Darulifta Ahlesunnat
(Dawateislami)
Question
What do the respected scholars say regarding the following issue: In our masajid, before Jama’ah, it is announced that all small children should be sent to the last row. Is doing this correct? If it is, what is the reason for it?
بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ
اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ
Announcing that all children should be sent to the last rows is permissible. If fact, it is proven from the actions and sayings of the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم. He explained the orders of the rows at the time of Jama’ah; The first row should consist of Baligh (adult) and sensible people, then those prepubescent children who have sense and understand how to pray Salah. Therefore, according to the Ahadith, announcing this is permissible according to Shari’ah and is according to the saying of the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم.
Note: It is impermissible and Haram to bring such children to the masjid who are so young that they do not understand how to pray Salah, them causing impurity is probable, they run around and play in the masjid and make noise, as bringing such young children to the masjid has been prohibited in the Hadith.
During Jama’ah the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم would have the boys stand behind the men’s row, as it is stated in Musnad Imam Ahmad:
يجعل الرجال قدام الغلمان، والغلمان خلفهم
Translation: The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم would make the men stand before the children and the children behind the men.(Musnad Ahmed, Vol. 37, Pg. 544, Publ. Al-Muassisah Al-Risalah)
At the time of Jama’ah, the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم would say: The boys should stand after the row of adults, as it is mentioned in Sahih Muslim:
كان رسول اللہ صلى اللہ عليه وسلم يمسح مناكبنا في الصلاة ويقول: استووا، ولا تختلفوا فتختلف قلوبكم ليلنی منكم أولو الأحلام والنهى، ثم الذين يلونهم ثم الذين يلونهم
Translation: (The narrator mentions) The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم used to touch our shoulders together and say: “Straighten your rows. Do not be awry lest your hearts become awry. The Baligh (adult) and sensible should be closest to me, then the ones younger than them, then the ones younger.(Sahih Muslim, Chapter of Straightening Rows, Vol. 1, Pg 323, Publ. Dar Ihya’ Al-Turath Al-A’rabiy, Beirut)
Regarding this Hadith, it is stated in Mirqat Al-Mafatih:
(ثم الذين يلونهم) : كالمراهقين، أو الذين يقربون الأولين في النهى و الحلم ، (ثم الذين يلونهم) : كالصبيان المميزين، أو الذين هم أنزل مرتبة من المتقدمين حلما وعقلا، والمعنى أنه هلم جرا۔۔۔ ففيه إشارة إلى ترتيب الصفوف
Translation: (Then the ones younger than them), like prepubescent boys, or those less mature or sensible than the ones in the first row. (Then the ones who are younger), like sensible adolescent children, or those less mature or sensible than those in the preceding row. The Hadith means that the order of rows will continue like this. In it, there is an indication to the order of the rows.(Mirqat Al-Mafatih, Vol. 3, Pg 154-155, Publ. DKI, Beirut)
It is written in Mirat Al-Manajih that:
فقہاء جو فرماتے ہیں کہ نماز میں پہلے مَردوں کی صف ہو،پھر بچوں کی۔۔۔۔۔۔اس کا ماخذ بھی یہی حدیث ہے
Translation: The statement of the Jurists that in Salah, first the men’s row will come, then the boys’ row… that is based on this very Hadith.(Mirat Al-Manajih, Vol. 2, Pg, 183, Hadith No. 312, Publ. Na’eemi Kutub Kahanah, Gujrat)
The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم prohibited bringing children to the masjid, as is written in Sunan Ibn Majah:
جنبوا مساجدکم صبیانکم ومجانینکم
Translation: Keep your children and insane people away from your mosques.(Sunan Ibn Majah, Pg 117, Hadith No. 750, Publ. Riyadh)
It is in Al-Durr Al-Mukhtar:
یحرم ادخال صبیان ومجانین حیث غلب تنجیسھم والا فیکرہ
Translation: It is Haram to bring children and insane people into the mosque if their impurity is probable. Otherwise, it is Makruh. (Radd Al-Muhtar ‘Ala Al-Durr Al-Mukhtar, Vol. 2, Pg, 518, Publ. Quetta)
وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم
(Allah Almighty knows best and His Messenger صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم knows best.)
Answered By: Mufti Muhammad Qasim Attari
Ref No: FSD-9010
Date: 19th Muharram Al-Haram 1446 AH/ 26th July 2024