In yet another narration he said, “Find someone else to witness this, for I will not bear witness to injustice.” Taken together, these wordings of the ḥadīth show that it is impermissible to single out some children for a gift while leaving the others empty-handed, and that anyone who wishes to give something to one of his children must give the same to the rest.

Accordingly, the same ruling applies to a gift given to one’s grandson, for he too is counted among the children.

***

Death of Children

Question: I had a baby brother who was one year old. He died after drinking a small amount of kerosene. His sister had placed the container in front of the door without our mother’s knowledge; the child picked it up, drank it, and passed away. Overwhelmed by grief, our mother drank from that same liquid to see whether it would affect her as it had affected her son. Is she at fault for having done so? And is any expiation due from her because her child drank it?

Answer: First of all, we emphasize that children must be cared for, watched over, and kept away from anything harmful; they must not be left in front of, or near, anything that poses a danger to them.

As for the matter raised in the question—namely, that a container of kerosene was left within reach, the child drank from it, and died as a result—does the mother incur any liability? If the mother was negligent by leaving him near that harmful substance and he drank from it, then she must offer a kafārah (expiation) by freeing a slave if that is possible; if she cannot do so, she is to fast for two consecutive months as an expiation for her negligence.