Should a child be washed and the janaazah (funeral) prayer be offered for him? Please note that the child is 8 years old.
Praise be to Allaah.
A child should be washed and the funeral prayer offered for
him according to all the scholars. Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah 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 “Allaahumma
aghfir lahu (O Allaah 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-Albaani in Ahkaam al-Janaa’iz,
p. 73. See also question no. 13985.
And Allaah knows best. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad
and all his family and companions.
