“They have written to you.”’

He replied, ‘I am reluctant to give my own opinion on this. Wait until I look into it; perhaps there is a report from an earlier authority.’

A month later, I asked him again. He said, ‘I have looked into it and found the Prophet’s words (may Allah bless him and grant him peace): “His parents make him a Jew or a Christian…” This child has no parents.’

I asked, ‘Is he to be compelled to embrace Islam?’

He replied, ‘Yes. These children are Muslims, in accordance with the words of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace).’) …

(Similarly, Ya‘qūb ibn Bukhtān reported that Abū ‘Abd Allāh said: ‘If a dhimmī (a non-Muslim under Muslim protection) loses both parents while still a child, he is compelled to embrace Islam.’ He cited the hadith:

“His parents make him a Jew or a Christian.”

…

(It was also transmitted from ‘Abd al-Karīm ibn al-Haytham al-‘Āqūlī concerning two Zoroastrian parents who have a child and say, ‘This child is a Muslim’: ‘What if he lives for five years and then dies?’

He replied, ‘The Muslims bury him. The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:

“His parents make him a Jew or a Christian.”’

…

(‘Abd Allāh ibn Ahmad said: ‘I asked my father about people who marry their daughters to