The Ruling on Young Children Who Cut Across People’s Prayer Rows

Q: There are children, about four or five years old, who attend the Friday prayer with their fathers. Then, when the imam prays, they cut off the prayer of the worshippers, talking and leaving. Is this correct? Do they cut off the prayer?

A: The first answer: It is obligatory for fathers not to bring their young children who are under seven until they are of sound mind. When they reach seven and are of sound mind, it is prescribed to command them to pray. However, if they are under that age, or if they do not have reason, they should not be brought; because they have no prayer; and because they harm the worshippers and disturb them.

The second answer: Only three things cut off the prayer: the adult woman, the donkey, and the black dog only.
These are the ones who cut off the prayer if they pass between the worshipper and his sutrah, if he has a sutrah, or in front of him if he does not have a sutrah. But the worshipper does not let anyone else pass, so a man does not pass, a boy does not pass, and a beast does not pass if that is possible, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): It is agreed upon as authentic from the hadith of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him). But if a man, a camel, or sheep pass, they do not cut off the prayer. And only the three specified in the authentic hadiths from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cut off the prayer, which are: the donkey, the black dog, and the adult woman, as mentioned above.