CHILDREN ARE WELCOME

The children are our future, it is important for them to have a strong and positive attachment to the Masjid from a young age.

Bringing Children During Prayers

Bringing children to Masjid is advisable on the condition that they do not cause disturbance or distraction to the worshippers.

Keep them with you all the time especially during prayers

 If the children are young, it is best that they pray next to their parents, as this is likely to ensure that they behave.

Keep the noise to minimum

Keep them engaged in the remembrance of Allah and the recitation of the Quran

Bringing Children During Prayers

It is important that our children build a strong attachment and love for their religion. Children are our future and they are welcome to the Masjid.

Etiquette

There is a particular need to bring children to the mosque to allow them to become accustomed to it and the way to act therein. If children are well behaved and do not distract mussalleen from their prayers by running around, shouting or otherwise acting in a manner not befitting to the environment, then IANL encourages their attendance providing:

  • They are kept with their parent/guardian at all times
  • They are appropriately covered
  • They adhere to the etiquette of the mosque including remaining quiet at all times.
  • If children are either too young or otherwise unable to adhere to the etiquette of the mosque then their attendance during congregational prayers is discouraged until such time as they are mature enough to attend without disturbing others.
  • IANL recognises that parents/guardians sometimes have no choice but to bring their child or children to the mosque, eg when out shopping and seeking somewhere to pray. In these cases it is beholden upon the parent/guardian to stay with their child/children at all times to minimise any disruption to others and, if they are sufficiently old, to teach them about the etiquette of the mosque.

Please note that this guidance is applicable to both the men’s and women’s main prayer halls.

Fatwa

It is permissible to take children to the Masjid but they must be kept under control and not allowed to play about in the mosque and disturb other worshipper

Full Translation

1. The mosque is a place of worship. The general manners for those attending are serenity, dignity, calm, and respect for others’ worship by not annoying them by sounds or actions.
Allah Most High said,

( 36 )   فِي بُيُوتٍ أَذِنَ اللَّهُ أَن تُرْفَعَ وَيُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ فِيهَا بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ

“(This lamp of light is found) in houses which Allah hath allowed to be exalted and that His name shall be remembered therein” [Quran, 24.36]  [النور An-Noor – 36]

2. It is very important to raise our children with a strong attachment and love for their religion, and community, and thus it is important for them to have a strong and positive attachment to the mosque from a young age, especially in non-Muslim environments.

3. However, if there is anything that causes general distraction then it is disliked in the mosque. Thus, it would be disliked to have the children in the prayer hall at the time of prayer if they will cause a distraction. It would be haram to bring them if they are not toilet trained or if there is reason to fear that they may soil the mosque.

4. If the children have been trained properly by their parents, such that they will not be a nuisance or distraction for other worshippers, and it is not feared that they will soil the mosque, then it would not be disliked to bring them.

5. If the children are young, it is best that they pray next to their parents, as this is likely to ensure that they behave.

6. If there is a small number of children, it is best that they pray between the adults (and not in a separate line).