✿ Written by: Imran Ayub Lahori ✿
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
والطفل يصلى عليه
“A child is prayed over (Janazah prayer is performed for him).”
In another narration:
والسقط يصلى عليه
“Even a stillborn child is prayed over.”
[Sahih: Sahih Abu Dawud: 2723, Kitab al-Jana’iz: Chapter on walking before the funeral; Abu Dawud: 3180; Tirmidhi: 1036; Al-Nasa’i: 4/56; Ibn Majah: 1507; Sharh Ma‘ani al-Athar: 1/482; Al-Hakim: 1/355]
An Ansari child who had passed away was brought to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ):
فصلي عليه
“He (ﷺ) performed his Janazah prayer.”
[Muslim: 8/55; Al-Nasa’i: 1/276; Ahmad: 6/208]
Shaykh Al-Albani (رحمه الله) confirms:
These words are found in Sunan al-Nasa’i, and its chain is authentic.
He further explains that:
This clearly refers to a stillborn child who has completed four lunar months in the womb and has had the soul breathed into him, but dies thereafter.
❖ If the fetus is miscarried before this period, then Janazah prayer is not performed, as it does not legally qualify as a deceased person (mayyit).
[Ahkam al-Jana’iz: p. 105]
According to the Hadith of Hazrat Ibn Mas‘ud (رضي الله عنه):
وينفخ فيه الروح
“The soul is breathed into the fetus when it completes four months (in the womb).”
[Bukhari: 3208, 3332, Kitab Bad’ al-Khalq: Chapter on Mention of Angels; Muslim: 2643; Abu Dawud: 4708; Tirmidhi: 2137; Ibn Majah: 76; Ahmad: 1/382; Humaydi: 126; Abu Ya‘la: 5157]
The narration stating:
إذا استهل السقط صلى عليه ووُرث
“If the stillborn child lets out a cry, his Janazah prayer is performed and he is considered among heirs,”
…is weak and not reliable as evidence.
[Weak: Ahkam al-Jana’iz: p. 106; Nasb al-Rayah: 2/277; Talkhis al-Habir: 5/146; Al-Majmu‘: 5/255; Naqd al-Taj al-Jami‘: 293]
❶ Janazah prayer may be performed for a child or stillborn baby who reached four months in the womb and died thereafter.
❷ The Prophet (ﷺ) himself performed Janazah for children.
❸ Before four months, Janazah is not performed as the soul has not yet been breathed into the fetus.
❹ Weak narrations about crying or inheritance for stillborn children are not to be acted upon.
❀ Janazah Prayer May Be Performed Even for a Stillborn Child
➊ Narration from Hazrat Mughirah bin Shu'bah (رضي الله عنه):
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
والطفل يصلى عليه
“A child is prayed over (Janazah prayer is performed for him).”
In another narration:
والسقط يصلى عليه
“Even a stillborn child is prayed over.”
[Sahih: Sahih Abu Dawud: 2723, Kitab al-Jana’iz: Chapter on walking before the funeral; Abu Dawud: 3180; Tirmidhi: 1036; Al-Nasa’i: 4/56; Ibn Majah: 1507; Sharh Ma‘ani al-Athar: 1/482; Al-Hakim: 1/355]➋ Narration from Hazrat Aishah (رضي الله عنها):
An Ansari child who had passed away was brought to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ):
فصلي عليه
“He (ﷺ) performed his Janazah prayer.”
[Muslim: 8/55; Al-Nasa’i: 1/276; Ahmad: 6/208]Shaykh Al-Albani (رحمه الله) confirms:
These words are found in Sunan al-Nasa’i, and its chain is authentic.
He further explains that:
This clearly refers to a stillborn child who has completed four lunar months in the womb and has had the soul breathed into him, but dies thereafter.
❖ If the fetus is miscarried before this period, then Janazah prayer is not performed, as it does not legally qualify as a deceased person (mayyit).
[Ahkam al-Jana’iz: p. 105]❖ Supporting Evidence:
According to the Hadith of Hazrat Ibn Mas‘ud (رضي الله عنه):
وينفخ فيه الروح
“The soul is breathed into the fetus when it completes four months (in the womb).”
[Bukhari: 3208, 3332, Kitab Bad’ al-Khalq: Chapter on Mention of Angels; Muslim: 2643; Abu Dawud: 4708; Tirmidhi: 2137; Ibn Majah: 76; Ahmad: 1/382; Humaydi: 126; Abu Ya‘la: 5157]
Note on a Weak Narration:
The narration stating:
إذا استهل السقط صلى عليه ووُرث
“If the stillborn child lets out a cry, his Janazah prayer is performed and he is considered among heirs,”
…is weak and not reliable as evidence.
[Weak: Ahkam al-Jana’iz: p. 106; Nasb al-Rayah: 2/277; Talkhis al-Habir: 5/146; Al-Majmu‘: 5/255; Naqd al-Taj al-Jami‘: 293]✔ Summary of Rulings:
❶ Janazah prayer may be performed for a child or stillborn baby who reached four months in the womb and died thereafter.
❷ The Prophet (ﷺ) himself performed Janazah for children.
❸ Before four months, Janazah is not performed as the soul has not yet been breathed into the fetus.
❹ Weak narrations about crying or inheritance for stillborn children are not to be acted upon.
