Guidance for Women in the Prayer Hall Regarding Children and Food

Question:
The sister Umm Ahmad says: We would like a word from Shaykh Salih (may Allah preserve him) for the women who pray behind the imam and bring some of their children, and who also bring things and food to the women's prayer hall.

Answer:
When a woman goes out to the mosque, she is going out to one of the houses of Allah and going out for worship. So let her unify her objective, which is going out to pray, and not bring children with her who distract her and distract the people and cause harm to the mosque. If she has children with her, she should leave them at home with someone to look after them.
And if they do not have anyone to look after them, she should stay with them and pray in her house. A woman should not bring food or anything that distracts her and the women praying from worship, for they have only come for worship and prayer, not for eating and exchanging the various types of food they bring. This does not become worship; rather, it becomes for the sake of meeting the women, eating and drinking, and other purposes that are incompatible with the mosque or do not suit it, and that distract from worship. Yes.