The Blessed Prophet (pbuh) had a total of six children with Khadijah; two sons, Qâsım and Abdullah, and four daughters, Zaynab, Ruqayya, Ummu Khulthum and Fâtima. As the Arab custom designated one’s name in line with the name of his firstborn male, the Prophet (pbuh) began carrying the appellation Abu’l-Qasim, after his eldest son.
Qasim did not live long however, passing away at the age of two. Abdullah, the Prophet’s (pbuh) second son in line, was born within the period of his messengership. But like his brother before him, neither did Abdullah survive, breathing his last at an early age.
There upon Âs ibn Wâ’il, a notorious idolater of Quraysh, exploiting the sorrow of the moment, began insulting the Blessed Prophet (pbuh), telling his comrades:
“He is an infertile man who will not leave a son to carry on his name. So you need only wait until his death. You will then be saved from him forever.”
This occasioned the revelation of Chapter Kawthar:
“Surely We have given you Kawthar. Therefore pray to your Lord and make a sacrifice. Surely your enemy is the one who shall be without posterity.” (al-Kawthar, 1-3) (Ibn Saad, III, 7; Wâhidî, p. 494)
Upon the death of their son at a very early age, Khadijah (r.ha) lamented:
“I am overflowing with my dear child’s milk. If only Allah had extended his span until at least he completed his feed!”
“He shall complete his feed in Paradise”, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) replied.
“If I knew that with certainty, it would definitely ease the pain of his loss.”
“I will pray to Allah, if you wish, so you are made to hear his voice”, said the Prophet (pbuh).
But showing once more her exemplary submission and dependence, Khadijah (r.ha) replied:
“No need. I trust Allah and His Messenger.” (Ibn Majah, Janaiz, 27)
The eldest of the daughters of the Noble Messenger (pbuh) was Zaynab, born when he was around thirty years of age. Ruqayya was born after her. Subsequent to the birth of Ruqayya was Umm Kulthum, followed right after by Fatimah (r.ha), born in the year of the rebuilding of the Kaabah, at which time the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was thirty five years old.
The last child of the Noble Prophet (pbuh) was Ibrahim, born in Medina, in the eighth year of Hegira. His mother was Mâriya. The birth was nursed by Umm Rafi, whose husband Abu Rafi delivered the good news of Ibrahim’s birth to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), who reportedly became quite happy and told those around him:
“Tonight I had a baby son whom I shall name after my grandfather Ibrahim.” (Muslim, Fadâil, 62)
Ibrahim also developed an illness when he was around seventeen months old, passing away shortly after.