A Child’s Religion (Hadith No. 1137)
Bismillah.
Volume 2, Book 23, Number 438:
Narrated Anas:
A young Jewish boy used to serve the Prophet and he became sick. So the Prophet went to visit him. He sat near his head and asked him to embrace Islam. The boy looked at his father, who was sitting there; the latter told him to obey Abu-l-Qasim and the boy embraced Islam. The Prophet came out saying: “Praises be to Allah Who saved the boy from the Hell-fire.”
A child is on his/her parents’ religion, as we get to know from another Hadith. When he’s born, he’s on fitrah, but his parents make him a Jew or a Christian etc.
This young Jewish boy was invited to Islam on his death bed by Prophet (SAW). This means that if he died without accepting it, he would’ve entered the Hell-fire. So yes, children deserve da`wah as well.
What if one of the parents is Muslim? What religion is a child on then? Read more on it here.
Wassalam.
Posted on October 2, 2012, in iLook and tagged bukhari, child, death, deen, funeral, hadith no 1137, janaza, jew, prayer, religion, salah. Bookmark the permalink. 5 Comments.
iLookiListen 
Young boy here means he must be mature right? Since before that a child goes to Jannah by default, if he dies, no? So by children you mean mature but young kids?
The opinions of scholars that I’ve read so far suggest that the child will be treated (on death) according to his/her parents’ religion. If parents were Christian, his burial will be according to the Christian way. Muslims won’t pray janazah for him, nor pray for his forgiveness.
And because when that child grows up to be mature, he’ll have to say the shahadatayn in order to become a Muslim.
This young boy could have been mature, we’re not sure of that. But Prophet (SAW) did present Islam to him. Means he had to accept Islam knowingly to not die as a Jew.
As far as the treatment of Allah with immature non-Muslim kids is concerned, I’ve yet to read up on that. Initially I had the same opinion (as yours), but after reading this post on IslamQA, I’m not so sure anymore.
Allah knows best.
Ok yes I read the posts again and the link too, you’re right they haven’t answered that part clearly.
Pingback: A Child’s Religion [contd.] (Ahadith 1138 – 1140) « iLookiListen
Pingback: A Child’s Religion [contd. II] (Ahadith 1163 – 1166) « iLookiListen