Children are not accountable for their actions

3-1-2018 | IslamWeb

Question:

Hello Shaykh. I want to ask a question, a really heart-breaking question; I am still hurt till this moment. We found a cat that was very small, and I took it in like family. We loved it with our whole heart. I and my wife loved it like our own daughter. We live on the fourth floor in a building, and the cat went out to the balcony while my wife was in the bathroom and I was asleep. My daughter followed that cat without knowing that her aunty followed her, and my daughter had the kitty in her hand and threw it down. It died. My wife and I cried like it was our own daughter, and we are so afraid from the punishment of Allah for what has happened. We loved the cat with all of our heart. Please advise us. I read about the punishment for cruelty towards animals. I am afraid for myself and my wife. Our daughter is only two years old. Will she be held accountable or will we, even though we had nothing to do with her death?

---

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

There is no sin on your daughter as she is very young and is not held accountable for her actions. You are also not sinful for what happened.

You are not required to do anything because of the death of that cat, as you did not kill it nor caused its death.

You should take it easy upon yourself, and you must not exaggerate in your concern and grief about the cat. The matter is simpler than that, and it is not warrant such worry and anxiety.

Allah knows best.