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Question: Is it true that whoever dies before reaching puberty will be under the care of [Prophet] Ibraaheem ﷺ ? And what is your advice to someone who has suddenly lost their child?
Response: Whoever dies before reaching puberty – [and whose] parents are Muslims – then he is in Jannah.
So if the child has Muslim parents, or [even] if one of the parents is Muslim, then in [terms of the] religion, the child follows the Muslim [parent] – so he dies before reaching puberty, [then] he dies upon Islaam, and bears no sin, because a child has [good] recorded for him, and nothing against him.
[So] what he does of good is recorded for him, and nothing is recorded against him of bad deeds.
So the children of Muslims who die before puberty are in Jannah.
And this is what the believer prays (comforts themselves with) when they lose their child.
The second issue is that if a Muslim loses his child and remains patient, and seeks reward [from Allaah], and praises Allaah ﷻ, [then] a house will be built for him in Jannah, called بَيْتُ الْحَمْد (the House of Praise).
So the child is in Jannah, and the father’s patience over his [child’s] death is a cause for him [also] entering Jannah.
So the death of a child is among the causes for entering Jannah for whoever is patient [over his child’s death] and seeks reward [from Allaah for his loss].
And that is why I say that the death of a child – [though deeply painful] – is [a source of tremendous] goodness that should not be sought [after].
It is – in and of itself – [a source of tremendous] goodness, because he dies and becomes one of the people of Jannah, and [as a result] becomes a cause for his parents to [also] enter Jannah.
However, this is goodness that should not be sought [after]. No-one should come along and [upon] hearing this, say:
This is goodness that should not be sought [after], however, should it befall [anyone], then a person should remain patient, seek reward, and anticipate the glad tidings [from Allaah].
And [thereby] this calamity becomes a key to immense goodness for him [and his parents].
And the Prophet ﷺ himself lost his son Ibraaheem, while he was small; and he ﷺ remained patient and sought reward [from Allaah], and his eyes shed tears out of the mercy in his heart [towards his son], and [despite his loss] he did not say anything but that which would please Allaah ﷻ.
However, nothing has been authentically reported about the [deceased] young child being under the care of Ibraaheem – whether they intended – as many of them are of the opinion [it is] – Ibraaheem the son of the Prophet ﷺ – or they intended Prophet Ibraaheem ﷺ.
[1] al-Adab al-Mufrad,no.145 – classified by al-Albaanee as authentic.
Khaalid al-‘Absee said:
He replied, I heard the Messenger ﷺ say:
[2] Saheeh Muslim, no.2635
It was narrated that Abu Hassaan said: I said to Abu Hurayrah:
He said:
