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:

Asslamwalaikum wa barakatuh Dear brother,

I would like to ask if a muslim child has been brought up in a muslim family.And the parents were practising shirk and that child was being taught that shirk is permissible in Islam. When that child grows up finds out that `shirk` is the most haineous sin that exists and he asks Allah for forgiveness. Is that child responsible for that sin or the parents. Jazarkallah kair. A sister of islam

from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Child leaves shirk

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 6.298 Narrated by Abu Huraira

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said, "No child is born except on Al-Fitra (Islam) and then his parents make him Jewish, Christian or Magian, as an animal produces a perfect young animal: do you see any part of its body amputated?" Then he (saws) recited: "The religion of pure Islamic Faith (Hanifa),(i.e. to worship none but Allah), The pure Allah's Islamic nature with which He (Allah) has created mankind. Let there be no change in Allah's religion (i.e. to join none in Allah's worship). That is the straight religion; but most of men know not..." (Quran 30.30)

The parents who taught the child shirk will hold the responsibility and burden of the sin, until the time the child becomes an adult. If the person practiced shirk for a while during his adult life before his repentance, he will be responsible for the sin; but at the acceptance of Islam, all his past sins will be forgiven by the Merciful Lord.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 25 Surah Furqan verses 68-71:

68 Those who invoke not with Allah any other god, nor slay such life as Allah has made sacred except for just cause, not commit fornication; and any that does this (not only) meets punishment,

69 (But) the Penalty on the Day of Judgment will be doubled to him and he will dwell therein in ignominy.

70 Unless he repents, believes, and works righteous deeds; for Allah will change the evil of such persons into good, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful

71 And whoever repents and does good has truly turned to Allah with an (acceptable) conversion

Amr ibn al-'As said: "When Allah guided me to Islam, I went to the Prophet (saws) and said to him: 'O Prophet of Allah (saws)! Stretch out your hand so that I may pledge my allegiance to you.' The Prophet (saws) stretched out his hand to me, but I withdrew my hand. The Prophet (saws) asked: 'O 'Amr! what is the matter with you?' I said: 'I would like to stipulate a condition! ' The Prophet (saws) asked: 'What is it?' I said: 'That all my past sins be forgiven!' The Prophet (saws) said: 'O 'Amr! Do you not know that (acceptance of) Islam wipes off all past sins, and Hijrah (leaving one’s home and hearth for Allah's cause) wipes off all sins, and (similarly) Hajj wipes off all past sins!"'

Related by Muslim.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan