How many children does prophet Muhammad (pbuh) have? What are prophet Muhammad’s children’s names? You can read everything about the children of prophet Muhammad (pbuh)…
The Blessed Prophet -upon him blessings and peace- had a total of six children with Khadijah; two sons, Qâsım and Abdullah, and four daughters, Zaynab, Ruqayya, Ummu Khulthum and Fâtima. As the Arab custom designated one’s name in line with the name of his firstborn male, the Prophet -upon him blessings and peace- began carrying the appellation Abu’l-Qasim, after his eldest son.
Qasim did not live long however, passing away at the age of two. Abdullah, the Prophet’s -upon him blessings and peace- second son in line, was born within the period of his messengership. But like his brother before him, neither did Abdullah survive, breathing his last at an early age.[1] Thereupon Âs ibn Wâ’il, a notorious idolater of Quraysh, exploiting the sorrow of the moment, began insulting the Blessed Prophet -upon him blessings and peace-, telling his comrades:
“He is an infertile man who will not leave a son to carry on his name. So you need only wait until his death. You will then be saved from him forever.”
This occasioned the revelation of Chapter Kawthar:
اِنَّا اَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ. فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ. اِنَّ شَانِئَكَ هُوَ اْلاَبْتَرُ.
“Surely We have given you Kawthar.[2] Therefore pray to your Lord and make a sacrifice. Surely your enemy is the one who shall be without posterity.” (al-Kawthar, 1-3) (Ibn Saad, III, 7; Wâhidî, p. 494)
Upon the death of their son at a very early age, Khadijah –Allah be well-pleased with her- lamented:
“I am overflowing with my dear child’s milk. If only Allah had extended his span until at least he completed his feed!”
“He shall complete his feed in Paradise”, the Messenger of Allah -upon him blessings and peace- replied.
“If I knew that with certainty, it would definitely ease the pain of his loss.”
“I will pray to Allah, if you wish, so you are made to hear his voice”, said the Prophet -upon him blessings and peace-.
But showing once more her exemplary submission and dependence, Khadijah –Allah be well-pleased with her- replied:
“No need. I trust Allah and His Messenger.” (Ibn Majah, Janaiz, 27)
The eldest of the daughters of the Noble Messenger -upon him blessings and peace- was Zaynab, born when he was around thirty years of age. Ruqayya was born after her.[3] Subsequent to the birth of Ruqayya was Umm Kulthum, followed right after by Fatimah –Allah be well-pleased with her-, born in the year of the rebuilding of the Kaabah, at which time the Messenger of Allah -upon him blessings and peace- was thirty five years old.[4]
The last child of the Noble Prophet -upon him blessings and peace- was Ibrahim, born in Medina, in the eighth year of Hegira. His mother was Mâriya. The birth was nursed by Umm Rafi, whose husband Abu Rafi delivered the good news of Ibrahim’s birth to the Messenger of Allah -upon him blessings and peace-, who reportedly became quite happy and told those around him:
“Tonight I had a baby son whom I shall name after my grandfather Ibrahim.”(Muslim, Fadâil, 62)
Ibrahim also developed an illness when he was around seventeen months old, passing away shortly after.[5]
Source: Osman Nuri Topbaş, The Prophet Muhammed Mustafa the Elect, Erkam Publications
[1] Ibn Saad, I, 133.
[2] Kawthar means abundance, a great amount of every given thing. It has been interpreted as including Prophethood, the Quran, Islam, goodness, bliss, intercession, salat and the miracles given to the Blessed Prophet -upon him blessings and peace-. Authentic narrations report it to be the name of the heavenly pool given to the Messenger of Allah -upon him blessings and peace- in Paradise, around which the ummah will gather in the Hereafter. (Bukhari, Tafsir, 108)
[3] Diyarbakri, I, 273-274.
[4] Ibn Saad, VIII, 19-26.
[5] See Asri Çubukçu, DİA, “İbrâhîm” entry, XXI, 273-274.