Narrated Aishah, Ummul Muminin: Ibrahim, the son of the Prophet ﷺ, died when he was eighteen months old. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not pray over him.
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi
Benefits and Issues:
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When a child is born alive, it is Sunnah to perform his funeral prayer (salat al-janazah).
Similarly, it is permissible to perform the funeral prayer for a child who is born prematurely.
It is not a condition that he comes out of his mother’s womb alive.
Rather, even if he is stillborn, it will be considered (as a child).
In that case as well, it is correct to perform his funeral prayer.
On the condition that four months have passed over the pregnancy.
In the funeral prayer, supplication for forgiveness and mercy should be made for his parents.
The hadith in which the condition of istihlal (crying or showing signs of life) is stipulated for the funeral prayer of a child is weak.
(Ahkam al-Jana'iz by al-Albani) However, this is not necessary or obligatory; it is a legislated matter.
That is, if someone wishes to perform the prayer, he may do so.
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The reason for not performing the funeral prayer for Ibrahim (alayhis salam) may have been the preoccupation with the solar eclipse prayer, or it is possible
that due to the virtue which he attained by being the son of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) while alive,
that (virtue) was considered sufficient (Khatabi).
Source: Sunan Abu Dawood – Commentary by Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi, Page: 3187