The Meaning Of "Every Child Is Born In A State Of Fitrah" And The Ruling On The Dead Children Of The Disbelievers And Of The Muslims.

There is none born but is created to his true nature (Islam). It is his parents who make him a Jew or a Christian or a Magian quite as beasts produce their young with their limbs perfect. Do you see anything deficient in them? Then he quoted the Qur'an., The nature made by Allah in which He has created men there is no altering of Allah's creation;
that is the right religion" (xxx. 33)

حَدَّثَنَا حَاجِبُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، عَنِ الزُّبَيْدِيِّ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، أَخْبَرَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ " مَا مِنْ مَوْلُودٍ إِلاَّ يُولَدُ عَلَى الْفِطْرَةِ فَأَبَوَاهُ يُهَوِّدَانِهِ وَيُنَصِّرَانِهِ وَيُمَجِّسَانِهِ كَمَا تُنْتَجُ الْبَهِيمَةُ بَهِيمَةً جَمْعَاءَ هَلْ تُحِسُّونَ فِيهَا مِنْ جَدْعَاءَ " . ثُمَّ يَقُولُ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ وَاقْرَءُوا إِنْ شِئْتُمْ { فِطْرَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا لاَ تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ} الآيَةَ .

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Zuhri with the same chain of transmitters and there is no mention of his deficiency in limbs.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ وَقَالَ " كَمَا تُنْتَجُ الْبَهِيمَةُ بَهِيمَةً " . وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ جَمْعَاءَ .

Abu Huraira reported Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying: No child is born but upon Fitra. He then said. Recite: The nature made by Allah in which He created man, there is no altering of Allah's nature;
that is the right religion."

حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ عِيسَى، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ بْنُ، يَزِيِدَ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، أَنَّ أَبَا سَلَمَةَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ " مَا مِنْ مَوْلُودٍ إِلاَّ يُولَدُ عَلَى الْفِطْرَةِ " . ثُمَّ يَقُولُ اقْرَءُوا { فِطْرَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا لاَ تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ ذَلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ}

Abu Huraira reported Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying: No babe is born but upon Fitra. It is his parents who make him a Jew or a Christian or a Polytheist. A person said: Allah's Messenger, what is your opinion if they were to die before that (before reaching the age of adolescence when they can distinguish between right and wrong)? He said: It is Allah alone Who knows what they would be doing.

حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ " مَا مِنْ مَوْلُودٍ إِلاَّ يُلِدَ عَلَى الْفِطْرَةِ فَأَبَوَاهُ يُهَوِّدَانِهِ وَيُنَصِّرَانِهِ وَيُشَرِّكَانِهِ " . فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ لَوْ مَاتَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ قَالَ " اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا كَانُوا عَامِلِينَ " .

It is reported on the authority of Abu Mu'awiya that (the Holy Prophet) said: Every new-born babe is born on the millat (of Islam and he) remains on this until his tongue is enabled to express himself. This hadith has been narratted on the authority of Abu Mu'awiya through another chain of transmitters (and the words are):" Every child is born but on this Fitra so long as he does not express himself with his tongue."

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ، نُمَيْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي كِلاَهُمَا، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ . فِي حَدِيثِ ابْنِ نُمَيْرٍ " مَا مِنْ مَوْلُودٍ يُولَدُ إِلاَّ وَهُوَ عَلَى الْمِلَّةِ " . وَفِي رِوَايَةِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي مُعَاوِيَةَ " إِلاَّ عَلَى هَذِهِ الْمِلَّةِ حَتَّى يُبَيِّنَ عَنْهُ لِسَانُهُ " . وَفِي رِوَايَةِ أَبِي كُرَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِي مُعَاوِيَةَ " لَيْسَ مِنْ مَوْلُودٍ يُولَدُ إِلاَّ عَلَى هَذِهِ الْفِطْرَةِ حَتَّى يُعَبِّرَ عَنْهُ لِسَانُهُ " .

Abu Huraira reported from Allah's Messenger (may peace be upom him) many ahadith and one amongst them is that he is reported to have said: An infant is born according to his (true) nature. It is his parents Who make him a Jew, a Christian, just as a she-camel gives birth to its young ones. Do you find any deficiency in their limbs? You cut their ears (i. e. after birth). They (the Companions of the Holy Prophet) said: What is your opinion about him who dies in infancy? Thereupon Allah's Apostle ﷺ said: It is Allah alone Who knows best what they would be doing.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، حَدَّثَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنْ هَمَّامِ بْنِ مُنَبِّهٍ، قَالَ هَذَا مَا حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ . فَذَكَرَ أَحَادِيثَ مِنْهَا وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ " مَنْ يُولَدُ يُولَدُ عَلَى هَذِهِ الْفِطْرَةِ فَأَبَوَاهُ يُهَوِّدَانِهِ وَيُنَصِّرَانِهِ كَمَا تَنْتِجُونَ الإِبِلَ فَهَلْ تَجِدُونَ فِيهَا جَدْعَاءَ حَتَّى تَكُونُوا أَنْتُمْ تَجْدَعُونَهَا " . قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَفَرَأَيْتَ مَنْ يَمُوتُ صَغِيرًا قَالَ " اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا كَانُوا عَامِلِينَ " .

Abu Huraira reported Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying: The mother of every person gives him birth according to his true nature. It is subsequently his parents who make him a Jew or a Christian or a Magian. Had his parents been Muslim he would have also remained a Muslim. Every person to whom his mother gives birth (has two aspects of his life) ;
when his mother gives birth Satan strikes him but it was not the case with Mary and her son (Jesus Christ).

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ، - يَعْنِي الدَّرَاوَرْدِيَّ - عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ " كُلُّ إِنْسَانٍ تَلِدُهُ أُمُّهُ عَلَى الْفِطْرَةِ وَأَبَوَاهُ بَعْدُ يُهَوِّدَانِهِ وَيُنَصِّرَانِهِ وَيُمَجِّسَانِهِ فَإِنْ كَانَا مُسْلِمَيْنِ فَمُسْلِمٌ كُلُّ إِنْسَانٍ تَلِدُهُ أُمُّهُ يَلْكُزُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ فِي حِضْنَيْهِ إِلاَّ مَرْيَمَ وَابْنَهَا " .

Abu Huraira reported that Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about the children of the polytheists, whereupon he said: It is Allah Who knows best what they would be doing.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ، وَيُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ، شِهَابٍ عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ سُئِلَ عَنْ أَوْلاَدِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ فَقَالَ " اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا كَانُوا عَامِلِينَ " .

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Shu'aib and Ma'qil with a slight variation of wording.

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ، عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ بَهْرَامَ أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا سَلَمَةُ بْنُ شَبِيبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ أَعْيَنَ، حَدَّثَنَا مَعْقِلٌ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ - كُلُّهُمْ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، بِإِسْنَادِ يُونُسَ وَابْنِ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ . مِثْلَ حَدِيثِهِمَا غَيْرَ أَنَّ فِي، حَدِيثِ شُعَيْبٍ وَمَعْقِلٍ سُئِلَ عَنْ ذَرَارِيِّ الْمُشْرِكِينَ .

Abu Huraira reported that Allahs Messenger ﷺ was asked about the children of the polytheists who die young. Thereupon Allah's Apostle ﷺ said: It is Allah Who knows what they would be doing.

حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ أَطْفَالِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ مَنْ يَمُوتُ مِنْهُمْ صَغِيرًا فَقَالَ " اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا كَانُوا عَامِلِينَ " .

Ibn Abbas reported that Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about the children of the polytheists, whereupon he said: It is Allah alone Who knows what they would be doing according to their creation.

وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي بِشْرٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ أَطْفَالِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ قَالَ " اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا كَانُوا عَامِلِينَ إِذْ خَلَقَهُمْ " .

Ubayy b. Ka'b reported that Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: The young man whom Khadir killed was a non-believer by his very nature and had he survived he would have involved his parents in defiance and unbelief.

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ بْنِ قَعْنَبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعْتَمِرُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ رَقَبَةَ، بْنِ مَسْقَلَةَ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، عَنْ أُبَىِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ "إِنَّ الْغُلاَمَ الَّذِي قَتَلَهُ الْخَضِرُ طُبِعَ كَافِرًا وَلَوْ عَاشَ لأَرْهَقَ أَبَوَيْهِ طُغْيَانًا وَكُفْرًا "

'A'isha, the mother of the believers, reported that a child died and I said: There is happiness for this child who is a bird from amongst the birds of Paradise. Thereupon Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Don't you know that Allah created the Paradise and He created the Hell and He created the dwellers for this (Paradise) and the denizens for this (Hell)?

حَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ فُضَيْلِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ بِنْتِ طَلْحَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، قَالَتْ تُوُفِّيَ صَبِيٌّ فَقُلْتُ طُوبَى لَهُ عُصْفُورٌ مِنْ عَصَافِيرِ الْجَنَّةِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ " أَوَلاَ تَدْرِينَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ خَلَقَ الْجَنَّةَ وَخَلَقَ النَّارَ فَخَلَقَ لِهَذِهِ أَهْلاً وَلِهَذِهِ أَهْلاً " .

'A'isha, the mother of the believers, said that Messenger of Allah ﷺ was called to lead the funeral prayer of a child of the Ansar. I said: Allah's Messenger, there is happiness for this child who is a bird from the birds of Paradise for it committed no sin nor has he reached the age when one can commit sin. He said: 'A'isha, per adventure, it may be otherwise, because God created for Paradise those who are fit for it while they were yet in their father's loins and created for Hell those who are to go to Hell. He created them for Hell while they were yet in their father's loins.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ طَلْحَةَ بْنِ يَحْيَى، عَنْ عَمَّتِهِ، عَائِشَةَ بِنْتِ طَلْحَةَ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، قَالَتْ دُعِيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِلَى جَنَازَةِ صَبِيٍّ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ طُوبَى لِهَذَا عُصْفُورٌ مِنْ عَصَافِيرِ الْجَنَّةِ لَمْ يَعْمَلِ السُّوءَ وَلَمْ يُدْرِكْهُ قَالَ " أَوَغَيْرَ ذَلِكَ يَا عَائِشَةُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَلَقَ لِلْجَنَّةِ أَهْلاً خَلَقَهُمْ لَهَا وَهُمْ فِي أَصْلاَبِ آبَائِهِمْ وَخَلَقَ لِلنَّارِ أَهْلاً خَلَقَهُمْ لَهَا وَهُمْ فِي أَصْلاَبِ آبَائِهِمْ " .