Waking up to find her baby dead after a sheep sat on it while the mother was sleeping

Q: I want to know your Fatwa (legal opinion issued by a qualified Muslim scholar) regarding my son who died 30 years ago. The child would keep me up all night until it fell asleep. I put it beside me and then slept. When I woke up at dawn, I found that a goat had sat on it and it died. This is because we used to live in the desert and that is what killed it. Now I want to know, what are this child's rights according to Shari`ah (Islamic law)?

A: If the case is as you mentioned, there is nothing due on you regarding the child's death, for you have not been negligent. It was sleeping beside you (Part No. 21; Page No. 408) and an unexpected accident occurred. Moreover, the basic ruling in such cases is innocence.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.