THE DEAD CHAPTER · 53 – PERFORMING A FUNERAL PRAYER OVER A SMALL CHILD
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) related:
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)’s son, Ibrahim, died when he was eighteen months old. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did not perform the funeral prayer for him.
I heard Vail bin Dawud Behiyy saying: When the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam’s son Ibrahim died, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam performed the funeral prayer for him in a place set aside for sitting.
It is related from Atā (may Allah be pleased with him) that:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) performed the funeral prayer over his son, Ibrahim, when he was seventy nights old (having died).
EXPLANATION
Hadith number 3187 is more sound. This hadith is mursal. It is more established that Ibrahim lived for eighteen months.
In hadith number 3187, it is reported that no funeral prayer was performed over Ibrahim; in the latter narration, it is stated that it was performed. The scholars have offered various interpretations regarding the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) not performing the funeral prayer over his son. Some said, like those who are martyrs are pure, so too is the Messenger of Allah’s son pure. Others said, an eclipse occurred that day, and due to being occupied with the Eclipse Prayer, it could not be performed. It is possible to reconcile these narrations as follows: The funeral prayer was not performed on a bier (musallā) for Ibrahim, but rather was performed in a place where people sit. Lady Aisha reported that it was not performed on a bier because she saw it; and Bahiya reported that it was performed on the seating arrangements (makaid) because she saw it. In this case, it can be said that the funeral prayer for Ibrahim was not performed on a bier, but rather on the makaid. Children born alive are washed and the funeral prayer is performed over them.