Fatwa: # 17764
Category: Misc. Fiqh
Country: United States
Date: 26th March 2009

Title

What occurs in the instance of a prepubescent child who commits a sinful practice, such as murder, but dies before reaching puberty?

Question

What occurs in the instance of a

prepubescent child who commits a sinful practice, such as murder, but dies before reaching puberty?

Answer

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful


Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

 

In principle, all children who have not reached puberty are unaccountable for their sins. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) has said in a Hadith narrated by A’isha (RadiyAllahu Anha):

عن عائشة رضى الله عنها أن رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قال « رفع القلم عن ثلاثة عن النائم حتى يستيقظ وعن المبتلى حتى يبرأ وعن الصبى حتى يكبر ».

“The pen (which writes actions of a person) will be lifted for three: The one who is sleeping until he wakes up, the one who is insane until he is free from his insanity, and the child until he matures.” (Sunan Abi Dawud)

 

However, in certain cases of Huququl ‘Ibad, e.g. if a child rips a person’s clothing, then the damage must be compensated for with the child’s wealth. (Badhlul Majhud 12/562)

 

In certain severe cases, e.g. the child commits murder, then the wali (guardian) of the child will be responsible and he will have to pay diyah (blood money) to the family of the deceased person. There is no qisas (punishment) on those who have not reached the age of puberty.

 

Children who die before reaching the age of maturity will not be held accountable for their deeds on the Day of Judgment.

 

فلوجوب القصاص شرائط : بعضها يرجع إلى القاتل ، وبعضها يرجع إلى المقتول ، وبعضها يرجع إلى نفس القتل ، وبعضها يرجع إلى ولي القتيل أما الذي يرجع إلى القاتل فخمسة : أحدها : أن يكون عاقلا ، والثاني : أن يكون بالغا ، فإن كان مجنونا أو صبيا لا يجب ؛ لأن القصاص عقوبة ، وهما ليسا من أهل العقوبة ، لأنها لا تجب إلا بالجناية ، وفعلهما لا يوصف بالجناية . ولهذا لم تجب عليهما الحدود . (بدائع الصنائع)

 

And Allah knows best

Wassalamu Alaikum

Ml. Asif Umar,
Student Darul Iftaa

Checked and Approved by:

Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa

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