✍ Written by: Ḥāfiẓ Nadīm Ẓahīr
In a certain mosque, a notice was posted saying: “Do not bring children along,” with a reference to a ḥadīth. Is there any authentic ḥadīth that prohibits bringing children to the mosque? Kindly respond and earn reward from Allah.
– Shahīdullāh, Mansehra
There is no authentic ḥadīth which prohibits bringing children to the mosque. The narration that does suggest prohibition is extremely weak in terms of chain of narration.
Imām Ibn Mājah رحمه الله narrated:
حدثنا أحمد بن يوسف السلمي: حدثنا مسلم بن إبراهيم: حدثنا الحارث بن نبهان: حدثنا عتبة بن يقظان، عن أبي سعيد، عن مكحول، عن وائلة بن الأسفع، أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: ((جنبوا مساجدكم صبيانكم))
“Keep your children away from your mosques.”
This narration is weak due to several reasons:
① ʿUtbah bin Yaqẓān is weak.
(
al-Taqrīb: 4444)
② Al-Ḥārith bin Nabhān is abandoned in narration (matrūk).
( al-Taqrīb: 1051)
③ Abū Saʿīd al-Shāmī is unknown (majhūl).
( al-Taqrīb: 8131)
Imām al-Ṭabarānī رحمه الله explained in Musnad al-Shāmiyyīn (4/307) that this Abū Saʿīd is ʿAbd al-Quddūs bin Ḥabīb, and he is also matrūk (abandoned).
See: Dīwān al-Ḍuʿafāʾ (2586), etc.
A supporting narration (shāhid) is found in al-Sunan al-Kubrā by al-Bayhaqī (10/103), but that also contains ʿAlāʾ bin Kathīr al-Shāmī, who is matrūk.
( al-Taqrīb: 5254)
Hence, this narration is severely weak and unacceptable as evidence.
In contrast, authentic aḥādīth confirm that children of all ages were brought to the mosque during the time of the Prophet ﷺ.
❖ Narration of Abū Qatādah رضي الله عنه:
He said:
"We were sitting in the mosque when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came carrying his granddaughter, Umāmah bint Abī al-ʿĀṣ bin Rabīʿ."
Imām al-Nasā’ī رحمه الله titled this chapter:
“Bringing Children to the Mosques”
❖ Narration of al-Rubayyiʿ bint Muʿawwidh رضي الله عنها:
She said:
“We used to fast on the day of ʿĀshūrāʾ, and we would make our young children also fast, and we would go to the mosque with them. We would make woolen toys for them, and if any child cried for food near ifṭār, we would distract them with those toys.”
This is clear proof that both Ṣaḥābiyyāt and Ṣaḥābah used to bring their young children to the mosque.
❖ Narration from Anas bin Mālik رضي الله عنه:
He reported:
“The Prophet ﷺ would shorten the prayer or recite shorter sūrahs when he heard a child crying, whose mother had brought him to the mosque.”
❖ Instruction from the Prophet ﷺ on Training Children:
"Command your children to pray when they are seven years old, and beat them for it when they are ten years old, and separate their beds."
From the above evidence, it becomes clear that the narration prohibiting children in mosques is severely weak and therefore unreliable. On the other hand, authentic and rigorously established ḥadīths confirm that:
Children of all ages were brought to the mosque during the Prophet’s ﷺ time.
It is Sunnah to take children to the mosque for their tarbiyah (training) and to teach them the importance of prayer.
هذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
This is what I possess of knowledge; and Allah knows best what is correct.
❖ Question:
In a certain mosque, a notice was posted saying: “Do not bring children along,” with a reference to a ḥadīth. Is there any authentic ḥadīth that prohibits bringing children to the mosque? Kindly respond and earn reward from Allah.
– Shahīdullāh, Mansehra
✔ Answer:
There is no authentic ḥadīth which prohibits bringing children to the mosque. The narration that does suggest prohibition is extremely weak in terms of chain of narration.
The Weak Ḥadīth Quoted
Imām Ibn Mājah رحمه الله narrated:
حدثنا أحمد بن يوسف السلمي: حدثنا مسلم بن إبراهيم: حدثنا الحارث بن نبهان: حدثنا عتبة بن يقظان، عن أبي سعيد، عن مكحول، عن وائلة بن الأسفع، أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: ((جنبوا مساجدكم صبيانكم))
“Keep your children away from your mosques.”
Reference: Sunan Ibn Mājah: 570
This narration is weak due to several reasons:
① ʿUtbah bin Yaqẓān is weak.
(
al-Taqrīb: 4444)② Al-Ḥārith bin Nabhān is abandoned in narration (matrūk).
(
al-Taqrīb: 1051)③ Abū Saʿīd al-Shāmī is unknown (majhūl).
(
al-Taqrīb: 8131)⚠ Clarification:
Imām al-Ṭabarānī رحمه الله explained in Musnad al-Shāmiyyīn (4/307) that this Abū Saʿīd is ʿAbd al-Quddūs bin Ḥabīb, and he is also matrūk (abandoned).
See: Dīwān al-Ḍuʿafāʾ (2586), etc.
A supporting narration (shāhid) is found in al-Sunan al-Kubrā by al-Bayhaqī (10/103), but that also contains ʿAlāʾ bin Kathīr al-Shāmī, who is matrūk.
(
al-Taqrīb: 5254)Hence, this narration is severely weak and unacceptable as evidence.
Authentic Evidence Supporting Children in the Mosque
In contrast, authentic aḥādīth confirm that children of all ages were brought to the mosque during the time of the Prophet ﷺ.
❖ Narration of Abū Qatādah رضي الله عنه:
He said:
"We were sitting in the mosque when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came carrying his granddaughter, Umāmah bint Abī al-ʿĀṣ bin Rabīʿ."
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 543, Hadith Sequence: 1215
Imām al-Nasā’ī رحمه الله titled this chapter:“Bringing Children to the Mosques”
Reference: Sunan al-Nasā’ī, before Ḥadīth: 712
❖ Narration of al-Rubayyiʿ bint Muʿawwidh رضي الله عنها:
She said:
“We used to fast on the day of ʿĀshūrāʾ, and we would make our young children also fast, and we would go to the mosque with them. We would make woolen toys for them, and if any child cried for food near ifṭār, we would distract them with those toys.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 136 / 1136
This is clear proof that both Ṣaḥābiyyāt and Ṣaḥābah used to bring their young children to the mosque.❖ Narration from Anas bin Mālik رضي الله عنه:
He reported:
“The Prophet ﷺ would shorten the prayer or recite shorter sūrahs when he heard a child crying, whose mother had brought him to the mosque.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 191 / 470
❖ Instruction from the Prophet ﷺ on Training Children:
"Command your children to pray when they are seven years old, and beat them for it when they are ten years old, and separate their beds."
Reference: Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 494, Sunan al-Tirmidhī: 407 – with an authentic chain
Summary of Research (Khilāṣah al-Taḥqīq):
From the above evidence, it becomes clear that the narration prohibiting children in mosques is severely weak and therefore unreliable. On the other hand, authentic and rigorously established ḥadīths confirm that:
Children of all ages were brought to the mosque during the Prophet’s ﷺ time. It is Sunnah to take children to the mosque for their tarbiyah (training) and to teach them the importance of prayer.هذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
This is what I possess of knowledge; and Allah knows best what is correct.
