How should the imam act in the mosque if he finds some children and young boys in the first row, whether they are directly behind the imam or on the sides, and does he
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The questioner : How should the imam act in the mosque if he finds some children and young boys in the first row, whether they are directly behind the imam or on the sides, and does he respond to the request of the worshippers to move them to the back, especially since they arrive early for prayer and some of them are well-mannered, causing no harm or disturbance, and their ages are between eight and ten?
The Shaykh : The imam should do nothing, but rather keep every boy in his place. However, if he fears mischief between two children, he should separate them.
As for expelling them from the first row or the second row or the like, that is not correct and not proper. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Mishkat al-Masabih 1088 I have not known from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that when he saw a child in the first row, he ordered him to be moved back. Moving children back has harms:
The first harm is the disruption, especially if there are many children.
The second harm is that it disrespects the child regarding the mosque and the prayer, because the child has feelings. If he has moved forward and sat in the first row, reciting the Qur'an, and sees himself as well-mannered and worthy of moving forward, and then we break that spirit and say, "Go back."
Thirdly, if we move them back and then men are in the first row and we move the children to the third row, the children will gather in one row. And if they gather in one row, there will be more mischief from them and greater disturbance to the worshippers.
Fourthly, if his guardian is with him and then he is told, "Boy, go back," while he is next to his guardian, the guardian will be hurt and say: "This is my son, I do not want him to go away from me, and my son is well-mannered and has not done any wrong." And if the guardian controls himself and does not speak, there will be something in his heart against the one who removed his son from beside him.
It has come in the hadith from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): This hadith or its meaning. So if a boy moves to a place first, and he is well-mannered and no harm comes from him, there is no reason to move him back.
The Shaykh : The imam should do nothing, but rather keep every boy in his place. However, if he fears mischief between two children, he should separate them.
As for expelling them from the first row or the second row or the like, that is not correct and not proper. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Let those of you who are sedate and prudent be near me
ليليني منكم أولوا الأحلام والنهىThe first harm is the disruption, especially if there are many children.
The second harm is that it disrespects the child regarding the mosque and the prayer, because the child has feelings. If he has moved forward and sat in the first row, reciting the Qur'an, and sees himself as well-mannered and worthy of moving forward, and then we break that spirit and say, "Go back."
Thirdly, if we move them back and then men are in the first row and we move the children to the third row, the children will gather in one row. And if they gather in one row, there will be more mischief from them and greater disturbance to the worshippers.
Fourthly, if his guardian is with him and then he is told, "Boy, go back," while he is next to his guardian, the guardian will be hurt and say: "This is my son, I do not want him to go away from me, and my son is well-mannered and has not done any wrong." And if the guardian controls himself and does not speak, there will be something in his heart against the one who removed his son from beside him.
It has come in the hadith from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):