Children in the Masjid: The fiqh of children standing in the prayer lines

Categories of Children

There are three categories of children:

(1) The first type are those who are innocent and young. They neither understand the etiquette of the masjid nor do they know anything about prayer. They do not have the understanding that the masjid is a place for worshipping Allâh. There is also the danger that they urinate in the masjid [f: this happens more often than one may initially imagine!] or play therein and violate its sanctity. Children of five to six years [f: usually] fall in this category. [f: The legal consideration is not the age itself, but being able to uphold the proper etiquette, such as causing and undue nuisance to those praying. This is what the Hanafi scholars mention, and similar details are mentioned in texts of the Malikis, Hanbalis, & Shafi`is. If the parents are reasonably sure that their child will behave, and are not expected to soil the masjid, then there is great benefit, the scholars tell us, in taking them to the masjid.]

The ruling for such children [f: who are not reasonably expected to behave and will be an undue nuisance to those praying] is that it is not permissible to bring them to the masjid.

It is the responsibility of the parents to see that they do not bring such children to the masjid. If they do so and the children violate the sanctity of Allâh’s house, the parents will be sinful because the children themselves are innocent. The masjid trustees can also prohibit such children from entering the masjid.

There is a limit for every act in Shari’ah. These limits are what we call Dîn and we all have to abide by these limits.

[This is the category of children the Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace) referred to when he said, “Keep the insane and [small] children away from your masjids.” [Ibn Maja, and others] ]

(2) The second category is those children who are slightly older. They are between seven to eleven years old.

Such children understand the status of a masjid and respect it to a certain degree. However, due to lack of a complete understanding, they do not respect it fully. It is permissible to bring such children to the masjid but it is better not to do so [f: if there is still some fear that they may cause an undue nuisance. This goes back to the parents’ upbringing of the child and the child’s nature. The scholars mention that there is very strong benefit in bringing children to the masjid especially in non-Muslim countries, where they do not see a lot of Muslims around them, as this is a strong part of developing their Muslim identity.]

(3) The third category of children is those who are close to maturity. Their ages range from twelve to fourteen. However, a fifteen-year-old child is considered mature even if he does not have any signs of puberty.

The ruling for this category is that they should be brought to the masjid in order to inculcate the habit of prayer with congregation because prayer becomes obligatory on them the moment they reach the age of puberty. It is obligatory on them to attend the masjid for prayer with congregation. If this habit is not inculcated before puberty, it will take time after puberty as a result of which they will forgo their prayers with congregation. Thus it is imperative to bring the youngsters to the masjid while guiding them at home to respect the masjid. They should be taught not to make a noise in the masjid as it is a sanctified place where the name of Allâh is taken.

The Position of the Children’s Prayer lines

The children’s prayer lines should be made after the men’s prayer lines has been completed. [al-Bahr al-Ra’iq, Radd al-Muhtar, f: If there is only a small number of children, or it is feared that they may start misbehaving, they are dispersed among the adult lines.] This is the sunnah way. After the prayer has begun, those who arrive later should join the children’s prayer lines on the right and left side.

Moving the children

Some latecomers move the children further back when seeing them in the prayer lines. Some people hold the child by the ears and drag him to the back. If the child resists, he is carried to the back. Whoever comes late does this. This occurs in many of the masjids. If the child was in the first prayer lines at the beginning of prayer, he reaches the last prayer lines at the end of prayer. This is because most people come late for prayer nowadays. Whoever enters the masjid, does this thinking that it is not permissible to perform prayer next to children.

This is completely wrong. One should free one’s mind of such a thought. You should stand next to the child whether he is in the front prayer lines or the rear one. You may stand on his right-hand side or his left-hand side. This does not affect the prayer of the adults.

All late comers should stand at the back next to the children. It is not permissible to shunt the children further back. Such an act is sinful By doing this, we are nullifying their prayer and thereby placing that sin on our shoulders.

Standing in the adults’ prayer lines

If the children that attend the masjid for prayer are not well disciplined and they run around in the masjid, play fools, laugh and talk, then the ruling for such children is that they should be separated and made to stand among the adults. A separate prayer lines should not be made for them. This will prevent them from disturbing others in their prayer. If there are only one or two children, then it is permissible to make them stand with the adults without any karâhat [abomination].

Discipline

We should also remember the way shown to us by the Prophet Sallallâhu alaihi wasallam when dealing with children. They should not be mercilessly treated and beaten up. The Prophet Sallallâhu alaihi wasallam said, “One who does not have mercy on our young ones and does not respect our elders is not from amongst us.” Anâs Radhiallâhu anhu served the Prophet Sallallâhu alaihi wasallam for ten years but not once did The Prophet Sallallâhu alaihi wasallam reprimand him for doing something or for not doing something.

Thus it is against the sunnah to severely reprimand or beat a child. Furthermore, a severe reprimand seldom has a lasting effect. The child may refrain temporarily from that act but will repeat it later. The child should be taught with love and affection that the masjid is not a place for mischief and playing. The child will respect you and insha-Allâh will not repeat his mischief again.

May Allâh grant us the ability to refrain from committing wrong acts, Âmîn

Translated by: Moulana Ebrahim Muhammad (Madrasah Arabia Islamia, Publication Department)
Print Edition Published by Madrasah Arabia Islamia, Azaadville, Krugersdorp, South Africa
First Edition: J. Thâniah 1420 A.H. September 1999

Edited and slightly annotated by Faraz Rabbani