APPENDIX II.

MOHAMMED'S CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.

BE it known that all his Excellency's children were by Khadija, except Ibrahim, who came from Mary.

Kasim was the eldest son of that prince, who, on this account, was surnamed 'Abu-l-Kasim,' i.e. the father of Kasim. Kasim was born in Mecca during the time of ignorance, and also died in the time of ignorance, after having entered upon the second year of his age.

Abd Allah likewise was born in Mecca, and died in his infancy. At that time the idolaters of Mecca boasted, saying, 'We have sons by whom our name and fame will be perpetuated in this world; but Mohammed has no son left, and therefore his name and fame will perish.'

Ibrahim (Abraham) was born, A.H. 5, in Medina. The midwife on the occasion was the Apostle's liberated slave Selmi. She sent the good news of the birth by her husband, Abu Rafi, to Mohammed, who rewarded him by the present of a slave. The Prophet, that same night, also gave the child the name of Ibrahim. Gabriel came down and saluted that prince by saying, 'Peace be to thee, O thou father of Ibrahim!' which pleased him very much. On the seventh day after the birth, when the ceremony of the cutting of the hair with which he came into the world took place (Akika), the Prophet sacrificed a sheep, had Ibrahim's head shaved, and gave the equal weight of the hair, in silver, as alms to the poor, and then ordered the hair to be buried. It is reported that the ladies of the Ansar eyed each other from a desire of becoming Ibrahim's wet-nurse. Their object in this was, to take all care from his mother, so that she might give herself up wholly to the service of the Prophet; for they knew that his Excellency loved her exceedingly. The wet-nurse is stated to have been Om Berde, and according to another account, Om Seif.

Ibrahim lived about a year, dying A.H. 10. His death caused

the Prophet great sadness and many tears. When they brought the news to him that the child was in the agonies of death, he took the hand of Abd ur Rahman Ibn Awf, who happened to be with him, and went to Abu Seif's house, where he found the child lying in its mother's lap. He took it up in his arms; and as he thus looked upon it, tears flowed from his blessed eyes. Abd ur Rahman said, 'O Apostle of God, thou also weepest; didst thou not forbid us to bewail our dead? He replied, 'O Ibn Awf, what thou now seest in me is compassion and tenderness for the dead, arising from the thought of what is befalling him.' Asama Ibn Zeid, on being told not to wail, answered, 'O Apostle of God, I wept, because I saw thee weep;' to which his Excellency remarked, 'Weeping is from compassion, wailing from Satan.' According to one account, Ibrahim was washed by the wet-nurse; according to another, by Fazl Ibn Abbas, Abd ur Rahman pouring on the water. The Prophet was present during the washing, and performed the funeral service; after which he had the grave levelled and water poured over it. Ibrahim's was the first grave in Islam on which water was poured.

It is reported that Mohammed said on the day of Ibrahim's death, 'If Ibrahim had remained alive, I would have made all his mother's relatives free, and would have exempted all the Kopts from tribute.' It is also established that he said, 'As my son Ibrahim quitted this world before his nursing was over, he will have a nurse, or, according to another account, two nurses, in Paradise, till the time of nursing is completed.'

Of Mohammed's DAUGHTERS.

Zeinab was the oldest, born in the time of ignorance, and afterwards married by her father to his nephew Abu-l-Aas. The latter was amongst the captives taken by the Mussulmans at the battle of Bedr. Zeinab being then in Mecca, gave up the necklace which she had received from her mother Khadija on her wedding-day, to be sent to the Mussulmans for the redemption of her husband. As soon as his Excellency saw the necklace, he became greatly moved, because it reminded him of Khadija; and he said to his companions, 'If you wish, you may give up Zeinab's captive and send her back the necklace.' Accordingly, this was done. Before Abu-l-Aas left, Mohammed addressed him thus, 'When thou hast reached Mecca, send me back my daughter Zeinab: for her Islam and thy unbelief have separated you from each other.' In com-