QUESTION:
If a child passes away in infancy or is stillborn, how old will the child be in Jannah?
ANSWER:
From the outset, we could not locate any narration specifically pointing out what will be the age of children in Jannah. However, there are two narrations mentioned below:
عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ يَدْخُلُ أَهْلُ الْجَنَّةِ الْجَنَّةَ جُرْدًا مُرْدًا مُكَحَّلِينَ أَبْنَاءَ ثَلاَثِينَ أَوْ ثَلاَثٍ وَثَلاَثِينَ سَنَةً (سنن الترمذي #2545)
Mu’aadh ibn Jabal Radiallahu Anhu reports that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said: “The people of Jannah will enter Jannah hairless, beardless with their eyes anointed with Kuhl (antimony), aged 30 or 33 years.”
From the above narration, it is understood that the inhabitants of Jannah will be either 30 or 33 years of age. This refers to adults.
عَنْ أَبِي حَسَّانَ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ إِنَّهُ قَدْ مَاتَ لِيَ ابْنَانِ فَمَا أَنْتَ مُحَدِّثِي عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِحَدِيثٍ تُطَيِّبُ بِهِ أَنْفُسَنَا عَنْ مَوْتَانَا قَالَ قَالَ نَعَمْ “ صِغَارُهُمْ دَعَامِيصُ الْجَنَّةِ يَتَلَقَّى أَحَدُهُمْ أَبَاهُ – أَوْ قَالَ أَبَوَيْهِ – فَيَأْخُذُ بِثَوْبِهِ – أَوْ قَالَ بِيَدِهِ – كَمَا آخُذُ أَنَا بِصَنِفَةِ ثَوْبِكَ هَذَا فَلاَ يَتَنَاهَى – أَوْ قَالَ فَلاَ يَنْتَهِي – حَتَّى يُدْخِلَهُ اللَّهُ وَأَبَاهُ الْجَنَّةَ ” (صحيح مسلم #2635)
Abu Hassaan Rahimahullah mentioned that I told Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu: “Two of my sons have passed away. Will you not narrate to me from Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam a narration which will console us regarding our dead?” Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu said: “Yes, when the little ones enter Jannah and their father or parents meet them, then he will take hold of his garment or his hand as I am holding your garment, and he will not let go until Allah will admit him and his father into Paradise.”
عن أبي هريرة أن رجلا قال له: مات ابن لي فوجدت عليه هل سمعت من خليلك صلوات الله عليه شيئا يطيب بأنفسنا عن موتانا؟ قال: نعم سمعته صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «صغارهم دعاميص الجنة يلقى أحدهم أباه فيأخذ بناحية ثوبه فلا يفارقه حتى يدخله الجنة»
(دعاميص الجنة) في النهاية: جمع دعموص، وهي دويبة تغوص في الماء، وتكون في مستنقع الماء، والدعموص أيضا الدخال في الأمور الدخول على الحرم، ولا يحتجب منهم.(مرقاة المفاتيح 3/1250)
From the above narration we come to know that children that pass away in infancy will be resurrected on the day of Qiyaamah as small children. There is no mention of age.
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Maulana Abdul Kader Fazlani
Date: 08 Dhul Hijjah 1445 / 15 June 2024
CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai Saheb