Is a person who was born a disbeliever and died before reaching the age of discernment declared a disbeliever?
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The questioner : ... This is one of the issues these disbelievers raise. For example, they say, "This person was born a disbeliever, so what is his sin?"
The Shaykh : As for the one who was born a disbeliever and died before reaching the age of discernment, we say he is a disbeliever in this world only, but in the Hereafter, his affair is left to Allah.
The questioner : Now, these disbelievers are born, for example... Is there a proof established against them, or do they simply not obey? They say, "He dies as a disbeliever... in the Fire." They say, "Allah decreed it for him." We know that Allah decreed...
The Shaykh : Now, did Allah force him in this world? Did He compel him to do it?
The questioner : In terms of divine decree, they say, "Yes."
The Shaykh : That is not correct, because he does not know the divine decree. Compulsion occurs before the action, not after the action. So, when he performed the action, did he know that Allah had decreed it for him?
The questioner : Before he performed it, no.
The Shaykh : Now, how can they use that as an argument? Is it not the case that he now enters school and progresses from primary to middle school, to university, to higher education? Is it not the case that if he wants to study engineering, he studies the art of engineering? These disbelievers have now surpassed us by stages in matters of industry and worldly affairs.
The Shaykh : As for the one who was born a disbeliever and died before reaching the age of discernment, we say he is a disbeliever in this world only, but in the Hereafter, his affair is left to Allah.
The questioner : Now, these disbelievers are born, for example... Is there a proof established against them, or do they simply not obey? They say, "He dies as a disbeliever... in the Fire." They say, "Allah decreed it for him." We know that Allah decreed...
The Shaykh : Now, did Allah force him in this world? Did He compel him to do it?
The questioner : In terms of divine decree, they say, "Yes."
The Shaykh : That is not correct, because he does not know the divine decree. Compulsion occurs before the action, not after the action. So, when he performed the action, did he know that Allah had decreed it for him?
The questioner : Before he performed it, no.
The Shaykh : Now, how can they use that as an argument? Is it not the case that he now enters school and progresses from primary to middle school, to university, to higher education? Is it not the case that if he wants to study engineering, he studies the art of engineering? These disbelievers have now surpassed us by stages in matters of industry and worldly affairs.