Taken from the book “Rights of Parents and Children” by Shaykh Jāwēd Iqbāl Sīālkōṭī
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)
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.
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.
✦ 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.
✿ 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.
