Ghusl (bath) for Children and Salah (Prayer) for Them
Al-Kāfi|Volume 3|Book 3|Chapter 73
1ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ مُوسَى عَنْ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) قَالَ السِّقْطُ إِذَا تَمَّ لَهُ أَرْبَعَةُ أَشْهُرٍ غُسِّلَ.
1. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Musa from Zurarah from who has said the following: “Abu ’Abd Allah عليه السلام, has said, ‘A miscarried child (fetus) after four months is given Ghusl (bath).’”
- Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (14/131)
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Kāfī
2ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ وَزُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) أَنَّهُ سُئِلَ عَنِ الصَّلاَةِ عَلَى الصَّبِيِّ مَتَى يُصَلَّى عَلَيْهِ قَالَ إِذَا عَقَلَ الصَّلاَةَ قُلْتُ مَتَى تَجِبُ الصَّلاَةُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ إِذَا كَانَ ابْنَ سِتِّ سِنِينَ وَالصِّيَامُ إِذَا أَطَاقَهُ.
2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from al-Halabiy and Zurarah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah عليه السلام, was asked about Salah (prayer) of a child. He (the Imam) said, ‘There is Salah (prayer) for him when he is able to understand it (Salah (prayer)).’ I (the narrator) then asked, ‘When it becomes obligatory for him? He (the Imam) said, ‘It is when he is six years old and there is fasting on him when he is able to fast.’”
- Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (14/131)
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Kāfī
3ـ عَلِيٌّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ رَأَيْتُ ابْناً لأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) فِي حَيَاةِ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) يُقَالُ لَهُ عَبْدُ الله فَطِيمٌ قَدْ دَرَجَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا غُلاَمُ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي إِلَى جَنْبِكَ لِمَوْلىً لَهُمْ فَقَالَ هَذَا مَوْلاَيَ فَقَالَ لَهُ الْمَوْلَى يُمَازِحُهُ لَسْتُ لَكَ بِمَوْلىً فَقَالَ ذَلِكَ شَرٌّ لَكَ فَطَعَنَ فِي جِنَازَةِ الْغُلاَمِ فَمَاتَ فَأُخْرِجَ فِي سَفَطٍ إِلَى الْبَقِيعِ فَخَرَجَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) وَعَلَيْهِ جُبَّةُ خَزٍّ صَفْرَاءُ وَعِمَامَةُ خَزٍّ صَفْرَاءُ وَمِطْرَفُ خَزٍّ أَصْفَرُ فَانْطَلَقَ يَمْشِي إِلَى الْبَقِيعِ وَهُوَ مُعْتَمِدٌ عَلَيَّ وَالنَّاسُ يُعَزُّونَهُ عَلَى ابْنِ ابْنِهِ فَلَمَّا انْتَهَى إِلَى الْبَقِيعِ تَقَدَّمَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) فَصَلَّى عَلَيْهِ وَكَبَّرَ عَلَيْهِ أَرْبَعاً ثُمَّ أَمَرَ بِهِ فَدُفِنَ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِيَدِي فَتَنَحَّى بِي ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ يُصَلَّى عَلَى الأطْفَالِ إِنَّمَا كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (صلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) يَأْمُرُ بِهِمْ فَيُدْفَنُونَ مِنْ وَرَاءُ وَلاَ يُصَلِّي عَلَيْهِمْ وَإِنَّمَا صَلَّيْتُ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْلِ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ كَرَاهِيَةَ أَنْ يَقُولُوا لاَ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى أَطْفَالِهِمْ.
3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn ’Udhaynah from Zurarah from who has said the following: “I saw a son of abu ‘Abd Allah عليه السلام, during the life time of abu Ja‘far عليه السلام, called ‘Abd Allah Fatim moved in. I asked him about their Mawla’ next to him, ‘Who is he next to you?’ He replied, ‘He is my Mawla’ (servant or follower).’ The Mawla’, joking with him said, ‘I am not your Mawla’.’ He said, ‘That is worse for you.’ That boy was hurt and he died. (They carried) his body to al-Baqi’ cemetery in a basket. Abu Ja‘far عليه السلام, came out to join the funeral wearing a jubbah which was yellow, a yellow turban and a yellow shawl of khazz (a certain kind of fur). He (the Imam) walked to al-Baqi’ while leaning on me for support. People offered condolences for his grandchild. In al-Baqi’ abu Ja‘far عليه السلام, moved forward and performed Salah (prayer) for the deceased boy with four Takbir. He then commanded to bury him. He (the Imam) then holding my hand moved away and then said, ‘Salah (prayer) was not performed for deceased children. ’Amir al-Mu’minin عليه السلام, would command to bury them (children) without performing Salah (prayer). I performed Salah (prayer) only because of people of al-Madinah. I do not like their saying, ‘They do not perform Salah (prayer) for their children.’”
- Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (4/132)
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Kāfī
4ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ وَالْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنِ النَّضْرِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ عِمْرَانَ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ مَاتَ ابْنٌ لأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) فَأُخْبِرَ بِمَوْتِهِ فَأَمَرَ بِهِ فَغُسِّلَ وَكُفِّنَ وَمَشَى مَعَهُ وَصَلَّى عَلَيْهِ وَطُرِحَتْ خُمْرَةٌ فَقَامَ عَلَيْهَا ثُمَّ قَامَ عَلَى قَبْرِهِ حَتَّى فَرَغَ مِنْهُ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ وَانْصَرَفْتُ مَعَهُ حَتَّى إِنِّي لأَمْشِي مَعَهُ فَقَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ يُصَلَّى عَلَى مِثْلِ هَذَا وَكَانَ ابْنَ ثَلاَثِ سِنِينَ كَانَ عَلِيٌّ (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) يَأْمُرُ بِهِ فَيُدْفَنُ وَلاَ يُصَلَّى عَلَيْهِ وَلَكِنَّ النَّاسَ صَنَعُوا شَيْئاً فَنَحْنُ نَصْنَعُ مِثْلَهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَمَتَى تَجِبُ الصَّلاَةُ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ إِذَا عَقَلَ الصَّلاَةَ وَكَانَ ابْنَ سِتِّ سِنِينَ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَمَا تَقُولُ فِي الْوِلْدَانِ فَقَالَ سُئِلَ رَسُولُ الله (صلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) عَنْهُمْ فَقَالَ الله أَعْلَمُ بِمَا كَانُوا عَامِلِينَ.
4. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Muhammad ibn Khalid and al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd from Yahya ibn ‘Imran from ibn Muskan from Zurarah from who has said the following: “One of the sons of Abu Ja‘far عليه السلام, died. He (the Imam) was informed of his death and he commanded for Ghusl (bath) and shroud. He (the Imam) walked in his funeral and performed Salah (prayer). A prayer mat was spread and he (the Imam) stood on it, then he (the Imam) stood on his grave until he was free, then moved away and I (the narrator) also moved away. I walked along with him (the Imam). He (the Imam) said that Salah (prayer) was not performed in such cases, but people did things and we also do like them. I (the narrator) then asked, ‘When Salah (prayer) is obligatory?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is necessary when he understands Salah (prayer) and he is six years old. I (the narrator) asked, ‘What do you say about children?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘The Messenger of Allah was asked about them and he said that Allah knows best about what they have done.’”
- Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (4/135)
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Kāfī, vol. 1, p. 244
5ـ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ زُرْعَةَ عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ عَنْ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الأوَّلِ (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ السِّقْطِ إِذَا اسْتَوَى خَلْقُهُ يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ الْغُسْلُ وَاللَّحْدُ وَالْكَفَنُ فَقَالَ كُلُّ ذَلِكَ يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ.
5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn ’Isma‘il from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Zur’ah from Sama‘ah who has said the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan, al-Awwal عليه السلام, about a miscarried child whose body is complete if Ghusl (bath) is necessary as well as al-Lahad (a horizontal or vertical) ditch in the grave). He (the Imam) said, ‘All of such things are necessary.’”
- Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (14/136)
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Kāfī, vol. 1, p. 245
6ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفُضَيْلِ قَالَ كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) أَسْأَلُهُ عَنِ السِّقْطِ كَيْفَ يُصْنَعُ بِهِ فَكَتَبَ (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) إِلَيَّ أَنَّ السِّقْطَ يُدْفَنُ بِدَمِهِ فِي مَوْضِعِهِ.
6. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ali ibn Mehran from Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl who has said the following: “I once wrote to abu Ja‘far عليه السلام, asking about what is done for a miscarried child. He (the Imam) wrote to me, ‘A miscarried child is buried with his blood in his place (right away).”’
- Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (14/137)
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Kāfī
7ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عَبْدِ الله قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّهُ لَمَّا قُبِضَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ رَسُولِ الله (صلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) جَرَتْ فِيهِ ثَلاَثُ سُنَنٍ أَمَّا وَاحِدَةٌ فَإِنَّهُ لَمَّا مَاتَ انْكَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَقَالَ النَّاسُ انْكَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ لِفَقْدِ ابْنِ رَسُولِ الله فَصَعِدَ رَسُولُ الله (صلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) الْمِنْبَرَ فَحَمِدَ الله وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ آيَتَانِ مِنْ آيَاتِ الله يَجْرِيَانِ بِأَمْرِهِ مُطِيعَانِ لَهُ لاَ يَنْكَسِفَانِ لِمَوْتِ أَحَدٍ وَلاَ لِحَيَاتِهِ فَإِنِ انْكَسَفَتَا أَوْ وَاحِدَةٌ مِنْهُمَا فَصَلُّوا ثُمَّ نَزَلَ عَنِ الْمِنْبَرِ فَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ صَلاَةَ الْكُسُوفِ فَلَمَّا سَلَّمَ قَالَ يَا عَلِيُّ قُمْ فَجَهِّزِ ابْنِي فَقَامَ عَلِيٌّ (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) فَغَسَّلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَحَنَّطَهُ وَكَفَّنَهُ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ بِهِ وَمَضَى رَسُولُ الله (صلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) حَتَّى انْتَهَى بِهِ إِلَى قَبْرِهِ فَقَالَ النَّاسُ إِنَّ رَسُولَ الله (صلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) نَسِيَ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ لِمَا دَخَلَهُ مِنَ الْجَزَعِ عَلَيْهِ فَانْتَصَبَ قَائِماً ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَتَانِي جَبْرَئِيلُ (عَلَيْهِم الْسَّلام) بِمَا قُلْتُمْ زَعَمْتُمْ أَنِّي نَسِيتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ عَلَى ابْنِي لِمَا دَخَلَنِي مِنَ الْجَزَعِ أَلاَ وَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ كَمَا ظَنَنْتُمْ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّطِيفَ الْخَبِيرَ فَرَضَ عَلَيْكُمْ خَمْسَ صَلَوَاتٍ وَجَعَلَ لِمَوْتَاكُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ صَلاَةٍ تَكْبِيرَةً وَأَمَرَنِي أَنْ لاَ أُصَلِّيَ إِلاَّ عَلَى مَنْ صَلَّى ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا عَلِيُّ انْزِلْ فَأَلْحِدِ ابْنِي فَنَزَلَ فَأَلْحَدَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فِي لَحْدِهِ فَقَالَ النَّاسُ إِنَّهُ لاَ يَنْبَغِي لأَحَدٍ أَنْ يَنْزِلَ فِي قَبْرِ وَلَدِهِ إِذْ لَمْ يَفْعَلْ رَسُولُ الله (صلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) فَقَالَ لَهُمْ رَسُولُ الله (صلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ بِحَرَامٍ أَنْ تَنْزِلُوا فِي قُبُورِ أَوْلاَدِكُمْ وَلَكِنِّي لَسْتُ آمَنُ إِذَا حَلَّ أَحَدُكُمُ الْكَفَنَ عَنْ وَلَدِهِ أَنْ يَلْعَبَ بِهِ الشَّيْطَانُ فَيَدْخُلَهُ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الْجَزَعِ مَا يُحْبِطُ أَجْرَهُ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ (صلّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه).
7. ʿAlī ibn Ibrāhīm narrated from his father, from ʿAmrū ibn Saʿīd, from ʿAlī ibn ʿAbd Allāh, who said: I heard Abū al-Ḥasan Mūsā عليه السلام say, "When Ibrāhīm, the son of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, passed away, three traditions were enacted concerning him. One of them was that when he died, the sun was eclipsed, and the people said, 'The sun is eclipsed due to the loss of the son of the Messenger of Allah.' So, the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم ascended the pulpit, praised Allah, and then said, 'O people! The sun and the moon are two signs from among the signs of Allah. They run by His command and are obedient to Him. They do not eclipse for the death or life of anyone. If they are eclipsed, or one of them is, then pray.'
Then he descended from the pulpit, led the people in the prayer of the eclipse, and when he finished, he said, 'O ʿAlī, rise and prepare my son.' So, ʿAlī عليه السلام rose, washed Ibrāhīm, embalmed him, and shrouded him. Then he carried him out, and the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم proceeded with him until he reached his grave. The people said, 'The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم has forgotten to pray over Ibrāhīm because of the sorrow that has overtaken him.' So, he stood up and said, 'O people! Jibreel عليه السلام came to me with what you have said. You have claimed that I forgot to pray over my son because of the sorrow that overtook me. No, it is not as you thought. But the Subtle and All-Aware has obligated upon you five prayers, and He has made for your dead, from each prayer, a takbīr. He commanded me not to pray over anyone who did not offer the prayer.'
Then he said, 'O ʿAlī, descend and place my son in the niche of the grave.' So, ʿAlī descended and placed Ibrāhīm in the niche of the grave. The people said, 'It is not appropriate for anyone to descend into the grave of his child since the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم did not do so.' The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said to them, 'O people! It is not forbidden for you to descend into the graves of your children, but I fear that if one of you were to untie the shroud from his child, Satan might play with him, and he might be overtaken by such grief that it would nullify his reward.' Then he صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم departed."
Then he descended from the pulpit, led the people in the prayer of the eclipse, and when he finished, he said, 'O ʿAlī, rise and prepare my son.' So, ʿAlī عليه السلام rose, washed Ibrāhīm, embalmed him, and shrouded him. Then he carried him out, and the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم proceeded with him until he reached his grave. The people said, 'The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم has forgotten to pray over Ibrāhīm because of the sorrow that has overtaken him.' So, he stood up and said, 'O people! Jibreel عليه السلام came to me with what you have said. You have claimed that I forgot to pray over my son because of the sorrow that overtook me. No, it is not as you thought. But the Subtle and All-Aware has obligated upon you five prayers, and He has made for your dead, from each prayer, a takbīr. He commanded me not to pray over anyone who did not offer the prayer.'
Then he said, 'O ʿAlī, descend and place my son in the niche of the grave.' So, ʿAlī descended and placed Ibrāhīm in the niche of the grave. The people said, 'It is not appropriate for anyone to descend into the grave of his child since the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم did not do so.' The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said to them, 'O people! It is not forbidden for you to descend into the graves of your children, but I fear that if one of you were to untie the shroud from his child, Satan might play with him, and he might be overtaken by such grief that it would nullify his reward.' Then he صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم departed."
- Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (4/138)
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Kāfī
8ـ عَلِيٌّ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ شِيرَةَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سُلَيْمَانَ عَنْ حُسَيْنٍ الْحَرْشُوشِ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلام) إِنَّ النَّاسَ يُكَلِّمُونَا وَيَرُدُّونَ عَلَيْنَا قَوْلَنَا إِنَّهُ لاَ يُصَلَّى عَلَى الطِّفْلِ لأَنَّهُ لَمْ يُصَلِّ فَيَقُولُونَ لاَ يُصَلَّى إِلاَّ عَلَى مَنْ صَلَّى فَنَقُولُ نَعَمْ فَيَقُولُونَ أَ رَأَيْتُمْ لَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلاً نَصْرَانِيّاً أَوْ يَهُودِيّاً أَسْلَمَ ثُمَّ مَاتَ مِنْ سَاعَتِهِ فَمَا الْجَوَابُ فِيهِ فَقَالَ قُولُوا لَهُمْ أَ رَأَيْتَ لَوْ أَنَّ هَذَا الَّذِي أَسْلَمَ السَّاعَةَ ثُمَّ افْتَرَى عَلَى إِنْسَانٍ مَا كَانَ يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ فِي فِرْيَتِهِ فَإِنَّهُمْ سَيَقُولُونَ يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ الْحَدُّ فَإِذَا قَالُوا هَذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ فَلَوْ أَنَّ هَذَا الصَّبِيَّ الَّذِي لَمْ يُصَلِّ افْتَرَى عَلَى إِنْسَانٍ هَلْ كَانَ يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ الْحَدُّ فَإِنَّهُمْ سَيَقُولُونَ لاَ فَيُقَالُ لَهُمْ صَدَقْتُمْ إِنَّمَا يَجِبُ أَنْ يُصَلَّى عَلَى مَنْ وَجَبَ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلاَةُ وَالْحُدُودُ وَلاَ يُصَلَّى عَلَى مَنْ لَمْ تَجِبْ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلاَةُ وَلاَ الْحُدُودُ.
8. Ali has narrated from Ali ibn Shirah from Muhammad ibn Sulayman from Husayn al-Harshush from Hisham ibn Salim who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah عليه السلام, that people speak against us and do not accept our words, ‘there is no Salah (prayer) for a deceased child’; he has not performed any Salah (prayer). They say, ‘You say that there is no Salah (prayer) for those who have not performed any Salah (prayer).’ We say, ‘Yes that is true.’ They say, ‘Consider if a Christian or a Jew becomes a Muslim, then he dies within the same hour, then what is the answer?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Ask them to consider the case of this man, new Muslim, if he within the same hour falsely accuses a human being. What is his obligation because of his committing such sin? They will say that he is subject to punishment according to law. When they say this, then it is said to them, ‘If a child who has not performed any Salah (prayer) accuses a human being falsely, is he subjected to punishment according to law? They will say that he is not subject to any punishment. It then is said to them that you are right. Salah (prayer) is necessary for one who has performed Salah (prayer) and those who are subject to punishment according to law. Salah (prayer) is not necessary for one on whom Salah (prayer) is not obligatory or enduring punishment according to law.’”
- Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (4/140)
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Kāfī