The Reason Why Innocent Children Fall Ill

Question

Minor children and infants at the breast are innocent, that is, sinless; they are not questioned in the grave. Why, then, does He cast them during their lifetime into such sufferings as we cannot bear to look at? Most often they are afflicted with smallpox.

Answer

Raising their ranks, and also — through the distress and suffering that their parents and relatives undergo — removing the sins of the latter and turning their attention to the Pure God: these two benefits are quite plainly visible; and there will be other benefits as well, which are in the knowledge of Allah the Exalted.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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