❖ A Historical and Rational Analysis of the Age Difference Between Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and Ḥaḍrat Ḥamzah رضي الله عنه ❖
Written by: Ahmad Bilal
Recently, some atheists distorted historical reports to falsely claim that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and Ḥaḍrat Ḥamzah رضي الله عنه should have been the same age, since their fathers supposedly married at the same time. Based on this assumption, they slandered the Prophet ﷺ, even questioning the identity of his biological father — a baseless and blasphemous claim.
The atheist’s argument is based on three misleading steps:
① ʿAbdullāh (father of the Prophet ﷺ) and ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib (grandfather) married in the same gathering, marrying Āminah and Hālah respectively.
② Therefore, their wives must have conceived at the same time.
③ Consequently, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and Ḥaḍrat Ḥamzah should be the same age, but historical reports mention an age gap.
This forced reasoning ignores both historical nuance and biological reality.
✔ Marriage taking place together does not guarantee conception at the same time.
✔ Even in modern science, timing of conception varies due to a range of biological and marital factors.
✔ The conclusion that “same wedding = same birth year” is illogical and unscientific.
Historical sources state:
"ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib went with his son ʿAbdullāh to the Banū Zuhrah tribe and married him to Āminah. In the same gathering, he himself married Hālah bint Wahb."
— Ṭabaqāt Ibn Saʿd, Vol. 1, p. 115
✔ This only confirms that both marriages took place together, not that both wives conceived at the same time.
A narration further states:
"After marriage, ʿAbdullāh stayed with Āminah for three days, which was customary at the time."
— Ṭabaqāt Ibn Saʿd, Vol. 1, p. 115
✔ This confirms immediate marital relations, but does not specify Hālah’s situation or timing of conception.
Another narration mentions:
"ʿAbdullāh had marital relations with Āminah, and through that the light of Prophethood was transferred to her womb."
— Sīrat Ḥalabiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 130
✔ This narration implies early conception, but offers no timeline for Hālah.
The atheist claimed that ʿAbdullāh died immediately after marriage, implying a one-time encounter.
But history says otherwise:
"ʿAbdullāh passed away several months after the Prophet’s conception."
— Sīrat Ḥalabiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 170
In fact, some narrations say:
"ʿAbdullāh died two months after the Prophet ﷺ was born."
— Sīrat Ḥalabiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 177
✔ So, ʿAbdullāh lived for months or even years after marriage, refuting the “one-time encounter” narrative.
According to another narration:
"Āminah said she had conceived several times before, but none of those pregnancies were carried to term."
— Ṭabaqāt Ibn Saʿd, Vol. 1, p. 119
✔ This shows prior attempts at conception, proving that pregnancy timing is not always predictable or simultaneous.
Historical reports indicate:
"At the time of the Battle of Uḥud, Ḥamzah was 56 and the Prophet ﷺ was 52 years old."
— Sīrat Ḥalabiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 170
✔ This confirms a 4-year age difference, completely disproving the atheist claim.
Atheists often:
❶ Select weak or vague historical texts.
❷ Twist them to create doubt.
❸ Make unverified claims without scholarly backing.
❹ Use shock value and crude language to target Muslim belief.
But when scrutinized, these claims fall apart under historical and logical analysis.
The claim that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and Ḥaḍrat Ḥamzah should have been the same age due to their fathers marrying together is:
✔ Historically unsubstantiated,
✔ Biologically invalid, and
✔ A baseless attempt to provoke confusion.
Such objections are part of a larger agenda to discredit Islamic history—but when met with knowledge and patience, they are easily dismantled.
Written by: Ahmad Bilal
❖ Atheist Objection and the Misuse of Historical Sources
Recently, some atheists distorted historical reports to falsely claim that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and Ḥaḍrat Ḥamzah رضي الله عنه should have been the same age, since their fathers supposedly married at the same time. Based on this assumption, they slandered the Prophet ﷺ, even questioning the identity of his biological father — a baseless and blasphemous claim.
❖ Flawed Logic Behind the Objection
The atheist’s argument is based on three misleading steps:
① ʿAbdullāh (father of the Prophet ﷺ) and ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib (grandfather) married in the same gathering, marrying Āminah and Hālah respectively.
② Therefore, their wives must have conceived at the same time.
③ Consequently, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and Ḥaḍrat Ḥamzah should be the same age, but historical reports mention an age gap.
This forced reasoning ignores both historical nuance and biological reality.
❖ Rational Refutation: Marriage ≠ Simultaneous Conception
✔ Marriage taking place together does not guarantee conception at the same time.
✔ Even in modern science, timing of conception varies due to a range of biological and marital factors.
✔ The conclusion that “same wedding = same birth year” is illogical and unscientific.
❖ Historical Evidence Against the Objection
① The Marriage Narrative
Historical sources state:
"ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib went with his son ʿAbdullāh to the Banū Zuhrah tribe and married him to Āminah. In the same gathering, he himself married Hālah bint Wahb."
— Ṭabaqāt Ibn Saʿd, Vol. 1, p. 115
✔ This only confirms that both marriages took place together, not that both wives conceived at the same time.
② When Did Conception Occur?
A narration further states:
"After marriage, ʿAbdullāh stayed with Āminah for three days, which was customary at the time."
— Ṭabaqāt Ibn Saʿd, Vol. 1, p. 115
✔ This confirms immediate marital relations, but does not specify Hālah’s situation or timing of conception.
③ The Transfer of the Nūr (Light of Prophethood)
Another narration mentions:
"ʿAbdullāh had marital relations with Āminah, and through that the light of Prophethood was transferred to her womb."
— Sīrat Ḥalabiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 130
✔ This narration implies early conception, but offers no timeline for Hālah.
④ Did ʿAbdullāh Die Immediately?
The atheist claimed that ʿAbdullāh died immediately after marriage, implying a one-time encounter.
But history says otherwise:
"ʿAbdullāh passed away several months after the Prophet’s conception."
— Sīrat Ḥalabiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 170
In fact, some narrations say:
"ʿAbdullāh died two months after the Prophet ﷺ was born."
— Sīrat Ḥalabiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 177
✔ So, ʿAbdullāh lived for months or even years after marriage, refuting the “one-time encounter” narrative.
⑤ Multiple Miscarriages Before the Prophet ﷺ
According to another narration:
"Āminah said she had conceived several times before, but none of those pregnancies were carried to term."
— Ṭabaqāt Ibn Saʿd, Vol. 1, p. 119
✔ This shows prior attempts at conception, proving that pregnancy timing is not always predictable or simultaneous.
❖ What Was the Actual Age Gap?
Historical reports indicate:
"At the time of the Battle of Uḥud, Ḥamzah was 56 and the Prophet ﷺ was 52 years old."
— Sīrat Ḥalabiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 170
✔ This confirms a 4-year age difference, completely disproving the atheist claim.
❖ The Atheist Method: Misrepresent and Mislead
Atheists often:
❶ Select weak or vague historical texts.
❷ Twist them to create doubt.
❸ Make unverified claims without scholarly backing.
❹ Use shock value and crude language to target Muslim belief.
But when scrutinized, these claims fall apart under historical and logical analysis.
Conclusion
The claim that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and Ḥaḍrat Ḥamzah should have been the same age due to their fathers marrying together is:
✔ Historically unsubstantiated,
✔ Biologically invalid, and
✔ A baseless attempt to provoke confusion.
Such objections are part of a larger agenda to discredit Islamic history—but when met with knowledge and patience, they are easily dismantled.
