Loss of a child in Islam

All praise belongs to Allāh ﷻ the Lord of the worlds. We send our peace and blessing upon his final messenger Muḥammad ﷺ and upon his family, his companions. 

Allāh ﷻ has granted us many blessings. At times Allāh ﷻ, in His infinite wisdom, takes away some of these blessings which He has bestowed upon us. Know that Allāh ﷻ does not take away anything from a believer except that He ﷻ will compensate him for it with something much greater. Indeed, when a trial befalls us, if we have patience and content with the decree of Allāh ﷻ, He will certainly reward us with something much better than the adornments of the life of this temporary world, and grant us the success of Jannah and safety from the fire. 

The resting place of children after death

Indeed after death, all souls have an abode. As for the soul of the disbeliever its abode is in Jahannam, and as for the soul of the believer its abode is in Jannah. Indeed Allāh ﷻ has ordained Jannah for the souls of children[1]. It is narrated in a ḥadīth by narrated Hasana’ daughter of Mu’awiyah:

These children will be under the guardianship of Prophet Ibrāhīm عليه السلام and his wife Sārah عليها السلام in a mountain in Jannah, and in a green garden from the gardens of paradise. A garden with every spring flower. They will be playing and enjoying themselves next to two flowing rivers. This has been established from different narrations from the Prophet ﷺ. 

A means of protection from the fire

Know that the death of a young one is a means of protection from the fire. Abū Hurayra reports that a woman came to Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ) with her child and said:

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ أَتَتِ امْرَأَةٌ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِصَبِيٍّ لَهَا فَقَالَتْ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ ادْعُ اللَّهَ لَهُ فَلَقَدْ دَفَنْتُ ثَلاَثَةً قَالَ ‏”‏ دَفَنْتِ ثَلاَثَةً ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَتْ نَعَمْ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ لَقَدِ احْتَظَرْتِ بِحِظَارٍ شَدِيدٍ مِنَ النَّارِ ‏”‏ ‏

It is aso narrated on the authority of Abū Naḍr al-Salamy:

A means of entrance for parents into Jannah

Know that from the mercy of Allāh ﷻ, the death of children acts as a means of entrance into Jannah for the parents of the deceased child. The more one increases their patience and contentment with the decree of Allāh ﷻ, the greater is one’s reward. 

It has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Mas’ūd:

It has been narrated from some of the companions of the Prophet ﷺ that they heard the Prophet ﷺ say:

Those who lose one child

It is from the mercy of Allāh ﷻ, that mercy which has no bounds, that the glad tidings given to the parents who mourn the death of three or two of their children will also surely be given to the one who is patient upon the passing away of one child.

It has been narrated on the authority of Jabir:

It has been narrated from the father of Mu’āwiyah b. Qurrah:

It was narrated from Mu’adh bin Jabal that the Prophet ﷺ said:

The one whose child has died before him

From the infinite mercy of Allāh ﷻ is that he who has not preceded their children in death, and does not have the honour of having their children to intercede on their behalf, then the Prophet ﷺ will intercede for them. Ibn ‘Abbās narrates: 

Remember to praise Allāh ﷻ and say: 

It has been narrated by Abu Sinan:

Therefore, do not despair. Know that Allāh ﷻ is most merciful to His believing servants, magnificent in His bestowal of virtue and blessings. He ﷻ will multiply goodness for you, such that you will be raised on the day of Judgement in peace and tranquility. You will be far away from the fire, happy and delighted with your children, forever in eternal life. To Allāh ﷻ belongs all praise and gratitude. We ask Allāh ﷻ to shower us with His ﷻ kindness and mercy, and that we are able to worship Him ﷻ as He ﷻ deserves to be worshipped. Peace and salutations upon our beloved master Muḥammad ﷺ.

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[1] Those who have passed away before reaching the age of puberty

[2] Sunan Abi Dawud 2521

[3] Hakim 1418

[4] Sahih al-Bukhari 7047

[5] Saḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah 1865

[6] Sahih Muslim 2636 a

[7] Muwatta Mālik Book 16, Hadith 39 

[8] Musnad Aḥmad 3995

[9] (المُحْبَنْطِىء: المتغضب المستبطىء للشيء، وقيل: هو الممتنع امتناع طَلبة، لا امتناع إباء. انظر: النهاية (1/331

[10] Musnad Aḥmad 16971

[11] أخرجه أحمد (5/ 35 برقم 14289)، والبخاري في “الأدب المفرد” (55 برقم 146) نحوه

[12] Musnad Aḥmad 15595

[13] Sunan Ibn Majah Book 6, Hadith 1677

[14] Qur`ān 2:156

[15] قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ