A Blessed Child

In 8th Hijri, Allah the Almighty gifted Hazrat Mariyah Qibtiyyah (ra) with another blessing. Hazrat Mariyah (ra) gave birth to a beautiful son of the Holy Prophet (sas).

One tradition says that when Hazrat Jibril (as) [Gabriel] appeared to the Holy Prophet (sas) at the occasion of the birth of Hazrat Ibrahim (ra), he said:

“O father of Ibrahim, may peace be on you!”

That is how a beautiful son of the Holy Prophet (sas) came to be named Ibrahim (ra). The good news of his birth was conveyed to the Holy Prophet (sas) by his servant Abu Rafi‘. This news made the Holy Prophet (sas) very happy and to express his happiness he gifted this servant a servant of his own. On the seventh day after the birth of Ibrahim (ra), his ‘Aqiqah was performed. His head was shaved, and an amount of silver equal to the weight of the hair was given to charity. The hair was buried in the ground.1

In keeping with the custom in Arabia, Hazrat Ibrahim (ra) was assigned a wet-nurse by the name of Hazrat Ummi- Bardah (ra). Her husband was an ironsmith and their house was always filled with smoke from the furnace. Hazrat Ibrahim (ra) was the last of the children to be born to Holy Prophet (sas) during the later years of his life. The Holy Prophet (sas) loved him deeply. Whenever he went to the house of Hazrat Ummi-Bardah (ra), he would sit Hazrat Ibrahim (ra) in his lap and shower affection on him. The smoke would fill up his eyes and nose, but for the child’s sake he endured the discomfort.2

Hazrat Mariyah (ra) took care of him, staying awake during the nights to watch over him, but his life was slowly ebbing away. When the Holy Prophet (sas) was told that his health was getting worse, he went to him. He took his precious son in his arms and said:

“O Ibrahim, we cannot save you from Allah’s decree.”

Tears started rolling from the eyes of the Holy Prophet (sas). He bent down and kissed the child, and said:

“O Ibrahim, God’s commandment is true and His promise is that those who die will later be reunited with the loved ones that passed away earlier. If we did not have that promise from Allah, I would have grieved over your death much more than I do now. O Ibrahim, I am sad at enduring separation from you. My eyes are wet with tears. My heart is unhappy; but I will not utter any words that will cause the displeasure of Allah.”

Then the Holy Prophet (sas) consoled Hazrat Mariyah Qibtiyyah (ra) and said, “Ibrahim is my son and he is passing away while he is still being nursed. For this reason, two wet-nurses have been appointed for him in heaven who will nurse him.”3

Hazrat Ibrahim (ra), the son of the Holy Prophet (sas), lived for about eighteen months, and then he passed away. Hazrat Fadl bin ‘Abbas (ra) narrates that Hazrat Ummi-Bardah (ra) bathed Hazrat Ibrahim (ra) and his body was placed on a small bedstead which was carried to Jannatul-Baqi‘. He was buried next to Hazrat ‘Uthman bin Maz‘un (ra). Fadl bin ‘Abbas (ra) and Usamah (ra) helped lower him in the grave. Water was sprinkled on the grave and a stone was placed next to it to give as a mark of identification.4

At the time of the demise of the beloved Ibrahim (ra), the Holy Prophet (sas) and Hazrat Mariyah Qibtiyyah (ra) displayed a great example of fortitude. The Holy Prophet (sas) accompanied the body to the cemetery for the burial. When he approached the grave, he took the body in his hands and descended into the grave to place the body in it. While placing the body in the grave he uttered these words:

“Go to your brother ‘Uthman bin Maz‘un (ra)!”

Hazrat ‘Uthman bin Maz‘un (ra) had passed away six years before the demise of Hazrat Ibrahim (ra). The Holy Prophet (sas) used to love him immensely. He had been martyred during a battle. It is written in the books of Ahadith that the Holy Prophet (sas) used to say this about his son Hazrat Ibrahim (ra):

Translation: If Ibrahim (ra) had lived, then he definitely would have become a pious Prophet.5