Aishah, mother of the believers, said: The Prophet ﷺ was invited to the funeral of a boy who belonged to the ANSAR and I said; Messenger of Allah! This one is blessed, for he has done no evil, nor has he known it. He replied: It may be otherwise, Aishah, for Allah created Paradise and created those who will go to it, and He created it for them when they were still in their father’s loins; and he created hell and created those who will go to it, and created it for them when they were still in their father’s loins.
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Maulana Abdul Aziz Alvi
Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: From this hadith, it is understood that Allah has knowledge of human actions even before they come into existence, whereas we do not have knowledge of a person's actions. Therefore, deciding whether someone is destined for Paradise or Hell is beyond our reach; only Allah, the Exalted, can inform about this. Thus, one should not say anything about anyone on one's own accord.
Source: Tuhfat al-Muslim: Commentary on Sahih Muslim, Page: 6768
Maulana Ataullah Sajid
Commentary:
(1)
The certainty with which Aisha radi Allahu anha declared this boy to be among the people of Paradise was not liked by the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, and he said that the knowledge of this matter rests solely with Allah. Imam Nawawi rahimahullah has stated that there is consensus among the scholars that all the children of Muslims are among the people of Paradise, and indeed, numerous ahadith also support this ruling. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam may have stated this hadith at a time when he did not have knowledge of this matter, and later Allah the Exalted granted him knowledge of it.
(2)
This narration establishes the proof of predestination (qadar).
Source: Commentary on Sunan Ibn Mājah by Mawlānā ‘Atā’ullāh Sājid, Page: 82
Hafiz Zubair Ali Zai
Takhrij:
[صحيح مسلم 6768]
Fiqh al-Hadith:
➊ One should not make an absolute judgment about any person that he is destined for Paradise or Hell, except in cases that are clearly established by the Qur’an and Hadith.
➋ There is a difference of opinion among the scholars regarding the deceased minor children of Muslims. The preferred view is that these children will be in Paradise along with their believing parents. As for the children of disbelievers, according to the preferred opinion, their knowledge is with Allah alone, and the funeral prayer is not performed for the deceased children of disbelievers.
➌ Sayyidah A’ishah radi Allahu anha asked the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam about the children of believers. He sallallahu alayhi wa sallam replied: “They are with their parents.” She asked: “Without any deeds?” He sallallahu alayhi wa sallam replied: “Allah knows what deeds they would have done.” Sayyidah A’ishah radi Allahu anha asked: “And the children of the polytheists?” He (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) replied: “They are with their parents.” She asked: “Without any deeds?” He (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) replied: “Allah knows what deeds they would have done.” [سنن ابي داود : 4712، وسنده صحيح]
Source: Adwa al-Masabih fi Tahqiq Mishkat al-Masabih, Page: 84
Shaykh Muhammad Ibrahim bin Basheer
Benefit:
From this hadith, it is established that those innocent children who pass away will enter Paradise, and furthermore, that divine decree (qadar) is true. No one except Allah knows who will enter Hell and who will enter Paradise. We have not been given the right to declare about people that so-and-so is destined for Paradise or so-and-so is destined for Hell; this knowledge rests solely with Allah, the Exalted.
Source: Musnad al-Humaydi: Commentary by Muhammad Ibrahim bin Bashir, Page: 267