Surah al-Tawbah

He also said:

Allah’s words:

“Do not take your fathers and your brothers as allies if they prefer disbelief over faith”

may be cited as evidence that a child is deemed a believer by virtue of his father’s faith. For He did not mention children preferring disbelief over faith, although they would have been more deserving of mention. This is only because the ruling concerning a child differs from that concerning a father or brother.

This is the distinction between someone subject to legal restrictions because of minority or insanity and someone with independent standing. Similarly, Sufyān ibn ʿUyaynah and others cited His words:

“Nor is there any blame upon you for eating from your own houses or your fathers’ houses”

as evidence that a child’s house is included in “your own houses,” because he and his property belong to his father.

His words:

“Why do you not fight in Allah’s cause and for the oppressed men, women, and children who say, ‘Our Lord, take us out of this town whose people are oppressors’?”

may also be cited as evidence that a child’s acceptance of Islam is valid. For He included children among those who speak as people seeking to emigrate, and seeking to emigrate is only valid after faith. If a child’s declaration in this matter is recognized, his standing in it is independent rather than derivative. This contrasts with a child who has no discernment, whose status is derivative and whose own declaration carries no weight.