Bukhari

Hadith Commentary:
The purpose of Imam Bukhari rahimahullah in establishing this chapter and bringing the hadith of Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu is clearly evident: that the children of Muslims who die in their minority are destined for Paradise; only then can they serve as a barrier for their parents against Hellfire.

Most scholars hold this view, and Imam Ahmad rahimahullah has narrated from Ali radi Allahu anhu that the children of Muslims will be in Paradise. Then he recited this verse:
﴿وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَاتَّبَعَتْهُمْ ذُرِّيَّتُهُم﴾ (al-Tur: 21)
Meaning: Those who believed and their offspring followed them in faith, We shall join their offspring with them in Paradise.

And al-Nawawi said: “There is consensus among the scholars of Islam whose opinions are considered, that whoever among the children of Muslims dies, he is among the people of Paradise. Some have withheld judgment on this due to the hadith of Aisha radi Allahu anha, meaning the one which Muslim has narrated with the wording: ‘A child from among the Ansar died, so I said, “Glad tidings for him! He did not do any evil, nor did he reach the age to do so.” The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, “Or otherwise, O Aisha! Verily Allah has created for Paradise its people...”’” (the hadith continues). He said: “The answer to this is that perhaps the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam forbade her from hastily making a definitive judgment without evidence, or he said this before it was made known to him that the children of Muslims are in Paradise.”

(Fath al-Bari)

That is, Imam Nawawi said that there is consensus among a large number of Islamic scholars that any Muslim child who passes away is destined for Paradise, and some scholars have withheld judgment on this. Their evidence is the hadith of Aisha radi Allahu anha, which Muslim has narrated: that a child from among the Ansar died, and she said, “Glad tidings for him! He never did any evil, nor did any evil reach him.” Upon hearing this, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, “O Aisha! Could it not be otherwise? Verily, Allah has created a group for Paradise and a group for Hellfire.”

The answer to this doubt is that perhaps the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam forbade Aisha radi Allahu anha from making a definitive judgment about the child’s being in Paradise without evidence, or perhaps he expressed this at a time when he had not yet been given definitive knowledge regarding the children of Muslims. Later, Allah Most High informed him that the children of Muslims are certainly destined for Paradise.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
It is narrated in Sahih Muslim that a child of the Ansar passed away, so Aisha radi Allahu anha said that there is glad tidings of Paradise for him, because he did not commit any evil deed. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said that there is also the possibility of something other than this, because Allah, the Exalted, has created only those for Paradise who are worthy of it. (Sahih Muslim, Al-Qadr, Hadith: 6768(2662))

In view of this hadith, some scholars hold the position that one should withhold judgment regarding the fate of the minor children of Muslims. However, Imam Bukhari rahimahullah has indicated towards that narration in which it is mentioned that the children of Muslims will admit their parents into Paradise. Thus, Ali radi Allahu anhu narrates in a marfu‘ (attributed to the Prophet) tradition that Muslims and their children will be in Paradise, and the polytheists, along with their children, will be in Hellfire. Then he recited this noble verse:

﴿وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَاتَّبَعَتْهُمْ ذُرِّيَّتُهُم بِإِيمَانٍ أَلْحَقْنَا بِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ﴾ (Al-Tur 52:21)
“And those who believed and whose descendants followed them in faith – We will join their descendants with them.” ()

(Majma‘ al-Zawa’id wa Manba‘ al-Fawa’id: 7/439, No. 11940, Dar al-Fikr edition)

(2)
The meaning of the hadith narrated from Aisha radi Allahu anha is that one should not be hasty in this matter, or that after this, you (Aisha) were informed regarding the children of Muslims that their abode will be Paradise. This is also understood from the presented narration, because whoever is a cause for someone to enter Paradise will himself also enter Paradise. (Fath al-Bari: 3/310)

1873. Commentary:

➊ The reward is actually for patience, whether it is upon the death of one child, or two, or three children. Although there will be some increase or decrease in the reward, in any case, being patient over the death of one child and seeking reward is sufficient for entering Paradise, as has been mentioned in narration number 1872.

➋ The female Companions (radi Allahu anhunna) were also very eager to learn about religious matters. They would acquire knowledge about issues with great enthusiasm and interest. They had no hesitation or shyness in asking about matters.

➌ The children of the people of Islam who die before reaching the age of maturity will enter Paradise.

1874. Commentary:
➊ "Nabaligh" is an Arabic term «لم یبلغوا الحنث». "Hinth" refers to sin, meaning those who have not reached the age of sin, i.e., puberty, because before puberty, the sins of a child are not recorded.
➋ This reward is specific to the minor (nabaligh), because he is sinless, there is also intense love for him, and the grief over his death is greater, whereas an adult is sinful. Even Allah's mercy and the parents' love differ, because it is possible that the adult may have fallen short in fulfilling the rights of the parents. Some scholars have included the adult in the primary degree of this reward, arguing that if the reward for patience over the death of a minor—who brings no benefit to the parents, but rather the parents have to spend on him and serve him—is so great, then the reward for patience over the death of an adult, who is a support for the parents and whose loss is felt even more, should be even greater. However, this interpretation is contrary to the apparent meaning of the hadith and to common human understanding; the first view is more explicit. And Allah knows best.

Benefits and Issues:

➊
By "the age of sin" is meant reaching puberty.
Because before reaching puberty, a child's sins are not recorded.
When he becomes mature (baligh),
then his sins begin to be recorded.

➋
The reward for patience over the death of children is entry into Paradise.

➌
This reward is for both the mother and the father.

➍
The children of Muslims who pass away are dwellers of Paradise.

➎
Paradise has eight gates.
Each gate will allow entry to specific groups of people.
Some individuals will be permitted to enter through more than one gate.
There will also be some persons
who will be allowed to enter through all eight gates.
They will enter Paradise through whichever gate they wish.