Children's behaviour in the masjid

[mohamed]

Assalaamu alaikum warahmatullah shaikh,

I have noticed that there are different attitudes towards children in the Masjid and their behaviour.  Some people are more strict with children and do not like them to play around and make noises.  Other people say that it is acceptable as it gives them an opportunity to get used to the Masjid and to like the place.

Similarly when the children are in the Saff for a Jama'ah some people want them to be either in the back saff or on one side of the saff.  Others do not mind wherever the children happen to be in the saff.

What are the Shariah guidance in this situation?

JazakumAllah Khairan

[Islamic Answers]

The above question was answered by Shaikh AbuIsmaeel Aslam Hussain as follows:

Wa alaikumussalaam wa rahmatullah,

As for children being in Masjid and playing around, I understand that they should neither be allowed to play around nor cause disturbances in the praying hall of a Masjid - especially at prayer time, of course.  However, these days, nearly all Masaajid have other halls, rooms, yard attached to the Masjid and it is in these parts of the Masjid complex that I myself would urge people to accommodate for children to have some fun - at least at some times during the week - so that they like to and get used to come to the Masjid from a young age.  This is important in our society today.  I do not see any reason to prohibit or discourage this as far as Shariah is concerned whereas in the praying area that is obviously clear, Allah knows best.

As for the location of the children while praying, then as we know a recommended - though not wajib or haram - is for the children's row to be behind that of the men and yet in front of the women in a Jama'ah.  This is how the Sahabah children aligned themselves during the time of the Prophet (s) in the house with Anas (r) a child of about 10 to late teens at that time.  If there are a lot of children of an age where they may lose concentration and disrupt the neighbour etc, i.e. age about 10 years, then it is best to have them in a row of themselves behind that of the men - or even on the side of the rear rows is fine since latecomers will join in.  If a child, however, is mature regardless of his age, and is unlikely to cause any disruption, then there is no harm in him being in any row of the Jama'ah - even the first one.  This is because on the one hand there is nothing to prohibit him from being anywhere while on the other hand he has come early seeking the extra reward of the front row and is behaving himself without disturbing others, so just stands anywhere just like others.  In the lifetime of the Prophet (s), a child lho had memorised more Quran than others was ordered by the Prophet (s) to lead men in prayer so why not stand in other rows less than Imaamah if he is of a mature attitude and sought that place in Jama'ah for the reward.  Other hadith do not seem to go against any of this either. So, this would vary according to maturity of the child, and Allah knows best.

Wassalamu alaikum