We should know that there is no dispute among our scholars that the children of believers will enter Paradise with their parents as the Almighty Allah has said:

وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَاتَّبَعَتْهُمْ ذُرِّيَّتُهُمْ بِإِيمَانٍ أَلْحَقْنَا بِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَمَا أَلَتْنَاهُمْ مِنْ عَمَلِهِمْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ

“And (as for) those who believe, and their offspring follow them in faith, We will unite with them their offspring and We will not diminish to them aught of their work” (52:21).

It is mentioned in many traditions that this verse is revealed regarding the children of believers; they are taken to Paradise with their parents. Some have said that it implies those mature people, whose deeds are flawed from reaching to the ranks of parents; so, the Almighty Allah joins them to the ranks of their parents due to their faith.

It is narrated from Ibn Abbas. Some say that both are included in this verse, but the first matter is apparent and well-known. Ahl al-Sunnah have narrated from Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) that the Messenger of Allah (S) said: Believers and their children are in Paradise and then he recited the captioned verse.

‘Ali Ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that the children of our Shi’as are cared for by Lady Fatimah (‘a) and on Judgment Day, she gifts them to their parents.

Al-Kulayni has narrated from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) that the children will be flawed from the deeds of their parents; so they are united with their parents, that they might be pleased.

Nawadir Rawandi has narrated from Imam ‘Ali ar-Ridha’ (‘a), and in the Lucknow edition, it is mentioned that he narrates from Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (‘a) that: You should not marry an extremely beautiful wife, who is barren. Indeed, I will pride myself on Judgment Day over other nations due to your exceeding numbers. Do you not know that children live below the throne of Allah and seek forgiveness for their parents? His Eminence, Ibrahim (‘a) looks after them and Lady Sarah cares for them on a mountain of Musk, amber and saffron.

Ibn Babawayh has narrated through authentic chains of narrators from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) in the book of Faqih that when a child of a believer dies, a caller from the heavens calls out: so and so son of so and so has died; if his father or mother or his relative from believers has died, that child is given over to him so that he may feed him; otherwise he is given over to Lady Fatimah (‘a) that she may feed him; till his father, mother or a believer relative dies. Thus, Lady Fatimah (‘a) takes care of him.

Moreover, it is narrated through authentic chains of narrators from the same Imam that the Almighty Allah hands over the children of believers to Prophet Ibrahim (‘a) and Lady Sarah, that they may feed them from a tree of Paradise, which has large number of teats. It is located in a palace of pearls. On Judgment Day, they will be dressed up in fine garments, perfumed and given to their parents as gifts. Thus, they will all be rulers in Paradise with their parents and this is the meaning of the above verse of Qur’an: then Imam (‘a) recited the above verse.

Also, in some reliable books, it is narrated from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) that when the Messenger of Allah (S), during ascension reached to the seventh heaven and met all the prophets over there, he asked: Where is my father, Ibrahim. Angels replied: He is in the company of the children of the Shi’as of ‘Ali. After that when the Prophet entered Paradise, he saw Prophet Ibrahim (‘a) under a tree. That tree had a large number of teats and numerous children were taking a suck. Whenever a teat escapes the mouth of child, Ibrahim (‘a) replaces it.

Prophet Ibrahim (‘a) greeted the Holy Prophet (S) and inquired about ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (‘a). He replied: I left him as my deputy in my nation. Ibrahim (‘a) said: You left a very nice and capable Caliph. Almighty Allah has made obedience to him incumbent on angels and these are the children of his Shi’as. I requested the Almighty Allah to give them in my charge, that I may give care to them, and the drinks they take gives them the taste of all the fruits and streams of Paradise.

The author says: It is possible that some children may be given to Lady Fatimah (‘a), and some to Prophet Ibrahim (‘a) and Lady Sarah or first they are given to Lady Fatimah (‘a) and she in turn gifts them to Ibrahim (‘a). As for the children of unbelievers, there is dispute in this.

Some say that they are under the charge of their parents, and they go to hell with them. Some say that they go to Heaven. Some say that Allah will deal with them according to His knowledge on Judgment Day; if He knows that if they had been alive, they would have been righteous, He admits them to Paradise and if He knows that if they had been alive, they would have adopted wickedness, He sends them to Hell.

There is no dispute among Shi’a theologians that all of them will not go to hell. Some have said that they will enter Paradise as servants of the folks of Paradise; and some have said that they will definitely go to Paradise. Most are of the view that they would be from the folks of A’raaf.

Al-Kulayni, Ibn Babawayh and most Shi’a tradition scholars believe that the Almighty Allah will make them duty bound in another way on Judgment Day and depending on that He will reward or punish them. This is according to many traditions recorded in this regard.

As Ibn Babawayh has narrated through authentic chains of narrators from Zurarah from Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) in al-Khisal that on Judgment Day, the Almighty Allah will exhaust proof on five people: children, one, who lived between periods of two prophets, that is a long time has passed since the arrival of the past prophet. People of deviation had arrived after that and there was no other prophet; like during the period of Jahiliyya. Thus, in that condition, many people on whom the argument is not exhausted, are excused.

One, who has not understood the beginning of the call, till the argument is exhausted on him. And the intellectually incapable person, who cannot differentiate between right and wrong. That is those, having a weak faith. And the insane, who cannot understand anything and who is not duty bound for anything. And the born dumb and deaf.

Thus, the Almighty Allah exhausts the argument on each of them. He sends a messenger for them and kindles a fire. That messenger tells him: Your Lord has commanded you to enter this fire. The fire becomes cool for one, who enters it and one, who disobeys, is thrown into Hellfire.

Moreover, in the books of Al-Kafi and Ma’ani al-Akhbar it is narrated through authentic chains of narrators from Zurarah that on Judgment Day, children and extremely old people, who are unable to understand anything; people who died during Fatara (between two prophets); the insane, who cannot discriminate between truth and falsehood; all will argue with the Almighty Allah that the argument was not exhausted on them. At that time the Almighty Allah exhausts the argument by sending an angel; after that the same continues as in the above-mentioned tradition.

Al-Kulayni has narrated through good like chains from Hisham that people asked Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) about the fate of one, who died during Fatara, one, who did not reach maturity and one, who is insane. Imam (‘a) replied: The Almighty Allah exhausts proof on them. He makes a fire and orders them to enter; the fire is cool and safe for one who obeys; and one, who does not enter it, is told by Almighty Allah: I gave you a duty and you disobeyed. The same is applicable for the dumb and deaf as well.

Al-Kulayni has narrated through another chain of narrators regarding children; that on Judgment Day, the Almighty Allah gathers them and lights a fire and then orders them to throw themselves into it. The fire becomes cool for whom, the Almighty Allah knows are people of righteousness, and about whom, Allah knows that they are wicked; they refuse to enter it and they are ordered to be cast into Hellfire. They put forth the excuse that they have not been put to any test. The Almighty Allah tells them: I just gave you a duty, but you did not obey; so you would have believed, if I had sent a prophet to you to give you a command from unseen.

In Tawhid, Ibn Babawayh has narrated through Ahl al-Sunnah chains from Abdullah Ibn Salam that he said: I asked the Holy Prophet (S): Does the Almighty Allah punish any of His creatures without exhausting the proof on him? He replied: Allah forbid! (no). Abdullah asked: Where are the children of idolaters: in Paradise or Hell? He replied: the Almighty Allah is more worthy of this.

On Judgment Day, Allah orders the fire known as Falaq, which is worse than all the fires of hell. So, it emerges from its place - while it is dark and black - along with chains and iron collars. Almighty Allah commands it to be blown at the mouth of creatures; due to its intensity of blowing, rends asunder, light of the stars fade, all seas dry up, all mountains disintegrate, and all eyes become dark.

Due to its terror in Judgment Day, pregnant women get miscarriages; children become old people; the Almighty Allah orders the children of idolaters to throw themselves into that fire. About those Allah knows is righteous, they throw themselves into the fire and it becomes cool and secure for him as it had become for Prophet Ibrahim (‘a).

Regarding one, Allah knows that he is wicked, he refuses to enter that fire. The Almighty Allah commands the fire to take him up as he has ignored the divine command. Thus, this group will be under the charge of their parents in Hell and many traditions are mentioned in this regard. This matter is also not beyond reason.

Ibn Babawayh says that some theologians have denied this. They say that there is no duty in the abode of recompense. Its reply is that the abode of recompense of believers is Paradise and the abode of recompense of disbelievers is Hell and this duty is neither in Paradise nor Hell. It will be at some other place.

The author says: How is it improbable that hereafter might be an abode of recompense for some; and for some it is an abode of recompense as well as an abode of duty. Shaykh Tusi, in the book of Ghaibat, has narrated from Zurarah that Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) said: If Almighty Allah wishes, He has the right to admit the deviated ones to Paradise and it is preferable for Him and not a defect.

Zurarah asked: May I be your ransom, how is that possible?

Imam (‘a) replied: The speaking one [Imam] passes away and the silent one also does not say anything (because of Taqiyyah). On the basis of this, a person who dies between these two, would be admitted to Paradise.

The author of Taw’il al-Ayaat Bahira has mentioned in the explanation of the following verse:

يَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَانٌ مُخَلَّدُونَ

“Round about them shall go youths never altering in age” (56:17).

The verse describes the folks of Paradise, narrating from Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) that he said: These are the children of people; neither do they possess any good deed that they might be rewarded nor committed any sin, that they might be punished; that is why, they are appointed as servants for the folks of Paradise.

Someone inquired from the Messenger of Allah (S) regarding the fate of the children of idolaters. He replied: They will be servants of the folks of Paradise, and they are created in form of children to serve the folks of Paradise.

Shaykh Tabarsi has also under the interpretation of this verse, narrated these two traditions.

Al-Kulayni has narrated through correct chains of narrators from Zurarah that he said: I asked Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a): What do you say regarding those children, who die before reaching maturity? He replied: People inquired from the Messenger of Allah (S) regarding them, and he said: Allah knows better how they will be dealt with. Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (‘a) said: You should leave it to the Almighty Allah and don’t comment on it.

The author says: The fact of the matter is that we should know in brief that rational and textual evidence, verses and reports are recorded to the effect that the Almighty Allah is just; He does not resort to injustice. Children, insane and those who are handicapped and on whom the proof is not exhausted, or who are mentally retarded and cannot discriminate between truth and falsehood; He will not punish them, or He would give them another duty and will make reward and punishment dependant on it as is mentioned in many of the traditions and we have narrated some of them.

Mohiuddin Arabi, the father of Ahl al-Sunnah Sufis has also believed this. Thus, I recall that I have seen in the book of Futuhaat that the Almighty Allah either keeps them in A’raaf or admits them into Paradise; but they will get a lower status in Paradise; or some of them will be servants of the folks of Paradise. Or some will remain in Paradise and some in A’raaf. Thus, as mentioned in this true tradition, their fate should be left for the Almighty Allah and we should know that Allah, the Mighty and the High deals with them according to demands of justice, He isn’t cruel to them and does not punish them without exhausting the proof on them.

If all these serve the folks of Paradise, it will not be a service that would be a hardship for them. On the contrary, they would enjoy it; as the angels derive pleasure from the services related to them. And Allah knows best.