Muhammad: The Ideal Character
MUHAMMAD The Ideal Character
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from paying frequent visits to his son. Tragically,
this child did not survive. He died at the age of one
and a half in the tenth year after the Prophet had
emigrated to Madinah. Just like any other ordinary
man, the Prophet wept at his son’s death. He had
the same feelings and aspirations as any father
might have, but this in no way diminished his trust
in God. He held fast to it and in his sorrow
exclaimed, “By God! Oh Ibrahim, I am sad at your
death. Tears are falling from my eyes and there is
anguish in my heart, but, I will say nothing that
may displease my Lord.’’
On the day of Ibrahim’s death, there was a solar
eclipse. A belief had been handed down from
ancient times that solar and lunar eclipses were
occasioned by the deaths of important personages.
The people of Madinah, therefore, began talking of
the death of the Prophet’s son as being the cause of
solar eclipse. The Prophet then assembled the
people and addressed them: “The sun and moon do
not go into eclipse because of the death of any
human being. They are two portents amongst the
portents of God. When an eclipse occurs, you
should busy yourself in prayers.’’
