The Ruling on the Children of Polytheists

Question

The innocent children of polytheists and disbelievers — Jews, Christians, idolaters and the like — who die: will they too enter Paradise? For it is stated in “Mazahir-e Haqq”, vol. 3, that the innocent children remain gathered beside Hazrat Ibrahim ﵇ in Paradise, and in the tafsir “Mawdih al-Qur’an” it is stated that the children of polytheists will indeed enter Paradise, but as servants.

Answer

Concerning them the Imam A‘zam suspended judgement (tawaqquf) on account of the conflict of proofs. According to some, some of them will go to Paradise and some to Hell; the same is reported from Imam Malik and Imam al-Shafi‘i; from Imam Ahmad one narration is likewise, while in another narration all of them will be saved. (Thus in “Fayd al-Bari”, vol. 2, p. 692.)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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