Ibrahim ibn Muhammad

Ibrahim ibn Muhammad (Arabic script إبرهيم بن محمد) was the male child of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and Maria al-Qibtiyya. The child was named after Abraham, the common ancestor of both Muslim and Jews. The child was placed in the care of a nurse called Umm Sayf, in the tradition of the Arabs of the time, to whom Muhammad gave some goats to complement her milk supply Muhammad Husayn Haykal, Translated by Isma'il Razi A. al-Faruqi, "The Life of Muhammad (Allah's peace and blessing be upon him)", American Trush Publications, 1976, ISBN 0-89259-002-5 [http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MH_LM/campaign_of_tabuk_and_death_of_ibrahim.htm] ] .

Illness and Death

Ibrahim fell seriously ill sometime after the Battle of Tabuk at which time he was reported as being either sixteen or eighteen months old. He was moved to a date orchard near Mashrabat Umm Ibrahim, under the care of his mother and her sister Sirin. When it was clear that he would not likely survive Muhammad was informed .

His reaction to the news is reported as:

Seeing Muhammad's sorrow, his companions reminded him of his commandment against indulging in self-pity after a death. Muhammad is reported as having answered: "I have not commanded against sadness, but against raising one's voice in lamentation. What you see in me is the effect of the love and compassion in my heart for my lost one. Remember that whoever feels no compassion toward others will not receive any compassion." .

Ibrahim is reported as finally passing away in 10 AH, which was known as the "the Year of Deputations." It is also the year in which Abu Bakr made the pilgrimage to Makkah .

Burial

Muhammad is also reported as having informed Mariyah and Sirin that Ibrahim would have his own nurse in Paradise. Different accounts relate that the ghusl for Ibrahim was performed by either Umm Burdah, or al-Fadl ibn `Abbas, in preparation for burial. Thereafter, he was carried to the cemetery of Abu Bakr upon a little bed among others by the Prophet, his uncle al-`Abbas. Here, after a funeral prayer led by the Prophet, he was interred . Muhammad then filled the grave with sand, sprinkled some water upon it, and placed a landmark on it, whereupon he is reported as saying that "Tombstones do neither good nor ill, but they help appease the living. Anything that man does, God wishes him to do well."

Abbas, the uncle of Muhammad has reported the following narration which is recorded by Ibn Maja [Sunan ibn Maja, Hafiz Abu `Abdallah Muhammad ibn Yazid Ibn Maja al-Rab`i al-Qazwini; Vol 1, Book of Funerals, Chapter 37: pp. 474]

The Eclipse

The occasion of the death of Ibrahim also coincided with an eclipse of the sun (probably the annular eclipse which occurred in the early morning of 27 January 632, equivalent with the last or the penultimate day of Shawwal, 10 AH), [ [http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEhistory/SEhistory.html Solar Eclipses of Historical Interest] ] a phenomenon the Muslims began to circulate by rumor as a miracle. The word went out saying that the sun was eclipsed in sadness over the death of Ibrahim. Upon hearing this Muhammad is reported as saying "The sun and the moon are signs of God. They are eclipsed neither for the death nor birth of any man. On beholding an eclipse, therefore, remember God and turn to Him in prayer." Thereby, denying the concept .

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