Answer by: Fadhīlat al-ʿĀlim Khidr Ḥayāt (ḥafiẓahullāh)
❖ Question:
Children often pass in front of worshippers during prayer in the mosque. What is the ruling regarding this?
❖ Ruling Based on Ḥadīth:
Whether it is a child or an adult, anyone passing in front of a praying person should be stopped. This ruling is general and applies to all individuals, with no exceptions, as clearly mentioned in authentic Aḥādīth.
Sayyidunā Abū Juhaim ʿAbdullāh al-Anṣārī (رضي الله عنه) narrates:
“If the one passing in front of a praying person knew the gravity of the sin, he would have preferred to stand for forty (units of time) rather than pass in front of him.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 510]
❖ Wisdom and Consideration:
If stopping a child is likely to cause commotion or disturbance for other worshippers, then wisdom dictates refraining from intervening at that moment.
❖ A Reported Incident:
A narration (though its chain of transmission is weak) mentions:
➊ The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was once praying when a young boy passed in front of him. The Prophet (ﷺ) signaled with his hand to stop him, and the child stopped.
➋ Then a girl passed, and when the Prophet (ﷺ) tried to stop her, she continued walking. After completing the prayer, the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“These women are more overpowering.”
[Sunan Ibn Mājah: 948]
❖ Clarifying the Boundary of “Passing in Front”:
➊ The term “between the hands of the worshipper” (bayna yaday al-muṣallī) refers, according to most scholars, to the area within the space of the prayer mat or directly in front of the person praying.
➋ Passing beyond the row of prayer or outside the prayer area does not fall under this prohibition.
❖ Conclusion:
✔ Passing in front of someone praying is prohibited, whether by a child or adult.
✔ If stopping a child may cause disruption, then act with wisdom and discretion.
✔ The matter is serious, and care should be taken to maintain the sanctity of the prayer space.
And Allah knows best.
