The ruling on delaying the prayer in order to calm children in the mosque
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Regarding the issue of children playing during the prayer, is it permissible for people to delay the prayer in order to prevent children from playing inside the mosque, and how is this resolved, O Shaykh?
The solution to this—may Allah reward you—is to look to their guardians and ask them to keep their children in check. Better than that is for them to bring their children to the mosque to raise them to be accustomed to entering the mosque and becoming familiar with it. But, unfortunately, we have heard that some people—may Allah guide them—when they see a boy in the mosque, they drive him out. This is not permissible. Rather, we should encourage boys to attend the prayer in the mosque, call them in, and make room for them. As for a person delaying the prayer in order to calm them down, I do not see this as acceptable.
The questioner: Their fathers oppose the issue of advising them.They say: My sons are not with them, and it turns out that his sons were actually with them, and they are delaying the prayer, coming in the second or third rak'ah.And the problems that arise from them. Answer: They should fear Allah in this matter; it is obligatory to fear Allah. But if we assume that there are boys around the mosque who are disturbing the worshippers, and their harm cannot be averted except by a person who drives them out until only one rak'ah remains, and then he joins the congregation, this is permissible, if Allah wills, because (whoever catches one rak'ah of the prayer has caught the prayer).
The solution to this—may Allah reward you—is to look to their guardians and ask them to keep their children in check. Better than that is for them to bring their children to the mosque to raise them to be accustomed to entering the mosque and becoming familiar with it. But, unfortunately, we have heard that some people—may Allah guide them—when they see a boy in the mosque, they drive him out. This is not permissible. Rather, we should encourage boys to attend the prayer in the mosque, call them in, and make room for them. As for a person delaying the prayer in order to calm them down, I do not see this as acceptable.
The questioner: Their fathers oppose the issue of advising them.They say: My sons are not with them, and it turns out that his sons were actually with them, and they are delaying the prayer, coming in the second or third rak'ah.And the problems that arise from them. Answer: They should fear Allah in this matter; it is obligatory to fear Allah. But if we assume that there are boys around the mosque who are disturbing the worshippers, and their harm cannot be averted except by a person who drives them out until only one rak'ah remains, and then he joins the congregation, this is permissible, if Allah wills, because (whoever catches one rak'ah of the prayer has caught the prayer).