Q: My child passed away at the age of 17 months due to a brain tumor. He could literally speak 2 to 3 words and started to walk. Will my baby be entitled for Jannah?
A: There are great rewards promised in the Mubaarak Hadith for the one who exercises patience upon the loss of his child and is pleased with the decree of Allah Ta'ala. The Hadith explains that the child will be a means for his parents being saved from the fire of Jahannum and a means for the parents entering Jannah.
Some Ahaadith also explain that the child will intercede to Allah Ta'ala on behalf of his parents to admit them into Jannah. From such Ahaadith, we understand that the child will also be granted Jannah.
Below is a Hadith which shows that the child will wait for his parents at the door of Jannah to receive them and admit them into Jannah:
Hazrat Mu’aawiyah bin Qurrah (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that he heard his father saying, “Whenever Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) would sit (in the musjid or any other place), a group of his companions would gather and sit around him. Among them was a person who had a young son. The son used to come to his father from behind, and (out of love,) he used to make him sit in front of him. Some time later, the son passed away.
On account of the excessive grief which he underwent on the loss of his son, he remained aloof and stopped attending the gatherings of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) did not find this Sahaabi (radhiyallahu anhu) present and thus enquired from the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) regarding him. The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) mentioned, “O Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), his son which you would see (with him) passed away.”
Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) went to meet him and asked him about his son. He informed Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) that his son had passed away. Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) consoled him on the loss of his son and thereafter said to him, “What will please you more? To remain with your son throughout your life and benefit from him or (for him to anxiously wait for you in the Hereafter so that when you reach Paradise,) whichever door of the doors of Jannah you come to tomorrow, you will find that he had preceded you to the door, waiting to open it for you?"
The Sahaabi (radhiyallahu anhu) responded, “O Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), his waiting for me in Paradise and opening the door of Paradise for me is more beloved to me (than his remaining with me in the world).” Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) then said, “Then Allah Ta'ala will bless you with this.”
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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