Question:
Salam alaykum Shaykhna,
How does Imam Suyuti explain this Hadith in regards to Ahl Al-Fitra? :
Abdullah, son of Imam Ahmad, recorded that Ali said, “Khadijah asked the Prophet (s) about two of her children who died during the time of Jahiliyyah, and the Messenger of Allah said; “They are both in the Fire.” When he saw sadness on her face, he said, “If you saw their dwelling place, you would hate them.” …
Answer:
Waalaykumussalam warahmatullah,
It is related:
I. from `Ali by `Abdallah b. Ahmad in his additions to Ahmad’s Musnad and
II. from Khadija herself by Abu Ya`la.
It was rated munkar (disclaimed) for the following reasons:
(i) `Abd Allah’s chain contains a complete unknown in addition to missing a link to `Ali;
(ii) the chain to Khadija — Allah be well-pleased with her — has a missing link to her;
(iii) there is no authentic hadith that states children are in hellfire;
(iv) Imam Ahmad’s answer concerning the children of the unbelievers was, “My position is what the Prophet — upon him blessings and peace — said: ‘Allah knows best what they would have been doing;'” and most importantly,
(v) a Prophetic hadith states, إِنِّي سَأَلتُ رَبِّي أَوْلَادَ الْمُشْركين فأعطانيهِم خَدَماً لأهلِ الْجنَّة “Verily I asked my nurturing Lord for the children of the polytheists so He gave them to me as servants for the people of Paradise” (narrated from Anas b. Malik by al-Hakim al-Tirmidhi, Nawadir al-Usul, Dar al-Minhaj ed. 1:793-795 nos. 380-381, hasan overall).
Hajj Gibril Haddad
Sources:
Ibn al-Jawzi, Jami` al-Masanid
Ibn al-Jawzi, al-Du`afa’ wal-Matrukin
al-Dhahabi, Mizan
Ibn al-Qayyim, Ahkam Ahl al-Dhimma
Ibn Kathir, Tafsir
al-Haythami, Majma` al-Zawa’id
Ibn Hajar, Fath al-Bari.
