Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Why is the hair of the child  need to be buried after Akika. Is it a Bidda’ again?

 Is there any hadith regarding Prophet Adam’s  (a.s)  drop of blood from his body giving life to rice grain. Hence after that rice plantation happened and rice is considered to be a miracle  from Prophet Adam? Allah is Merciful, then why is it that some innocent children are  born with defects eg lame, blind… What is Allah’s hikmah behind this? Are these children responsible for any body’s  or their previous sins ?

Are the children responsible for their fore-fathers or parents’ sins? If yes how are they going to ask for Mercy from Allah if they have not commited these sins?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Are handicapped children responsible of their fore-fathers sins?

Your comments: Why is the hair of the child  need to be buried after Akika. Is it a Bidda’ again?

There is no authority from Allah and His Messenger (saws) for this act. Thus if one does so in the name of Islam, it will definitely be considered a ‘biddah’.

Your comments : Is there any hadith regarding Prophet Adam’s  (a.s)  drop of blood from his body giving life to rice grain. Hence after that rice plantation happened and rice is considered to be a miracle  from Prophet Adam?

No such thing has been reported in any of the two authentic sources… The Quran and the Sunnah. Thus there is absolutely no reason to believe such a thing. As muslims, we only believe the miracles stated in the Quran and the Sunnah.

Your comments : Allah is Merciful, then why is it that some innocent children are  born with defects eg lame, blind… What is Allah’s hikmah behind this? Are these children responsible for any body’s  or their previous sins ? Are the children responsible for their fore-fathers or parents’ sins? If yes how are they going to ask for Mercy from Allah if they have not committed these sins?

In light of the Quran and Sunnah, it is extremely clear that no one is responsible for the sins of another. No son is responsible for the deeds of his father or forefather! Every person will have his or her accounting according to their individual deeds. Thus, the child who is born with a handicap, it is not because he is paying for the sins of his parents or anybody else. It is because that was the Will and Command of Allah, and has nothing to do with the innocent newborn child.

This worldly life is not a place of punishment, nor is a place of rewards! This life is nothing but a test ordained by Allah. The place and time for rewards and punishments is only in the Hereafter.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 21 Surah Anbiya verse 35: Every living being has to taste death! And We are putting all of you to trial by passing you through good and bad conditions, and ultimately you shall all return to Us.

If one has been blessed by Allah with all the wealth, and all the health, and family, etc., it does not mean that Allah is pleased and happy with him. And similarly, if Allah has deprived one of his health, or wealth, or family, etc. it does not mean that Allah is angry with him. The one who is blessed with everything, and the one who has been deprived of some things, are both in a test set by Allah. The one who is blessed with everything will obviously have to show more thanks and gratefulness to Allah, and the one who has been deprived will have to show patience. And each will be rewarded or punished by Allah according to their own deeds done in this world.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 20 Surah Ta Ha verse 131: And do not (even) cast an envious look at the worldly property We have bestowed on different kinds of people, for We have given them that and put them to a test! And the lawful provisions of your Lord are better and more lasting.

One of the wisdoms which is evident behind the innocent child being born handicapped could be that through this birth, Allah wants to make the able-bodied realize the favors He has bestowed upon the majority of mankind; that if Allah willed, He could have made any of us born with a deficiency, and no one would have been able to help us. Thus whomever Allah has bestowed with perfect health, or sufficient wealth and family, should always be grateful to Allah and do good righteous deeds according to His Will, as a sign of their recognition and gratitude for the unlimited favors of Allah on them.

If a person is handicapped, or if Allah has deprived him of some of the favors, and he is patient and is grateful to Allah for everything else, Allah will give him a great reward for his deficiency and his patience.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verses 155-157: We will surely put you to trial by involving you in fear and hunger and causing loss of property, life and earnings. And give good tidings to those who remain steadfast in these trials. When a misfortune comes to them, they say: “We are Allah’s, and we shall certainly return to Him.” Their Lord will bestow great blessings and mercy upon them. Such are the people who are rightly guided.

Thus, in conclusion, the condition the person is in, is not a result of his sins, or his virtue. This world is only a trial set by Allah for each individual. The place and time for rewards and punishments is only in the Hereafter, where everyone will be judged by the All-Just, according to their own deeds.

May Allah guide you and us all to the Straight Path of Islam.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan