The Attendance of Young Children in the Mosque

Author: Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani (May Allah protect him)

Question:​

Can parents bring their young children to the mosques?

Answer:​

It is permissible and recommended to bring young boys and girls to the mosques, provided they are clean and tidy.

Hadith of Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him):

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to pray while carrying his granddaughter Umamah bint Zaynab, the daughter of his daughter Zaynab. When he would prostrate, he would set her down, and when he would stand, he would pick her up. [Bukhari, Book of Prayer: Chapter on Carrying a Young Girl on One's Neck in Prayer 516; Muwatta, Book of Shortening Prayers: Chapter on Combined Prayers 81; Muslim 543]

Hadith of Burayrah (may Allah be pleased with her):

She narrated that while the Prophet (peace be upon him) was delivering a sermon, Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn (may Allah be pleased with them) came wearing red shirts and stumbling in them. The Prophet (peace be upon him) descended from the pulpit, interrupted his speech, carried them, and then returned to the pulpit, saying:
"Allah has spoken the truth: 'Indeed, your wealth and children are a test.'" [Surah At-Taghabun: 15] [Nasai, Book of Friday: Chapter on the Imam Descending from the Pulpit Before Completing His Sermon 1414; Abu Dawood 1109; Tirmidhi 3774; Ibn Majah 3600; Ahmad 354/5]

Hadith of Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him):

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

"I stand in prayer intending to make it long, but then I hear the crying of a child, so I shorten it, fearing that I may cause difficulty for his mother." [Bukhari, Book of Adhan: Chapter on Shortening Prayer When a Child Cries 707]

Hadith of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him):

It is narrated that while the Prophet (peace be upon him) was praying, he would hear a child crying with his mother and would recite a light or short surah. [Muslim, Book of Prayer: Chapter on Commanding Imams to Shorten Prayer When Children Cry 470; Tirmidhi 376; Ahmad 109/3]

Imam Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) explains the hadith of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) as follows:

"This shows the permissibility of women praying with men in the mosque, and it is also permissible to bring children into the mosque. However, it is better to keep the mosque free from those children whose impurity cannot be avoided." [Sharh Muslim 156/4]

Additionally, the narration stating:

"جنّبوا مساجدكم صبيانكم"

"Keep your mosques free from your children," is not authentic. Scholars like Hafiz Al-Iraqi, Hafiz Ibn Hajar, and Imam Nawawi have classified it as extremely weak. Imam Bazar and Imam Abdul Haq Al-Ashbili have stated: "It has no basis."

It should be noted that if children create noise or disturb the worshippers, it is still permissible to bring them to the mosque, but it is not obligatory. Insisting on allowing them when it causes conflict or disturbance is disliked.

As an example, Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) has established a chapter in Sahih Bukhari titled: "On Turning Right and Left After Completing the Prayer," where he mentions that:

"Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) would turn right and left, and he would disapprove of anyone who would turn to the right deliberately."

This shows that turning after prayer is permissible in both directions. However, if someone insists on only turning one way, this can be a trick of Satan, as clarified by Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him).

In summary, it is permissible for young children, both boys and girls, to attend the mosque. However, if these children disrupt the prayers or cause chaos in the mosque, parents may choose to avoid bringing them.
 
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