Is it permissible to delay the prayer in order to prevent children from playing in the mosque?
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The questioner : Regarding the issue of children playing during the prayer, is it permissible for people to delay the prayer in order to prevent them from playing inside the mosque? No, how is this resolved, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : The resolution of this, may Allah bless 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 us and them—when they see a boy in the mosque, they drive him out. This is not permissible. Rather, we should encourage the 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 object to the issue. When you advise the fathers, they say, "My sons are not with us." It turns out that their 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 their behavior occur.
The Shaykh : It is obligatory to 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 mosque and the worshippers, and their harm cannot be averted except by a person who sits and drives them out until only one rak'ah remains, and then he joins the congregation, this is permissible, if Allah wills, because:Muwatta Malik 1:15
The Shaykh : The resolution of this, may Allah bless 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 us and them—when they see a boy in the mosque, they drive him out. This is not permissible. Rather, we should encourage the 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 object to the issue. When you advise the fathers, they say, "My sons are not with us." It turns out that their 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 their behavior occur.
The Shaykh : It is obligatory to 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 mosque and the worshippers, and their harm cannot be averted except by a person who sits and drives them out until only one rak'ah remains, and then he joins the congregation, this is permissible, if Allah wills, because: