Taken from the book “Rights of Parents and Children” by Shaykh Jāwēd Iqbāl Sīālkōṭī
There is a difference of opinion among scholars regarding the fate of such children, but the stronger and sounder view is that those who die before reaching puberty are destined for Jannah (Paradise).
This is the position of:
The Prophet ﷺ once saw Ibrāhīm (his son) in a dream, surrounded by young children in Jannah.
The angels informed him:
"These are the children who died before reaching puberty."
Some Companions asked:
"O Messenger of Allah, are the children of the polytheists included among them?"
He ﷺ replied:
"Yes."
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī – Kitāb Taʿbīr al-Ru’yā – Bāb Taʿbīr al-Ru’yā baʿda Ṣalāt al-Ṣubḥ: 7047
قال النبي ﷺ:
**
كل مولود يولد على الفطرة
**
“Every child is born upon the natural disposition (Fiṭrah).”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1358
Since every child is born upon Islam, and no sin is recorded before puberty,
As the Prophet ﷺ said:
رُفِعَ القَلَمُ عن ثلاثَةٍ: عن الصبيِّ حتى يحتلِمَ...
“The pen has been lifted from three: the child until he reaches puberty...”
Ḥadīth – authenticated in various sources
Thus, if a child dies before reaching puberty, he dies upon Islam.
And whoever dies upon Islam — his end is on Īmān, and he is, without doubt, among the people of Paradise.
هٰذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
This is what I conclude, and Allah knows best what is correct.
“Allah knows best what they would have done…”
This refers to the time before revelation came regarding the fate of such children.
Mirʿāt al-Mafātīḥ, vol. 1, p. 181
Some scholars have claimed that such children will be tested on the Day of Judgment.
They cite narrations in which it is said that Allah will command them to enter the Fire, and those who obey will enter Paradise, while those who refuse will be punished.
However, these narrations are all weak (ḍaʿīf) and unreliable, as explained below:
➊ Musnad al-Bazzār (vol. 3, p. 34)
➋ Ibn Ḥibbān (ḥadīth no. 7313) mentions:
“Four types will dispute on the Day of Judgment: a deaf man, a fool, a very old man, and one who died in the fatrah (period before Islam).”
➌ Similar ḥadīths appear in Musnad Aḥmad (ḥadīth no. 16344) and Musnad Isḥāq ibn Rāhūyah,
✦ Children who die before reaching puberty are in Paradise.
✦ This is supported by authentic narrations, sound reasoning, and the statements of major imāms.
✦ Claims of future testing for them on the Day of Judgment are based on weak narrations and cannot be relied upon.
✿ Children Who Die Before Reaching Puberty Are Destined for Paradise
✔ Scholarly Opinion:
There is a difference of opinion among scholars regarding the fate of such children, but the stronger and sounder view is that those who die before reaching puberty are destined for Jannah (Paradise).
This is the position of:
- Imām al-Bukhārī
- Imām al-Nawawī
- Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar
- Imām Ibn Taymiyyah
- Imām Ibn al-Qayyim
Mirʿāt al-Mafātīḥ, vol. 1, p. 181
❀ Prophetic Dream:
The Prophet ﷺ once saw Ibrāhīm (his son) in a dream, surrounded by young children in Jannah.
The angels informed him:
"These are the children who died before reaching puberty."
Some Companions asked:
"O Messenger of Allah, are the children of the polytheists included among them?"
He ﷺ replied:
"Yes."
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī – Kitāb Taʿbīr al-Ru’yā – Bāb Taʿbīr al-Ru’yā baʿda Ṣalāt al-Ṣubḥ: 7047❀ Every Child Is Born on Fiṭrah:
قال النبي ﷺ:
**
كل مولود يولد على الفطرة
**
“Every child is born upon the natural disposition (Fiṭrah).”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1358✔ Logical Reasoning:
Since every child is born upon Islam, and no sin is recorded before puberty,
As the Prophet ﷺ said:
رُفِعَ القَلَمُ عن ثلاثَةٍ: عن الصبيِّ حتى يحتلِمَ...
“The pen has been lifted from three: the child until he reaches puberty...”
Ḥadīth – authenticated in various sourcesThus, if a child dies before reaching puberty, he dies upon Islam.
And whoever dies upon Islam — his end is on Īmān, and he is, without doubt, among the people of Paradise.
هٰذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
This is what I conclude, and Allah knows best what is correct.
✿ Clarification on the Ḥadīth:
“Allah knows best what they would have done…”
This refers to the time before revelation came regarding the fate of such children.
Mirʿāt al-Mafātīḥ, vol. 1, p. 181
Important Alert:
Some scholars have claimed that such children will be tested on the Day of Judgment.
They cite narrations in which it is said that Allah will command them to enter the Fire, and those who obey will enter Paradise, while those who refuse will be punished.
However, these narrations are all weak (ḍaʿīf) and unreliable, as explained below:
✿ Weak Narrations Explained:
➊ Musnad al-Bazzār (vol. 3, p. 34)
- One narration includes ʿAṭiyyah ibn Saʿd ʿAwfī, a weak narrator.
- The other includes Layth ibn Abī Sulaym, also weak.
➋ Ibn Ḥibbān (ḥadīth no. 7313) mentions:
“Four types will dispute on the Day of Judgment: a deaf man, a fool, a very old man, and one who died in the fatrah (period before Islam).”
- Firstly, this ḥadīth does not mention children (مولود).
- Secondly, it includes Qatādah, a mudallis narrator who transmits with ʿanʿanah (using “ʿan”).
➌ Similar ḥadīths appear in Musnad Aḥmad (ḥadīth no. 16344) and Musnad Isḥāq ibn Rāhūyah,
- Again, no mention of children,
- And contain the same weakness due to Qatādah transmitting with ʿanʿanah.
✔ Final Summary:
✦ Children who die before reaching puberty are in Paradise.
✦ This is supported by authentic narrations, sound reasoning, and the statements of major imāms.
✦ Claims of future testing for them on the Day of Judgment are based on weak narrations and cannot be relied upon.
