Fitrah
Total Hadiths 16
What Does Islam Teach About Fitrah? Understanding Our Innate Nature
According to these authentic Hadiths, every single child is born upon Fitrah, which represents their true innate nature and inherent Islamic faith. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) explains that children are born perfectly pure, comparing them to newborn animals that are completely whole and unblemished before human intervention alters them. As they grow up, it is their parents who influence them and shape their religious path, turning them into Jews, Christians, or Magians. Furthermore, when the companions asked about the spiritual fate of children who die at a young age, the Prophet (ﷺ) clarified that Allah alone knows best what they would have done had they lived. According to Islamic scholars, these narrations emphasize that while everyone starts life with a pure, uncorrupted disposition, our environment plays a massive role in our development, while ultimate knowledge rests with Allah.
حَدَّثَنَا حَاجِبُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، عَنِ الزُّبَيْدِيِّ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، أَخْبَرَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَا مِنْ مَوْلُودٍ إِلاَّ يُولَدُ عَلَى الْفِطْرَةِ فَأَبَوَاهُ يُهَوِّدَانِهِ وَيُنَصِّرَانِهِ وَيُمَجِّسَانِهِ كَمَا تُنْتَجُ الْبَهِيمَةُ بَهِيمَةً جَمْعَاءَ هَلْ تُحِسُّونَ فِيهَا مِنْ جَدْعَاءَ " . ثُمَّ يَقُولُ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ وَاقْرَءُوا إِنْ شِئْتُمْ { فِطْرَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا لاَ تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ} الآيَةَ .
There is none born but is created to his true nature (Islam). It is his parents who make him a Jew or a Christian or a Magian quite as beasts produce their young with their limbs perfect. Do you see anything deficient in them? Then he quoted the Qur'an., The nature made by Allah in which He has created men there is no altering of Allah's creation; that is the right religion" (ar-Rum: 30)
[1] Ar-Rûm 30:30.Reference : Sahih Muslim 2658bIn-book reference : Book 46, Hadith 34USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 33, Hadith 6423
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ وَقَالَ " كَمَا تُنْتَجُ الْبَهِيمَةُ بَهِيمَةً " . وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ جَمْعَاءَ .
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Zuhri with the same chain of transmitters and there is no mention of his deficiency in limbs.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2658cIn-book reference : Book 46, Hadith 35USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 33, Hadith 6424
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ، عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ بَهْرَامَ أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا سَلَمَةُ بْنُ شَبِيبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ أَعْيَنَ، حَدَّثَنَا مَعْقِلٌ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ - كُلُّهُمْ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، بِإِسْنَادِ يُونُسَ وَابْنِ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ . مِثْلَ حَدِيثِهِمَا غَيْرَ أَنَّ فِي، حَدِيثِ شُعَيْبٍ وَمَعْقِلٍ سُئِلَ عَنْ ذَرَارِيِّ الْمُشْرِكِينَ .
This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Shu'aib and Ma'qil with a slight variation of wording.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2659cIn-book reference : Book 46, Hadith 42USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 33, Hadith 6431
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ يُونُسَ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ وَأَخْبَرَنِي عَطَاءُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، يَقُولُ سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ ذَرَارِيِّ الْمُشْرِكِينَ فَقَالَ {اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا كَانُوا عَامِلِينَ }
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was asked about the offspring of the pagans. He said, "Allah knows what they would have done (were they to live)."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6598In-book reference : Book 82, Hadith 5USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 8, Book 77, Hadith 597
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
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
حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ عِيسَى، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ بْنُ، يَزِيِدَ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، أَنَّ أَبَا سَلَمَةَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَا مِنْ مَوْلُودٍ إِلاَّ يُولَدُ عَلَى الْفِطْرَةِ " . ثُمَّ يَقُولُ اقْرَءُوا { فِطْرَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا لاَ تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ ذَلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ}
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: No child is born but upon Fitra. He then said. Recite: The nature made by Allah in which He created man, there is no altering of Allah's nature; that is the right religion."
[1] Ar-Rûm 30:30.Reference : Sahih Muslim 2658dIn-book reference : Book 46, Hadith 36USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 33, Hadith 6425
حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَا مِنْ مَوْلُودٍ إِلاَّ يُلِدَ عَلَى الْفِطْرَةِ فَأَبَوَاهُ يُهَوِّدَانِهِ وَيُنَصِّرَانِهِ وَيُشَرِّكَانِهِ " . فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ لَوْ مَاتَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ قَالَ " اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا كَانُوا عَامِلِينَ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: No babe is born but upon Fitra. It is his parents who make him a Jew or a Christian or a Polytheist. A person said: Allah's Messenger, what is your opinion if they were to die before that (before reaching the age of adolescence when they can distinguish between right and wrong)? He said: It is Allah alone Who knows what they would be doing.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2658eIn-book reference : Book 46, Hadith 37USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 33, Hadith 6426
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، حَدَّثَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنْ هَمَّامِ بْنِ مُنَبِّهٍ، قَالَ هَذَا مَا حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم . فَذَكَرَ أَحَادِيثَ مِنْهَا وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ يُولَدُ يُولَدُ عَلَى هَذِهِ الْفِطْرَةِ فَأَبَوَاهُ يُهَوِّدَانِهِ وَيُنَصِّرَانِهِ كَمَا تَنْتِجُونَ الإِبِلَ فَهَلْ تَجِدُونَ فِيهَا جَدْعَاءَ حَتَّى تَكُونُوا أَنْتُمْ تَجْدَعُونَهَا " . قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَفَرَأَيْتَ مَنْ يَمُوتُ صَغِيرًا قَالَ " اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا كَانُوا عَامِلِينَ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Abu Huraira reported from Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) many ahadith and one amongst them is that he is reported to have said: An infant is born according to his (true) nature. It is his parents Who make him a Jew, a Christian, just as a she-camel gives birth to its young ones. Do you find any deficiency in their limbs? You cut their ears (i. e. after birth). They (the Companions of the Holy Prophet) said: What is your opinion about him who dies in infancy? Thereupon Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) said: It is Allah alone Who knows best what they would be doing.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2658gIn-book reference : Book 46, Hadith 39USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 33, Hadith 6428
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ، - يَعْنِي الدَّرَاوَرْدِيَّ - عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " كُلُّ إِنْسَانٍ تَلِدُهُ أُمُّهُ عَلَى الْفِطْرَةِ وَأَبَوَاهُ بَعْدُ يُهَوِّدَانِهِ وَيُنَصِّرَانِهِ وَيُمَجِّسَانِهِ فَإِنْ كَانَا مُسْلِمَيْنِ فَمُسْلِمٌ كُلُّ إِنْسَانٍ تَلِدُهُ أُمُّهُ يَلْكُزُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ فِي حِضْنَيْهِ إِلاَّ مَرْيَمَ وَابْنَهَا " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: The mother of every person gives him birth according to his true nature. It is subsequently his parents who make him a Jew or a Christian or a Magian. Had his parents been Muslim he would have also remained a Muslim. Every person to whom his mother gives birth (has two aspects of his life); when his mother gives birth Satan strikes him but it was not the case with Mary and her son (Jesus Christ).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2659aIn-book reference : Book 46, Hadith 40USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 33, Hadith 6429
