It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Every child is born upon the natural religion, that is, the religion of Islam. Later, his parents make him a Jew, a Christian, or a Magian. This is just like an animal giving birth to a complete offspring—do you see any among them with a cut ear? If you want confirmation of this, then recite this verse: {فِطْرَتَ اللّٰہِ الَّتِیْ فَطَرَالنَّاسَ عَلَیْھَا لَا تَبْدِیْلَ لِخَلْقِ اللّٰہِ } (Adopt the nature of Allah, that is, this religion upon which He has created people; no one has the right to alter the creation of Allah.)

(Second chain) The Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Every child is born upon the natural disposition, that is, the religion of Islam; later, his parents make him a Jew or a Christian. This is just like cattle are born whole and sound, then later their ears are branded.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Every child is born upon the fitrah, that is, the religion of Islam, until his tongue begins to express on his behalf, and when this happens, then it becomes clear whether he is a grateful Muslim or an ungrateful disbeliever.

Sayyiduna Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Every child of Adam is touched by Satan with his finger at the time of birth, except for Isa ibn Maryam. Satan did go to touch him, but he struck through the veil and returned.

Sayyiduna Aswad bin Sari’ (may Allah be pleased with him), who was a member of the tribe of Banu Sa’d and was the first to begin delivering sermons in the central mosque, narrates: He says, I participated in four battles with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). On one occasion, after the Muslims had killed the fighting opponents, they also killed their small children. But when this matter reached the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), he said: What is wrong with these people that they first killed the fighters and then also killed their children? A man said: O Messenger of Allah! Are they not also the children of those polytheists? The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The best among you are the sons of polytheists. The fact is that every soul, when it is born, is born upon the natural religion and remains upon it until its tongue begins to explain on its behalf; then its parents make it a Jew or a Christian. Hasan recited the last words in a low voice.