The Ruling on the Children of Disbelievers in This World and the Hereafter
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Question:
Are the children of the Christians, the Jews, and others—children who have not reached the age of discernment and who died—are they in Paradise, or are they in the Fire?
Answer:
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about the children of the polytheists—this is an old question—and he said:Sunan an-Nasa'i 1949Sahih (Darussalam) The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about them and said: Sunan an-Nasa'i 1949Sahih (Darussalam).
The scholars said regarding this hadith: Its meaning is that they return to the knowledge of Allah concerning them on the Day of Resurrection, and they are tested on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever obeys Allah on the Day of Resurrection during the test enters Paradise, and whoever disobeys enters the Fire.
Likewise, the people of the period of ignorance (al-fatra) who did not receive the call of the messengers, who were in places where the call did not reach them, are tested on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever responds to the command requested of him goes to Paradise, and whoever disobeys goes to the Fire.
Likewise, those similar to them who were in a state of decline during the time of the call, meaning they were old, or insane, or otherwise, are tested on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever responds to good and guidance enters Paradise, and whoever disobeys enters the Fire. This is what a group of scholars have established, and the scholar Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) pointed to it in the last part of his book: (The Path of the Two Migrations), in a section in the last part of his book, which he called "The Ranks of Those Obligated to Obey." It is a good study, and whoever wants it will find it.
The point of this is the relied-upon position: that the children of the polytheists are with them in the rulings of this world. Their ruling is the ruling of this world; they are buried with them in this world, they are not washed, and no funeral prayer is performed for them when they die. They are among their disbelieving families, and their ruling is their ruling in this world. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when asked about them, said: When a man said to him: O Messenger of Allah, we attack the polytheists and take their offspring and their women? He said: Meaning: their affair is their affair; they are buried with them, they are not washed, and no funeral prayer is performed for them. But on the Day of Resurrection, they are tested, and whoever accepts what Allah commands on the Day of Resurrection enters Paradise, and whoever disobeys enters the Fire.
Question: Now, what is the essence of the verse [Fatiha: 24]—where is the warner now for the people of the period of ignorance, or the people in the remote parts of Africa?
Answer: Meaning, the community may have remote parts, some places where the call does not reach them.
Are the children of the Christians, the Jews, and others—children who have not reached the age of discernment and who died—are they in Paradise, or are they in the Fire?
Answer:
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about the children of the polytheists—this is an old question—and he said:
Allah knows best what they would have done.
الله أعلم بما كانوا عاملينAllah knows best what they would have done.
الله أعلم بما كانوا عاملينThe scholars said regarding this hadith: Its meaning is that they return to the knowledge of Allah concerning them on the Day of Resurrection, and they are tested on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever obeys Allah on the Day of Resurrection during the test enters Paradise, and whoever disobeys enters the Fire.
Likewise, the people of the period of ignorance (al-fatra) who did not receive the call of the messengers, who were in places where the call did not reach them, are tested on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever responds to the command requested of him goes to Paradise, and whoever disobeys goes to the Fire.
Likewise, those similar to them who were in a state of decline during the time of the call, meaning they were old, or insane, or otherwise, are tested on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever responds to good and guidance enters Paradise, and whoever disobeys enters the Fire. This is what a group of scholars have established, and the scholar Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) pointed to it in the last part of his book: (The Path of the Two Migrations), in a section in the last part of his book, which he called "The Ranks of Those Obligated to Obey." It is a good study, and whoever wants it will find it.
The point of this is the relied-upon position: that the children of the polytheists are with them in the rulings of this world. Their ruling is the ruling of this world; they are buried with them in this world, they are not washed, and no funeral prayer is performed for them when they die. They are among their disbelieving families, and their ruling is their ruling in this world. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when asked about them, said:
They are of them
هم منهمThey are of them
هم منهمQuestion: Now, what is the essence of the verse
And there was no nation but that there had passed within it a warner.
وَإِنْ مِنْ أُمَّةٍ إِلَّا خَلَا فِيهَا نَذِيرٌAnswer: Meaning, the community may have remote parts, some places where the call does not reach them.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.