82/3. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 6599 — Every Child Born on Fitrah
It is Allah Who knows what they would have done
Hadith About Every Child Being Born on Fitrah
Sahih Bukhari : 6599
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 6599
حَدَّثَنِي إِسْحَاقُ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنْ هَمَّامٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَا مِنْ مَوْلُودٍ إِلاَّ يُولَدُ عَلَى الْفِطْرَةِ، فَأَبَوَاهُ يُهَوِّدَانِهِ وَيُنَصِّرَانِهِ، كَمَا تُنْتِجُونَ الْبَهِيمَةَ، هَلْ تَجِدُونَ فِيهَا مِنْ جَدْعَاءَ حَتَّى تَكُونُوا أَنْتُمْ تَجْدَعُونَهَا ". قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَفَرَأَيْتَ مَنْ يَمُوتُ وَهْوَ صَغِيرٌ قَالَ {اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا كَانُوا عَامِلِينَ}
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "No child is born but has the Islamic Faith, but its parents turn it into a Jew or a Christian. It is as you help the animals give birth. Do you find among their offspring a mutilated one before you mutilate them yourself?" The people said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! What do you think about those (of them) who die young?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah knows what they would have done (were they to live)."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6599, 6600In-book reference : Book 82, Hadith 6USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 8, Book 77, Hadith 597
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 6599
This hadith about every child being born on fitrah teaches that no child is born except upon the Islamic Faith, while parents may turn the child into a Jew or a Christian. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gave an example from animals: when animals give birth, their offspring are not found mutilated until people mutilate them. The question was then raised about those who die while young. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم answered that Allah knows what they would have done if they had lived. The hadith links fitrah, parental influence, and Allah's knowledge. It reminds readers that early human nature is not described here as damaged by birth, and that Allah knows hidden outcomes.
What we learn from this hadith
- Every child is described as being born on fitrah.
- Parents can have a strong influence on a child's religious path.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used a clear example from animals to explain the point.
- Allah knows what young children would have done if they had lived.
