How to Line Up Children Behind the Imam
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
He says: I have children whose ages range from eleven to seven years old. Is it better for them to line up behind me in prayer or beside me?
Please advise us. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
The Sunnah is for them to line up behind you, even if they are young, provided they are seven years old or older. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed in the house of one of the Companions when he visited them; he prayed the Dhuha prayer with them and lined up Anas and the orphan behind him (peace and blessings be upon him). So the Sunnah is for them to line up behind you, even if they are young, provided they are seven years old or older. However, it is not permissible for you to pray the obligatory prayer at home; rather, it is obligatory for you to pray in the mosque with the people. And they must also pray; you should order them to pray with the people if they are seven or eight years old. But if they reach ten years of age, they are ordered to pray and are beaten if they lag behind, until they pray with the people and become accustomed to prayer. But if you pray at home at night, whether it is the Tahajjud prayer or the Dhuha prayer, there is no harm in them praying behind you. Yes.
The presenter: Your Eminence, may Allah reward you with good. Did he mention that he is from the Bedouin?
The Shaykh: In any case, they pray with you in congregation in your mosque in the desert. You and your neighbors should not pray in your own place; pray with your brothers in the place where you pray, your prayer place, you and your neighbors. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good. So if he has neighbors, he should pray with them in congregation?
The Shaykh: Yes. And if he is alone, he prays with his children and they pray behind him.
The presenter: May Allah bless you, and may He do you good.
He says: I have children whose ages range from eleven to seven years old. Is it better for them to line up behind me in prayer or beside me?
Please advise us. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
The Sunnah is for them to line up behind you, even if they are young, provided they are seven years old or older. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed in the house of one of the Companions when he visited them; he prayed the Dhuha prayer with them and lined up Anas and the orphan behind him (peace and blessings be upon him). So the Sunnah is for them to line up behind you, even if they are young, provided they are seven years old or older. However, it is not permissible for you to pray the obligatory prayer at home; rather, it is obligatory for you to pray in the mosque with the people. And they must also pray; you should order them to pray with the people if they are seven or eight years old. But if they reach ten years of age, they are ordered to pray and are beaten if they lag behind, until they pray with the people and become accustomed to prayer. But if you pray at home at night, whether it is the Tahajjud prayer or the Dhuha prayer, there is no harm in them praying behind you. Yes.
The presenter: Your Eminence, may Allah reward you with good. Did he mention that he is from the Bedouin?
The Shaykh: In any case, they pray with you in congregation in your mosque in the desert. You and your neighbors should not pray in your own place; pray with your brothers in the place where you pray, your prayer place, you and your neighbors. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good. So if he has neighbors, he should pray with them in congregation?
The Shaykh: Yes. And if he is alone, he prays with his children and they pray behind him.
The presenter: May Allah bless you, and may He do you good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.