ، وَلَا نَقُولُ إِلَّا مَا يَرْضَى رَبُّنَا، وَإِنَّا بِفِرَاقِكَ يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ لَمَحْزُونُونَ»
Anas رضي الله عنه said that when Ibrahim died in the lap of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, he said: “The eye sheds tears and the heart grieves, but we do not say except that which pleases our Lord. Indeed, we are grieved by your separation, O Ibrahim.”
(Sahih al Bukhari)

This moment is one of the clearest windows into the Prophet’s heart. He cried, and he expressed his sorrow, but he also held firmly to the boundaries of what pleases Allah in speech. The companions saw that sincere human emotion and divine submission can exist together.

At the time of Ibrahim’s death, there was a solar eclipse. Some people said that the sun eclipsed because of the death of Ibrahim. The Prophet ﷺ immediately corrected this misunderstanding. He stood and addressed the people:

عَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، قَالَ: قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ: «إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ لَا يَنْكَسِفَانِ لِمَوْتِ أَحَدٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ، وَلَكِنَّهُمَا آيَتَانِ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ، فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهُمَا فَقُومُوا فَصَلُّوا»
Narrated Abu Mas‘ud رضي الله عنه: The Prophet ﷺ said, “The sun and the moon do not eclipse because of anyone’s death or life, but they are two signs from the signs of Allah. When you see them, then stand and pray.”
(Sahih al Bukhari)

Even in the moment of losing his own child, he focused the people’s attention on correct belief and worship. This event shows how Allah combined in him the tenderness of a father and the firmness of a messenger.

The Daughters of the Prophet ﷺ

All four daughters of the Prophet ﷺ were born to Khadijah رضي الله عنها, and they embraced Islam with him in Makkah. Their lives extended across both the Makkan and Madinan periods, except for those who died earlier. Through them we see the Prophet ﷺ as a caring father of daughters in a society that often devalued girls.

In the Qurayshi culture before Islam, some people felt ashamed at the birth of daughters. Allah describes such people:

وَإِذَا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُم بِالْأُنثَىٰ ظَلَّ وَجْهُهُ مُسْوَدًّا وَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ
“And when one of them is given the good news of a female, his face becomes dark, and he is filled with inward grief.”
(Quran 16:58)

The Prophet ﷺ by his example showed the opposite. He honored his daughters, loved them openly, and taught that raising daughters is a path to Paradise.

Zaynab رضي الله عنها

Zaynab was the eldest of the Prophet’s daughters. She was born in Makkah before prophethood and grew up in the early household of Muhammad ﷺ and Khadijah رضي الله عنها. Before the message, she married her cousin Abul ‘As ibn ar Rabi‘, a man known for his honesty and loyalty.

When the Prophet ﷺ began to call to Islam, Zaynab accepted the message of her father. Her husband, however, did not accept Islam at first. This created a test within the family, but the Prophet ﷺ did not force his son in law; instead, events developed gradually, and Abul ‘As later embraced Islam after experiencing the character of the Muslims and the fairness of the Prophet ﷺ.

Zaynab’s life shows how the family of the Prophet ﷺ itself experienced the strain of differing beliefs in the same household, and yet the Prophet ﷺ remained just and principled in all matters that touched his family.

Ruqayyah رضي الله عنها

Ruqayyah, the second daughter, was also born in the Makkan period. Before prophethood she was engaged to a son of Abu Lahab. When the call to Islam began and the Prophet ﷺ invited his relatives, Abu Lahab and his wife became among the fiercest enemies of Islam. They pressured their son to break off the engagement to Ruqayyah, and the engagement was dissolved.

Later, Ruqayyah married Uthman ibn Affan رضي الله عنه, who would become the third caliph of Islam. Both Ruqayyah and Uthman migrated to Abyssinia in the first migration of the Muslims, leaving behind their home for the sake of Allah. Their marriage became known for its faith and sacrifice.

Ruqayyah fell ill in Madinah around the time of the Battle of Badr. The Prophet ﷺ allowed Uthman to stay in Madinah to care for her instead of joining the battle. She passed away while the Muslims were rejoicing over the victory of Badr, showing how joy and sorrow often come together in this worldly life. The Prophet ﷺ attended her burial, combining the role of leader and father in a single day.

Umm Kulthum رضي الله عنها

After the death of Ruqayyah, the Prophet ﷺ married his third daughter, Umm Kulthum, to Uthman ibn Affan رضي الله عنه. Because of this, Uthman came to be known as “Dhun Nurayn”, the possessor of two lights, as he married two daughters of the Prophet ﷺ, one after the other.

Like her sisters, Umm Kulthum embraced Islam in Makkah and migrated to Madinah. She lived during difficult years when the young Muslim community faced external wars and internal challenges. Although little detailed information has come to us about her daily life, her patience and loyalty to her father’s mission were clear.

She died in Madinah in the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ. Once again, the Prophet ﷺ had to bury a daughter with his own hands, and once again he showed dignified patience. Through these repeated losses, Allah raised him in rank and made him a living example of how to deal with personal pain.

Fatimah رضي الله عنها

Fatimah was the youngest of the Prophet’s daughters and the one whose life remained most closely tied to him until his death. She was born in Makkah during the early years of his marriage to Khadijah رضي الله عنها, and she grew up witnessing the persecution and hardship that her father faced after prophethood. Some reports mention that as a young girl she would wipe dust and dirt from his back when the Quraysh mocked and harmed him.

The Prophet ﷺ bore special affection for Fatimah. Whenever she came to visit, he would stand up to meet her and kiss her. It is narrated:

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: مَا رَأَيْتُ أَحَدًا أَشْبَهَ سَمْتًا وَهَدْيًا وَدَلًّا بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْ فَاطِمَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا
Aishah رضي الله عنها said: “I did not see anyone who resembled the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in speech, manner, and way of sitting and standing more than Fatimah رضي الله عنها.”
(Sunan at Tirmidhi)

Fatimah married Ali ibn Abi Talib رضي الله عنه in Madinah. From their marriage came Al Hasan and Al Husayn رضي الله عنهما, the grandsons of the Prophet ﷺ and the leaders of the youth of Paradise according to authentic hadith.

Towards the end of his life, the Prophet ﷺ gave Fatimah a special confidential message. Aishah رضي الله عنها narrated:

دَعَا النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَاطِمَةَ ابْنَتَهُ فَسَارَّهَا فَبَكَتْ، ثُمَّ سَارَّهَا فَضَحِكَتْ، فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ: فَسَأَلْتُهَا، فَأَخْبَرَتْنِي أَنَّهُ قَالَ فِي الْمَرَّةِ الْأُولَى: «إِنَّ جِبْرِيلَ كَانَ يُعَارِضُنِي الْقُرْآنَ كُلَّ سَنَةٍ مَرَّةً، وَإِنَّهُ عَارَضَنِي الْعَامَ مَرَّتَيْنِ، وَلَا أُرَاهُ إِلَّا قَدِ اقْتَرَبَ أَجَلِي، فَاتَّقِي اللَّهَ وَاصْبِرِي، فَإِنِّي نِعْمَ السَّلَفُ لَكِ»، قَالَتْ: فَبَكَيْتُ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: «أَمَا تَرْضَيْنَ أَنْ تَكُونِي سَيِّدَةَ نِسَاءِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ أَوْ نِسَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ؟» قَالَتْ: فَضَحِكْتُ
The Prophet ﷺ called his daughter Fatimah and spoke to her privately, and she cried. Then he spoke to her privately again, and she laughed. Aishah said: I asked her about that. She told me that he said the first time: “Jibril used to review the Quran with me once every year, but this year he reviewed it with me twice, and I do not see that except as an indication that my death is near. So fear Allah and be patient, for I am the best predecessor for you.” She said: So I cried. Then he said: “Are you not pleased to be the leader of the women of Paradise or the women of the believers?” She said: So I laughed.
(Sahih al Bukhari)

Fatimah lived only a short time after the Prophet ﷺ. Most reports state that she passed away about six months after his death. She thus remained the closest of his children to him both in love and in time.

The Prophet ﷺ as a Father Through His Children

The story of the Prophet’s children is marked by two constant patterns. The first is love and mercy. He named them with noble names, carried them, kissed them, and showed affection in public. The second is repeated loss. None of his sons lived to adulthood, and he buried several of his daughters with his own hands.

Through both patterns, Allah taught the Muslims how to look at family: as a trust, not a possession. Children are a gift, not a guarantee. The Quran reminds us:

لِلَّهِ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاءُ، يَهَبُ لِمَن يَشَاءُ إِنَاثًا وَيَهَبُ لِمَن يَشَاءُ الذُّكُورَ
“To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. He creates what He wills. He grants to whom He wills female [children], and He grants to whom He wills males.”
(Quran 42:49)

The Prophet ﷺ lived this verse. He loved his daughters, mourned his sons, and in every situation submitted to the will of Allah. His children, in their brief and varied lives, were part of the divine plan that shaped his Seerah and showed the believers how to combine human feeling with spiritual strength.