Who was Al-Qasim, son of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ? When was he born, and what is known about his short life and death?

Al-Qasim was the son of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and Khadijah bint Khuwaylid رضي الله عنها. He is widely regarded as the first child of the Prophet ﷺ and was the son through whom the Prophet became known by the famous kunyah Abu Al-Qasim.

Al-Qasim was born in Makkah before the beginning of the Prophetic mission and died while he was still very young.

Who Was Al-Qasim, Son of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ?

Al-Qasim was the first son of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, according to the well-known accounts of the Prophetic biography. His mother was Khadijah bint Khuwaylid رضي الله عنها, the first wife of the Prophet ﷺ.

His name remained closely associated with the Prophet throughout his life because the Prophet ﷺ was famously known as Abu Al-Qasim, meaning “Father of Al-Qasim.”

The Birth of Al-Qasim

Al-Qasim was born in Makkah, before Prophet Muhammad ﷺ received his first revelation.

He was born into the household of the Prophet ﷺ and Khadijah رضي الله عنها. His birth marked an important moment in the family life of the future Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

As the first son, Al-Qasim was particularly significant to his father, and his name became permanently connected with one of the Prophet’s best-known kunyahs.

How Long Did Al-Qasim Live?

Historical and biographical reports differ regarding the exact age of Al-Qasim when he died.

Different reports mention that he:

• Lived for only a few days.
• Lived long enough to begin walking.
• Lived for approximately seventeen months.
• Lived for about two years.

Because of these differences among the reports, it is more accurate to say that Al-Qasim died at a very young age rather than assigning him a definite age.

Did Al-Qasim Die Before or After the Prophetic Mission?

There is also disagreement in the historical reports concerning whether Al-Qasim died before or after the beginning of the Prophetic mission.

Some accounts state that he died before the Prophet ﷺ received revelation, while other reports have been cited as indicating that his death occurred after the beginning of the Prophetic mission.

Therefore, the safest historical presentation is to acknowledge the disagreement rather than state one position as certain.

The Death of Al-Qasim

Al-Qasim died in Makkah while still a young child. He is generally described as the first of the Prophet’s children to die.

His death was undoubtedly a painful loss for Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his mother, Khadijah رضي الله عنها.

Some reports describe Khadijah رضي الله عنها grieving deeply after the death of her son, reflecting the profound human sorrow associated with losing a child.

Why Was Prophet Muhammad ﷺ Called Abu Al-Qasim?

One of the most famous kunyahs of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was Abu Al-Qasim, meaning “Father of Al-Qasim.”

The kunyah was connected to his son Al-Qasim, whose name became part of the Prophet’s identity in the historical and biographical tradition.

Even after Al-Qasim’s death, the kunyah Abu Al-Qasim remained one of the most recognized names by which the Prophet ﷺ was known.

Was Al-Qasim the Prophet’s First Child?

According to the most widely reported accounts, Al-Qasim was the first child of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

Some historical reports list the children of the Prophet ﷺ in an order beginning with Al-Qasim, followed by Zaynab, Abdullah, Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthum and Fatimah رضي الله عنهم.

There are, however, differences among historical sources concerning the order of some of the children and the status of names such as Al-Tayyib and Al-Tahir.

Who Was Al-Qasim’s Mother?

Al-Qasim’s mother was Khadijah bint Khuwaylid رضي الله عنها, the beloved first wife of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

Khadijah رضي الله عنها was the mother of most of the Prophet’s children. The exception among his children was Ibrahim, whose mother was Maria al-Qibtiyya رضي الله عنها.

Thus, Al-Qasim was one of the children of the Prophet ﷺ and Khadijah رضي الله عنها.

Did Al-Qasim Have Brothers and Sisters?

Al-Qasim had several brothers and sisters through Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and Khadijah رضي الله عنها.

Among those mentioned in the well-known accounts are:

• Zaynab رضي الله عنها
• Ruqayyah رضي الله عنها
• Umm Kulthum رضي الله عنها
• Fatimah رضي الله عنها
• Abdullah رضي الله عنه

Historical sources differ concerning whether names such as Al-Tayyib, Al-Tahir, Al-Mutayyab and Al-Mutahhar referred to separate children or were names and descriptions associated with Abdullah.

Al-Qasim and the Meaning of “Al-Abtar”

The death of the Prophet’s sons was mentioned in historical reports concerning the hostile reaction of some people in Makkah, including the description of the Prophet ﷺ as “Al-Abtar.”

Allah then revealed:

“Indeed, We have granted you Al-Kawthar. So pray to your Lord and sacrifice. Indeed, your enemy is the one cut off.”
— Qur’an 108:1–3

The final verse makes clear that the one truly cut off from goodness is the enemy and hater of the Prophet ﷺ, not the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

It is important, however, not to claim that the death of Al-Qasim alone was definitively the sole reason for the revelation of Surah Al-Kawthar, as historical reports differ regarding the circumstances surrounding its revelation.

What Can We Learn From the Story of Al-Qasim?

The story of Al-Qasim reveals a deeply human aspect of the life of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ experienced the pain of losing a young child, just as parents throughout history have experienced such grief.

His story reminds us that sorrow and patience can exist together. Grieving the loss of a loved one does not contradict faith in Allah’s decree.

Al-Qasim’s life was brief, but his name remained connected to the Prophet ﷺ through the famous kunyah Abu Al-Qasim.

The Story of Al-Qasim in Brief

Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad ﷺ was the son of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and Khadijah bint Khuwaylid رضي الله عنها. He was widely regarded as the Prophet’s first child and was born in Makkah.

He died while still very young and is generally considered the first of the Prophet’s children to pass away.

The historical reports differ concerning his exact age at death and whether he died before or after the beginning of the Prophetic mission. What is firmly established in the biographical tradition is his importance as the son after whom the Prophet ﷺ was known as Abu Al-Qasim.

His short life occupies a small number of years in the vast history of Islam, yet his name remained forever woven into the biography of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

Who was Al-Qasim?

Al-Qasim was the son of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and Khadijah bint Khuwaylid رضي الله عنها. He was widely regarded as the Prophet’s first child.

Why was Prophet Muhammad ﷺ called Abu Al-Qasim?

He was called Abu Al-Qasim because Al-Qasim was his son.

Where was Al-Qasim born?

Al-Qasim was born in Makkah.

When did Al-Qasim die?

He died in Makkah while he was still very young. Historical reports differ regarding his exact age and the precise timing of his death.

How old was Al-Qasim when he died?

Reports vary considerably. Some mention a few days, while others indicate seventeen months, two years, or that he lived until he could walk. Therefore, a specific age cannot be established with certainty.