the religion.”

In Abū Muʿāwiyah’s narration from him:

“except upon this religion, until he can express himself in speech.”

This makes it explicit that the child is born upon the religion of Islam, as explained by Ibn Shihāb, the narrator of the hadith. Abū Hurayrah’s citation of the verse as evidence also indicates this.

Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr said in al-Tamhīd:

“This hadith has been narrated from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, through Abū Hurayrah and others. Among its transmitters were Abū Saʿīd ibn al-Musayyab, Abū Salamah ibn ʿAbd al-Rahmān, Humayd ibn ʿAbd al-Rahmān, Abū Sālih al-Sammān, ʿAbd al-Rahmān al-Aʿraj, Saʿīd ibn Abī Saʿīd, and Muhammad ibn Sīrīn.”

[Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr’s discussion in al-Tamhīd of the meaning of the natural disposition]

He said:

“It was also narrated by Ibn Shihāb, but the reports differ regarding its chain of transmission. Some narrated it from Saʿīd, from Abū Hurayrah, while others narrated it from Abū Salamah, from