If the father and mother are outside the house and a fire breaks out, and the children die in the house, do they sin for that?

The questioner : Honorable Shaykh, this questioner says: Her house burned down and her children were inside the house, and she and the father were not present in the house. Does any sin attach to them for that?

The Shaykh : No sin attaches to them for that, as long as there was no negligence. However, if there was negligence, such as if they had started the fire and left, and there was no one in the house except small children who did not know what was happening, then there is no doubt that they have sinned, because they were negligent in protecting the children from the fire.

The questioner : Honorable Shaykh Muhammad, in response to the first question, the questioner says that the cause of this fire was a lighter used by the children.

The Shaykh : Is the lighter placed where it is within the reach of the children’s hands, or did the children fiddle around until they got hold of it? If it is the latter, they owe nothing. If it is the former, meaning they placed the lighter within the children’s reach, then they have sinned, because they were negligent.

The questioner : Good, good. May Allah reward you with good. We have a call

The Shaykh : from another person.