At what age should a boy line up in prayer? Which row is better, the first or the second? And does he line up behind the imam or at the ends of the row?

The questioner: His EminenceThe Shaykh : He says: At what age should a boy line up in prayer? Which row is better, the first or the second?

The Shaykh: In what, what?

The questioner: At what age should a boy line up in prayer?

The Shaykh: There is no text that explicitly states the age in question, but sound reasoning dictates that boys stand with the men if they are of discernment; that is, if they maintain their prayer while in the row, and are not among the small children who do not know prayer or its value; where you see him now in the row, and then moments later he turns his back, because he is a small child, creating a gap in the row and a defect in it, and this is not permissible. So if the boys are of intellect and understanding, even if they have not yet reached the age of legal accountability, they are allowed to stand in the row with the men. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not establish a specific age for the Muslims regarding the straightening of rows concerning men and boys. Although a hadith came in "Sunan Abu Dawud" that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would line up the men, then the boys, then the women. The row of women, regarding their being behind the men, is correct and certain. As for the row of boys between the men and the women, there is one hadith narrated by Abu Dawud in "Sunan" and Imam Ahmad in "Musnad," but in its chain is a man with weak memory and weak retention, named Shahr ibn Hawshab. If this is found in a hadith and he is the sole narrator of it, his hadith is weak and not authentic. If this hadith were authentic in this chain, we would say that the Sunnah is for the men to line up, then the boys, then the women. But this hadith is not authentic, and it is not permissible to act upon it.
And on this basis, it is necessary to apply reasoning to the boys who attend the mosques, and they are generally known for their playfulness in prayer, so they line up behind the men, or by their uprightness and calmness in prayer, they line up with the men until they practice this prayer. Among his sayings (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding practice was his saying: . His saying (peace be upon him): , there is no doubt that these sons of ten years old are usually of discernment, but even so, the pen of legal accountability has not passed over them. However, in the way of practicing good and righteous deeds, he (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded fathers and mothers to pay attention to raising their children from the softness of their nails, and he said: . So generally, if the child is seven years old, and is taught the rulings of prayer and the etiquettes of prayer, if he stands in the row he will maintain calmness and stillness. Otherwise, this one is placed behind the row, as we mentioned regarding not causing a defect in the row. As for the one who reaches the age of ten and adheres to prayer with its etiquettes, then he should line up with the men. As for - may Allah forbid - if he is still one of movement and playfulness, he is delayed. This is the criterion in the issue of lining up children or boys, sometimes with the men and sometimes behind the men.
Yes.

The questioner: Commenting on this question, some may ask: Does he line up behind the imam or at the ends of the row?

The Shaykh: He is at the ends of the row; naturally, because behind the imam there is an authentic hadith. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . And Abu ibn Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him) applied this hadith once, as in "Sunan al-Nasa'i"; he entered the mosque and found a boy behind the imam, so he took him and moved him back, and placed himself in his place. And he noticed that something of disturbance affected him regarding how this noble Companion would settle in the place of this person after the prayer? Abu said to him, comforting him: I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say: , meaning: so do not let anything of dislike enter your heart; because I did this not to diminish you, but as an implementation by me of this noble Prophetic command: . So those who stand behind the row, even if they are large men, should not occupy this place behind the imam unless they are from the people of knowledge and virtue. Perhaps something may occur to this imam that requires us to bring forward a man to take his place. If the one who stood behind him is from the general Muslims and may not know how to recite al-Fatihah well, then this place should not be occupied except by those of understanding and intellect, as in this authentic hadith.
Yes.

The questioner : May Allah reward you.