Which Prophet Buried His Daughter? Unraveling Ancient Stories Today

Darrel Greenholt 28 Jul 2025

Many curious minds, it seems, often ponder deeply about historical figures and events, especially when it comes to stories passed down through generations. One question that frequently comes up is: Which Prophet buried his daughter? This query often brings to mind a very emotional story, one that has, in a way, been widely circulated. It's about a father, a little girl, and a heartbreaking act.

People sometimes wonder about the truth behind such tales, especially those involving revered personalities from history. There's a particular narrative that paints a vivid picture of a companion of the Prophet, digging a grave for his own child, while she, unaware, gently wiped dust from his face. It’s a scene that, you know, really pulls at the heartstrings, and it makes you think hard about the past.

But is this particular story truly accurate? Did this companion really bury his daughter alive? Are there, you know, solid facts to back up such a cruel scene? Today, we're going to explore the actual historical accounts and shed some light on this often-discussed topic, getting to the core of what sources genuinely say about it. We'll look at the practices of a time long past and see how they connect with the lives of very respected figures.

Setting the Scene: Daughters in Pre-Islamic Arabia
- The Jahiliyyah Practice
Unpacking the Story of Umar (RA) and His Daughter
Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) Daughters: A Different Narrative
Other Companions and the Practice
- The Case of Dahiyyatul Kalbi (RA)
The Transformative Power of Islam
Frequently Asked Questions

Setting the Scene: Daughters in Pre-Islamic Arabia

Before the light of Islam shone brightly, the Arabian Peninsula, it's almost like, had some very harsh traditions. One of the most heartbreaking practices was the burying of infant daughters alive, a custom known as "wa'd al-banat." This was, you know, a very dark aspect of what's often called the Jahiliyyah period, which means the "time of ignorance."

The Jahiliyyah Practice

People back then, sadly, often held a belief that daughters were a mark of dishonor. This feeling, coupled with fears about poverty, sometimes led families to commit this unspeakable act. They would, in fact, bring their newborn daughters to places like the Jahiliyyah cemetery, and there, they would bury them while they were still alive. It’s a very somber thought, isn't it?

The culture and tradition, in some parts, truly demanded that a daughter be buried as soon as she was born. Yet, as our text suggests, some fathers, even in that era, found their hearts developing feelings for the child, making it nearly impossible to follow such a cruel custom. The internal struggle between cultural pressure and fatherly love was, apparently, very real for some. Our text recounts how, for some, the urge to kill would wrestle with fatherly love, putting the terrible thought to rest, at least for a while. This practice, in fact, was a stark contrast to the values Islam would later bring.

Unpacking the Story of Umar (RA) and His Daughter

When people ask, "Which Prophet buried his daughter?", the conversation often turns, somewhat quickly, to Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him). He was, after all, a towering figure in early Islam, a very respected companion of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and later, the second Caliph. There's a widely circulated story about him, one that depicts a very emotional and tragic scene involving his daughter.

The Popular Narrative vs. Historical Evidence

The story, as it's often told, with very emotional touches, describes Umar allegedly busy digging a little girl’s grave while she was cleaning dust from his face, completely unaware of the destiny awaiting her. It’s a narrative that, you know, truly evokes strong feelings. But a central question remains: Is this story really valid? Did Umar truly bury his daughter alive in such a manner? Is there, actually, solid proof to support that this cruel scene really happened?

Our research, based on reliable sources, suggests that the claims about Umar (RA) burying his daughter alive are, quite likely, fabricated. This particular dramatic story, you see, does not appear in any established Hadith collection, Seerah text, or history book. Despite its notoriety and how widespread it is, the narrative, in fact, lacks substantiation in reputable references. Any such claim, therefore, should be looked at with a lot of care.

What the Sources Say About Umar (RA)

For one thing, there is no mention in historical records of a specific daughter of Umar that he had supposedly buried alive. His children are, in fact, well-documented. Secondly, it was not, apparently, the custom of Hazrat ‘Umar’s tribe, the Banu Adi, to bury their daughters alive. This is, you know, a very important point to consider when evaluating such stories.

Moreover, consider his eldest daughter, Hafsah (radhiyallahu ‘anha). She was born five years before Rasulullah’s (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) prophethood, so she lived through that pre-Islamic period. Yet, she was, in fact, not buried alive. It would not, you know, make much sense that Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) would have buried a younger daughter when he did not do the same with his eldest daughter. This is, basically, a very strong point against the widespread story.

Furthermore, none of his relatives have ever mentioned this particular story, nor is any such daughter mentioned alongside his other known children. The lack of information regarding this supposed daughter, you see, is quite telling. The answers to these questions were, in fact, collected from HadithAnswers.com, where the responses were either given or checked by Moulana Haroon Abasoomar (rahimahullah), a Shaykhul Hadith in South Africa, or by his son, Moulana Muhammad Abasoomer (hafizahullah), who is a Hadith specialist. This adds, you know, a layer of scholarly validation to the refutation.

Umar's Own Account

Now, it's worth noting that our text does mention a narration where Umar (RA) speaks of burying daughters in the era of ignorance. Umar narrates that, "O Prophet of Allah, I had buried my daughters alive in the era of ignorance, what should I do now?" The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied, "Free one slave for each daughter." This account, found in sources like Al Majmo'o by Nawawi Shafai and Al Mawardi, refers to the general practice of "muwada," meaning a girl killed at birth. People in that era, it is said, did this due to fear of insult and poverty. This particular Hadith, you see, speaks to a past practice that Umar, like many others, might have been involved in before Islam, but it does not, in any way, confirm the specific, emotional, fabricated story about him and a particular daughter being buried in that cruel, widely circulated scene. It shows his honesty and concern about his past actions, seeking guidance from the Prophet (PBUH) after embracing Islam, which is, in fact, a very different matter from the popular, unverified tale.

Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) Daughters: A Different Narrative

When we consider the question "Which Prophet buried his daughter?", it's also important to look at the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) himself. He was, in fact, blessed with children, and their lives, while filled with love, also saw their share of sorrow.

The Beloved Children of the Prophet (PBUH)

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had, you know, four daughters and three sons. His sons were named Abd Allah, Ibrahim, and Qasim. Sadly, none of Muhammad's sons reached adulthood, which is, you know, a very poignant detail. His daughters were named Fatima, Ruqayya, Umm Kulthum, and Zaynab. It's a rather sad fact that six of his children, in fact, passed away during his lifetime. This meant the Prophet (PBUH) experienced the very deep pain of losing most of his beloved offspring.

The Secret Burial of Fatima (RA)

Of all his children, only Fatima (radhiyallahu ‘anha) survived him, though not for long. She passed away, it seems, within six months of Muhammad's (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) death, in 11 AH (632 CE). There's a widely discussed aspect about her passing: the burial of Fatima (RA) is about the secret burial and the uncertainty surrounding her resting place. It is believed that, following her will, she was buried secretly at night. This choice, apparently, has led to some questions about why there's no clear public record of her grave. It is, in a way, a very unique part of her story.

Prophet Muhammad's Children Personal Details

Here are the names and some details of all seven children of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him):

Name	Gender	Notes
Qasim	Son	Died in infancy, before prophethood.
Zaynab	Daughter	Eldest daughter, married Abu al-As ibn al-Rabi'. Died in 8 AH.
Ruqayya	Daughter	Married Uthman ibn Affan. Died in 2 AH.
Umm Kulthum	Daughter	Married Uthman ibn Affan after Ruqayya's death. Died in 9 AH.
Fatima	Daughter	Youngest and most beloved daughter, married Ali ibn Abi Talib. Died six months after the Prophet (PBUH).
Abd Allah (also known as Tahir and Tayyib)	Son	Died in infancy, after prophethood.
Ibrahim	Son	Born to Maria al-Qibtiyya, died in infancy.

Other Companions and the Practice

While the story of Umar (RA) burying his daughter alive is, as we've discussed, largely unfounded in its popular form, it's important to recognize that the practice of burying daughters alive was, unfortunately, a very real part of the pre-Islamic era. Our text does, in fact, mention another companion who was involved in this practice before Islam.

The Case of Dahiyyatul Kalbi (RA)

Consider, for instance, the companion of the Prophet, Dahiyyatul Kalbi (RA). Our text states that he, in fact, buried his daughter alive with his own hands before he became a Muslim. This is, you know, a very stark reminder of the harsh realities of that time. After he embraced Islam, my Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) acknowledged his conversion, saying, "Dahiyyatul Kalbi, you have become a Muslim, a companion." This shows how Islam, in a way, brought a complete change to people's lives and practices, moving them away from such cruel traditions.

The Transformative Power of Islam

The stories we've looked at, you know, really highlight the vast difference Islam brought to Arabian society. Before Islam, the belief that daughters were a symbol of dishonor led to heartbreaking acts. The new faith, however, completely changed this outlook, emphasizing the dignity and rights of women and girls. It was, in fact, a very profound shift in values.

The teachings of Islam strongly condemned the practice of burying daughters alive, making it a grave sin. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) himself set a powerful example through his love and respect for his own daughters, showing, very clearly, how women should be cherished. This transformation was, you know, truly monumental, moving a society from harsh customs to one built on compassion and justice.

So, when we ask, "Which Prophet buried his daughter?", the truth, it seems, points away from the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and the specific, emotional story about Umar (RA). Instead, it guides us to understand the realities of a past era, the profound changes brought by Islam, and the importance of verifying stories with reliable sources. You can learn more about Islamic history on our site, and to explore more about the lives of the

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