for the children of disbelievers to be sent to the Fire for their fathers’ sins. Although some groups who affiliate themselves with the Sunnah have held this view, the Quran and Sunnah indicate that Allah admits no one to the Fire except those who disobey Him. As He says:

“I will surely fill Hell with you and all those among them who follow you.”

Thus, Hell must be filled with the followers of Iblīs. Once it is full, there will be no room in it for anyone else. Whoever does not follow Iblīs will therefore not enter the Fire.

The soundest view concerning the children of disbelievers is to say: “Allah knows best what they would have done,” as the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, answered in the authentic hadith.

Some among Ahl al-Sunnah and others said that they are all in the Fire. This was the view chosen by al-Qādī Abū Ya‘lā and others. He stated that Ahmad had explicitly affirmed it, but this is a mistaken attribution to Ahmad. Another group maintained categorically that they are all in Paradise. This was the view chosen by Abū al-Faraj ibn al-Jawzī and others. They cited as evidence a hadith recounting the Prophet’s vision, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“When he saw Abraham, the close friend of Allah, with the children of the believers beside him, he was asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, and the children of the polytheists?’ He replied, ‘And the children of the polytheists.’”

The correct position concerning them is to say: “Allah knows best what they would have done.” No particular child among them is to be judged destined for either Paradise or the Fire. Several hadiths state that, on the Day of Resurrection, they will be given commands and prohibitions in the gathering grounds of the Resurrection. Whoever obeys will enter Paradise, and whoever