Funeral prayer for a child

Question: 23301

Should a child be washed and the janaazah (funeral) prayer be offered for him? Please note that the child is 8 years old.

Answer

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.

A child should be washed and the funeral prayer offered for him according to all the scholars. Ibn Qudaamah (may Allah have mercy on him) said that there was no dispute concerning this matter. Ibn al-Mundhir narrated that there was consensus among the scholars that a child should be prayed for. See al-Mughni, 3/458.

When the prayer is offered for a child, there should be no prayer for forgiveness, and it should not be said in the prayer “Allahumma aghfir lahu (O Allah forgive him),” because no sins were recorded for him. Rather prayers should be said for forgiveness and mercy for his parents. That is because of the report narrated by Abu Dawood (3180) and al-Tirmidhi (1031) from al-Mugheerah ibn Shu’bah, that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The funeral prayer should be offered for him and prayers should be said for forgiveness and mercy for his parents.” Classed as saheeh by al-Albani in Ahkam al-Jana’iz, p. 73. See also question no. 13985.

And Allah knows best. May Allah bless our Prophet Muhammad and all his family and companions.

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Source:

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid