Fatwa #4361625 November 2019India
Does a child die as a Muslim?
Question
Assalaamu alaikum. Recently in my state a 2 year old non muslim (Christian) boy fell in to an abandoned borewell and after much struggle (4 days) the disaster team took him dead.Does he needs to be considered a muslim based on "Every child is born on fitrah..." hadith.I know we cannot call him Jannati as only Allah has knowledge over it.But can we ask dua for his magfirah?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
It is sad to note the unfortunate incident with the non-Muslim boy. As Muslims, we feel the pain and sorrow of everyone.
You enquire if the boy needs to be considered as a Muslim. You refer to the hadith:
كُلُّ مَوْلُودٍ يُولَدُ عَلَى الْفِطْرَةِ (صحيح البخاري: 1385)
Translation: “Every child is born with a true faith of Islam (i.e. to worship none but Allah Alone)”
You also enquire if Du’a of Maghfirat can be made for him. As stated in the hadith, we will consider the boy being on Fitrah of Islam (having a natural disposition of Islam). The consequences of natural disposition of Islam should lead a child to being a Muslim if he is not wrongly influenced against Islam. The future of every child when he becomes an adult is best known to Allah. At this point, we simply believe the child is on Fitrah of Islam. It is hoped from the infinite mercy of Almighty Allah, that Allah will deal with the child according to His infinite mercy.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Student Darul Iftaa
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.