Bringing Children to the Mosques
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Fatwa No. ( 16651 )
Q: We ask you to give us the Islamic ruling on the issue of bringing young children to the mosques , as it is a sensitive matter between the imam and some of the congregation, and we present the views of both sides for your decision. First: The view of some mosque imams, who say: 1 - Children under the age of seven are not among those for whom prayer is obligatory, and therefore they must be kept from entering the mosques. Some scholars have issued a ruling to this effect, stating that the presence of these small children between the rows does not prevent Satan from standing between the rows, on the assumption that the presence of children is like their absence, so it is as if there is a gap between the worshippers. 2 - Children over the age of seven and under puberty are best placed at the ends of the rows or in the second row, especially if some of them do not know how to perform wudu' or pray, or if they disturb others. 3 - In the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), the first rows were for the adults, followed by the rows of the boys, and finally the rows of the women. 4 - Allowing these boys to stand in the front encourages some of them to stand near the imam, thereby disfiguring the first row. This is also contrary to the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him):
they should be at the ends of the rows or in the second row, especially if some of them do not know how to perform wudu' or pray, or if they disturb others. 3 - The arrangement during the time of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) was that the front rows were for the adults, followed by the rows of the boys, and finally the rows of the women. 4 - Allowing these boys to stand near the imam emboldens them, one another, and consequently the first row becomes disfigured, which is also contrary to the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Abi Dawud 674Sahih (Al-Albani). By the way, we want the essence of the explanation of the hadith. Second: Some fathers say: 1 - We want to accustom our children to attending the prayer with the congregation in the mosques, even if they are less than seven years old, and another says: Our fathers used to take us to the mosques when we knew right from left. 2 - We cannot leave our children behind the rows for fear of their mischief and fighting. 3 - If a child arrives and sits before an adult, even if he is behind the imam, he has the right to that place, and the hadith:Sunan Abi Dawud 674Sahih (Al-Albani)is evidence for the child, not against him. 4 - They also argue that most of the mosques are led by some scholars or
students of knowledge do not keep children away, which means that they have evidence for this. Therefore, we ask your eminence to guide us with a written answer that can be circulated to unify effort and opinion, to put an end to the root of the problems, and so that everyone may be on clear knowledge of the matter. May Allah guide you to all good, keep your steps steady, and make your opinion and action correct.
A : Bringing boys with their fathers or mothers to the mosques is permissible if there is a fear for their safety; because this was present in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). However, they must be kept from mischief in the mosque and from harming the worshippers. Whoever among them reaches the age of seven or more must be ordered to perform wudu' and pray so that he becomes accustomed to it, and he and his parent will receive reward. There is no harm in their standing in the rows, and their standing in the row does not cause a defect in it, as the questioner says; because their prayer is valid, and because the boys used to form rows with the adults behind the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: We ask you to give us the Islamic ruling on the issue of bringing young children to the mosques , as it is a sensitive matter between the imam and some of the congregation, and we present the views of both sides for your decision. First: The view of some mosque imams, who say: 1 - Children under the age of seven are not among those for whom prayer is obligatory, and therefore they must be kept from entering the mosques. Some scholars have issued a ruling to this effect, stating that the presence of these small children between the rows does not prevent Satan from standing between the rows, on the assumption that the presence of children is like their absence, so it is as if there is a gap between the worshippers. 2 - Children over the age of seven and under puberty are best placed at the ends of the rows or in the second row, especially if some of them do not know how to perform wudu' or pray, or if they disturb others. 3 - In the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), the first rows were for the adults, followed by the rows of the boys, and finally the rows of the women. 4 - Allowing these boys to stand in the front encourages some of them to stand near the imam, thereby disfiguring the first row. This is also contrary to the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him):
they should be at the ends of the rows or in the second row, especially if some of them do not know how to perform wudu' or pray, or if they disturb others. 3 - The arrangement during the time of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) was that the front rows were for the adults, followed by the rows of the boys, and finally the rows of the women. 4 - Allowing these boys to stand near the imam emboldens them, one another, and consequently the first row becomes disfigured, which is also contrary to the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him):
let those of your who are sedate and prudent be near me
ليلني منكم أولو الأحلام والنهىlet those of your who are sedate and prudent be near me
ليلني منكم أولو الأحلام والنهى..students of knowledge do not keep children away, which means that they have evidence for this. Therefore, we ask your eminence to guide us with a written answer that can be circulated to unify effort and opinion, to put an end to the root of the problems, and so that everyone may be on clear knowledge of the matter. May Allah guide you to all good, keep your steps steady, and make your opinion and action correct.
A : Bringing boys with their fathers or mothers to the mosques is permissible if there is a fear for their safety; because this was present in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). However, they must be kept from mischief in the mosque and from harming the worshippers. Whoever among them reaches the age of seven or more must be ordered to perform wudu' and pray so that he becomes accustomed to it, and he and his parent will receive reward. There is no harm in their standing in the rows, and their standing in the row does not cause a defect in it, as the questioner says; because their prayer is valid, and because the boys used to form rows with the adults behind the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.