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:

What is the relegion of a baby at the time of birth? If a baby born in a Christian relegion or any other relegion, then he will grow as a christian. In this case "Is the baby responsible for it"? 

(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:

Will a child born non-muslim be responsible?

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.

Q-1: What is the relegion of a baby at the time of birth?

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.441 Narrated by Abu Huraira

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said, "Every child is born with a true faith of Islam (i.e. to worship none but Allah Alone) but his parents convert him to Judaism, Christianity or Magainism.” Then Abu Huraira recited the verse from the Holy Quran: "The pure Allah's Islamic nature (true faith of Islam; i.e. worshipping none but Allah) with which He has created human beings. No change let there be in the religion of Allah (i.e. joining none in worship with Allah). That is the straight religion (Islam) but most of men know, not." (30.30)

In light of the above Aayah of the Holy Quran and the authentic tradition of the Messenger of Allah (saws), every child that is born is born on ‘fitrah’ or Islamic nature; it is his parents and surroundings which convert him to another religion. Thus the religion of every baby at the time of birth is Al-Islam.

Q-2: If a baby born in a Christian relegion or any other relegion, then he will grow as a christian. In this case "Is the baby responsible for it"? 

Until the baby reaches the age of puberty, he will not be held responsible. But once he reaches the age where he can differentiate between right and wrong, Truth and falsehood, etc. (normally around the age of puberty), thereafter he will be held responsible for his deeds and choice.

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