Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … What will be the fate of the minor children of the polytheists who die? In some hadiths, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam remained silent, in some he clarified that they will be with their elders, and in some he declared them to be among the people of Paradise.

From the following evidences, it becomes clear that they too will enter Paradise:

(1) Allah the Exalted says: {وَمَا کُنَّا مَعَذِّبِیْنَ حَتَّی نَبْعَثَ رَسُوْلًا} (Surah Bani Isra’il: 15), meaning: We do not punish anyone until We have sent a messenger to them.

(2) Sayyiduna Samurah bin Jundub radi Allahu anhu narrates a lengthy hadith, in which the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam described a dream. In it, he said: The angels told me: The tall man whom you saw in the beautiful garden was Ibrahim alayhis salam, and around him were all the children who died upon the natural disposition (fitrah). A Muslim asked the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam: Were there also the children of the polytheists? The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam replied: And the children of the polytheists were also there. (Bukhari: 7047)

This is an extremely clear text on this subject, and it cannot be abrogated.

(3) Hasna bint Mu’awiyah, a woman from Banu Suraym, narrates from her uncle, who said: I asked: O Messenger of Allah! Who will be in Paradise? The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: ((The Prophet will be in Paradise, the martyr will be in Paradise, and the child will be in Paradise.)) (Musnad Ahmad) That is: The Prophet will be in Paradise, the martyr will be in Paradise, and the minor child will be in Paradise.

This blessed hadith is also general, which includes all children.

From these evidences, it is understood that the minor children of the polytheists who die will enter Paradise. This is the position of Imam Bukhari, Imam Nawawi, Hafiz Ibn Hajar, Imam Ibn Taymiyyah, and Imam Ibn Qayyim rahimahumullah. As for those hadiths in which the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam expressed hesitation regarding the children of the polytheists, these scholars of Islam have interpreted those hadiths as being before the reality of this issue was clarified. Later, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam himself clarified that they will indeed enter Paradise.

However, the following hadith indicates that the children will be tested again:

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik, Sayyiduna Abu Sa’id al-Khudri, Sayyiduna Mu’adh bin Jabal, Sayyiduna Aswad bin Sari’, and Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah radi Allahu anhum that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said:

((Four will be brought on the Day of Resurrection: the child, the insane, the one who died during the interval between messengers, and the very old man. Each of them will present their argument. Then the Lord, Blessed and Exalted, will say to a neck of the Fire: Appear! Then He will say to them: I used to send messengers from among themselves to My servants, and now I am My own messenger to you. Enter this (Fire). Those upon whom wretchedness is decreed will say: O our Lord! How can we enter it, when we used to flee from it? And those upon whom happiness is decreed will proceed and rush into it. Then Allah, Blessed and Exalted, will say: You were more disbelieving and disobedient to My messengers. So these will enter Paradise, and those will enter the Fire.)) (Musnad Abi Ya’la: 3/1044, Musnad al-Bazzar: p. 232, al-Mu’jam al-Awsat, al-Mu’jam al-Kabir, al-Sahihah: 2468)

That is: On the Day of Resurrection, these four types of people will be brought: the child, the insane, the one who died during the interval between two messengers, and the very old man. Each of them will present their own arguments. Allah the Exalted will say to a neck of the Fire: Appear! Then Allah the Exalted will say: I used to send messengers to My servants from among themselves, and now I am Myself the messenger to you, and I say: (all of you) enter this Fire. The wretched will say: O our Lord! How can we enter it, when we used to flee from it? The fortunate will proceed (in obedience to Allah’s command) and will hasten and forcefully enter it. Then Allah the Exalted will say: You (the wretched who did not enter) were even more denying and disobedient to My messengers. Now these will enter Paradise, and those will enter the Fire.

Shaykh al-Albani rahimahullah said: The child mentioned in this hadith refers to the one whose parents are disbelievers. (al-Sahihah: 5/605) Because, by consensus, the children of Muslims will enter Paradise.

I presented the above discussion and this hadith to a research scholar in Pakistan and asked about reconciliation and synthesis. He said: The hadiths in which there is evidence for the children of the polytheists being among the people of Paradise, as in some of the aforementioned hadiths, refer to those children who succeed in the test that will take place in the field of resurrection. And Allah knows best what is correct.

The position of Hafiz Abdul Mannan Nurpuri rahimahullah is also that of the test. (See Ahkam wa Masail: 2/358)