Taken from the book “Rights of Parents and Children” by Shaykh Jāwēd Iqbāl Sīālkōṭī
✿ It Is Permissible Not to Offer Janāzah Prayer for a Minor Child
❀ Ḥadīth:
عن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت:
**
ماتَ إبراهيمُ بنُ النبيِّ ﷺ، وهو ابنُ ثمانيةَ عشرَ شهرًا، فلم يُصَلِّ عليهِ رسولُ اللهِ ﷺ
**
ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها narrated:
“The Prophet’s ﷺ son Ibrāhīm passed away at the age of eighteen months, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not offer the funeral prayer for him.”
📚 Sunan Abī Dāwūd – Kitāb al-Janā’iz – Bāb fī al-Ṣalāh ʿala al-Ṭifl: 3187
(Graded ḥasan by some scholars)
✔ Benefit (فائدہ):
Offering Janāzah for a minor (non-bāligh) child is permissible and preferable,
❖ but if it is not performed, there is no sin—it is allowed.
✿ Note on Conflicting Reports:
There are two narrations mentioned in Abū Dāwūd, Vol. 2, pg. 98, ḥadīth no. 3188, which state that the Prophet ﷺ did offer Janāzah for Ibrāhīm,
❖ However, these narrations are weak and considered munkar (denounced) by ḥadīth scholars.
✔ Summary:
✦ Janāzah prayer may be offered for a deceased minor, but it is not obligatory.
✦ There is precedent in the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ for not offering Janāzah in the case of a child.
✦ This gives flexibility to the family in dealing with the death of a non-bāligh child.
