The Ruling on the Children of Polytheists Who Die

A reader from Riyadh asks:
Q: Is a child born to two disbelieving parents who dies before reaching the age of accountability a Muslim in the sight of Allah or not? Knowing that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: the hadith.
And if he is a Muslim, is it obligatory for Muslims to wash his body, pray over him, and bury him? Please inform us, may Allah reward you.

Answer: If a person who is not accountable dies between two disbelieving parents, his ruling in the matters of this world is the same as theirs; he is not washed, no prayer is performed over him, and he is not buried in the graves of Muslims. As for the Hereafter, his affair is with Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). It is authentically reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that when he was asked about the children of polytheists, he said: .
Some scholars have held that the knowledge of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) regarding them will become apparent on the Day of Resurrection, and that they will be tested just as the people of the period of ignorance (al-fatra) and those like them are tested. If they respond to what is required of them, they will enter Paradise; if they disobey, they will enter the Fire. Authentic hadiths have been reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding the testing of the people of the period of ignorance on the Day of Resurrection. These are those to whom the call of the messengers did not reach, and those in a similar position, such as the children of polytheists. This is based on the saying of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) : [Surah al-Isra: 15]. This view is the most correct opinion regarding the people of the period of ignorance and those like them to whom the divine call did not reach. It is the choice of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, his student the scholar Ibn al-Qayyim, and a group of the Salaf and Khalaf (may Allah have mercy on them all).
The scholar Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) elaborated on the ruling regarding the children of polytheists and the people of the period of ignorance at the end of his book (Tariq al-Hijratayn) under the title (The Ranks of the Accountable). Whoever wishes to look into it should do so, for it is very beneficial. And success is from Allah.