The Ruling on Removing Children from the Front Rows

Question:
His third question says: What is your opinion regarding a discerning child praying in the front row? Because many people—may Allah guide them—drive them to the last row, which causes them to gather and misbehave in the mosque?

Answer:
A child should be encouraged to pray and not be repelled from it. If he moves to the front row, he remains in the front row, and likewise if he moves to the second row. It is not permissible to gather them in one place, because first, this repels them from moving forward to pray, and second, it causes them to play and distract the worshippers. Therefore, the people of the mosque should not do that. Rather, the people of the mosque should observe separating them, and they should be in positions where some are far from others so that they do not misbehave and so that they do not harm the worshippers. Whoever among them precedes to the front row is confirmed in it, because he preceded to something that no one else preceded to, so he has more right to it. And Allah is the Helper. Yes.