Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadīyah, Vol. 1, p. 391
Can a minor boy stand in the first row during congregational prayer?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
It is clear that the ruling for a minor boy is that he should leave the first row for the adult men and not try to stand there himself. Rather, he should stand in the second row. Likewise, if women are also offering prayer in congregation, then they should form their row behind the children, i.e., in the third row.
Hazrat Abū Mālik al-Ashʿarī رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would place adult men in the first row, children in the second row, and women behind the children in the third row. The wording is:
وَيَجْعَلُ الرِّجَالَ قُدَّامَ الْغِلْمَانِ، وَالْغِلْمَانَ خَلْفَهُمْ، وَالنِّسَاءَ خَلْفَ الْغِلْمَانِ
(Narrated by Aḥmad, referenced in Nayl al-Awṭār, Bāb Mawqif aṣ-Ṣibyān, Vol. 3, p. 207)
This ruling applies when there are enough adult men present. However, if there are only one or two adult men, then in consideration of the etiquettes of forming rows, a minor boy may also stand in the first row.
As narrated in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī from Hazrat Anas رضي الله عنه:
عن أَنَسِ قَالَ: (صَلَّيْتُ أَنَا وَيَتِيمٌ فِي بَيْتِنَا خَلْفَ النَّبِيِّ عليه السلام، وَأُمِّي خَلْفَنَا أُمُّ سُلَيْمٍ)
(Referenced in Nayl al-Awṭār, Bāb Mawqif aṣ-Ṣibyān, Vol. 3, p. 207)
From this ḥadīth, it becomes evident that in case of necessity, a minor boy may also stand in the first row.
ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب
❖ Question
Can a minor boy stand in the first row during congregational prayer?
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
It is clear that the ruling for a minor boy is that he should leave the first row for the adult men and not try to stand there himself. Rather, he should stand in the second row. Likewise, if women are also offering prayer in congregation, then they should form their row behind the children, i.e., in the third row.
Hazrat Abū Mālik al-Ashʿarī رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would place adult men in the first row, children in the second row, and women behind the children in the third row. The wording is:
وَيَجْعَلُ الرِّجَالَ قُدَّامَ الْغِلْمَانِ، وَالْغِلْمَانَ خَلْفَهُمْ، وَالنِّسَاءَ خَلْفَ الْغِلْمَانِ
(Narrated by Aḥmad, referenced in Nayl al-Awṭār, Bāb Mawqif aṣ-Ṣibyān, Vol. 3, p. 207)
❖ Exceptional Case
This ruling applies when there are enough adult men present. However, if there are only one or two adult men, then in consideration of the etiquettes of forming rows, a minor boy may also stand in the first row.
As narrated in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī from Hazrat Anas رضي الله عنه:
عن أَنَسِ قَالَ: (صَلَّيْتُ أَنَا وَيَتِيمٌ فِي بَيْتِنَا خَلْفَ النَّبِيِّ عليه السلام، وَأُمِّي خَلْفَنَا أُمُّ سُلَيْمٍ)
(Referenced in Nayl al-Awṭār, Bāb Mawqif aṣ-Ṣibyān, Vol. 3, p. 207)
From this ḥadīth, it becomes evident that in case of necessity, a minor boy may also stand in the first row.
ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب
