Do good and bad deeds of children count?

Answered by Sh. Mustafa Umar1 min read

Short answer

Children are rewarded for the good deeds they do even before they have reached the age of maturity. Children are not accountable for their bad deeds until they reach the age of maturity. Therefore, the bad things they do are not considered sins.

What the Qur’an and Sunnah Say

It was reported that: “A woman lifted up a child and said, ‘Messenger of Allāh, will his Hajj be counted?’ He said, ‘Yes, and you will be rewarded.'”Al-Bukhārī #1336

If I did something bad, like write a bad book, but then asked Allah to forgive me, am I responsible if other people keep reading that afterwards?
If you are able to put a stop to the spread of that book then you must, but if you cannot like if people keep making copies without your permission or you have sold the rights to the book, then you are not responsible for that. Allah does not hold anyone accountable beyond their capacity.
Should I wear an amulet (ta`widh) for protection?
Wearing something with the name of Allah written on it, or with verses of the Qur’an, was not done by the Prophet or the Companions. They did not hang up names of Allah or verses of the Qur’an as a way of seeking Allah’s protection. Instead, they asked Allah to protect them and that is what you should do. It is fine to wear something like that as long as you do not think the object itself protects you, because objects can neither harm nor benefit anyone. It is best to ask Allah to relieve you from problems or illness as well as resort to medical treatment.
How do I convert to Islam? Do I have to say the declaration (shahadah) in public?
There is no special procedure to convert to Islam, or any prerequisites, as there is in other religions. The moment you are convinced that the essential teachings of Islam are true, you are a believer in the sight of God. So other people know this, you must declare your beliefs by saying the declaration of faith (shahaadah) which is: “I declare that there is no other god besides Allah and I declare that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.” These exact words are not required so anything reflecting that meaning suffices. This verbal declaration is only necessary for others to know you are a Muslim for social purposes as well as legal purposes like marriage, inheritance distribution, receiving a Muslim burial, etc.
Can I seek the help of a non-Muslim healer to cure Blackmagic or other spiritual illnesses?
It is fine to go seek the services of a non-Muslim doctor due to their expertise in medicine. However, seeking the services of a non-Muslim on account of their piety, righteousness, or closeness to God is wrong because that would be an approval of their false beliefs and they may use amulets or spells that contain Satanic things contrary to what Allah approves.

Do good and bad deeds of children count?

Short answer

What the Qur’an and Sunnah Say

Related questions

If I did something bad, like write a bad book, but then asked Allah to forgive me, am I responsible if other people keep reading that afterwards?

Should I wear an amulet (ta`widh) for protection?

How do I convert to Islam? Do I have to say the declaration (shahadah) in public?

Can I seek the help of a non-Muslim healer to cure Blackmagic or other spiritual illnesses?