Kids & Mosques
Posted by anas on Oct 21, 2009 in Uncategorized | 9 commentsIt is easy to find children crying at the top of their voice while their mums are praying in mosque. Are they really praying? I mean, is the concentration level there knowing very well that her child is crying just by her side? And how does that affect the prayer of others?
Similarly, men bring their ambulatory kids to the mosque and let them loose when the prayers have begun. The child keeps wandering around, walking between people in probably thinking why are people not moving to get him? Then comes those slightly older ones who don't know how to pray but come to enjoy the day. The take part physically in prayers but they can keep moving at all times and the slightest of hand movements can cause the person standing next to him to lose his already shallow concentration.
So why do people bring kids the mosque? It is absolutely not the child's fault because he doesn't really appreciate what's going on around him, but what about the guardian?
And then there is this point of view that bringing kids to mosque may inspire them to pray. I don't subscribe to that school of thought but it is, nevertheless, valid under some conditions.
Anyhow, personally I think all sources of noise should be kept away from mosques, be it a child of a mobile phone. It will be interesting to see if the readers have something to say on this.
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I think a mosque should be like a community center, where people feel free to come and go for any reason. I think kids who grow up feeling like their local mosque is a home away from home would surely benefit. There is a hadith that the Prophet (SAW) would finish up the prayers he was leading more quickly if he heard a baby crying so that the parent would have some relief and be able to tend to the child. It’s just as important in that hadith to note what the Prophet did NOT do – he didn’t admonish the parent, he didn’t advise muslims to stop bringing children to the mosque. Certainly he could have done these things if that were better, but instead he separately spoke about how women should not be barred from the mosque – the complete opposite. In fact, there are even hadith of the Prophet making prayers while children climbed on his back and the Prophet delaying getting up from sujood so that the children would not fall off of his back. Can you imagine the love of namaz that could be instilling in a child if he or she grew up in a place where prayers were a wonderful thing, a time of bonding, rather than being told to be quiet and sit still. SubhanAllah, we should all be so kind and patient, it is sunnah after all.
I was about to mention the same thing that TheGoriWife mentioned: the Prophet (PBUH) delaying getting up from the sajdah when either of his grandsons would climb on his back.
But then, it can be argued that the grandsons were not meddling in anybody else’s concentration.
The thing is, sometimes it is worthwhile to take up little children to the mosque, because it may help in making them learn that praying is something that is preferred to be done in quiet. Children don’t learn anything at once (unless they are baby geniuses), and like all other things (crawling, walking, talking, etc.), maintaining quiet while their parents or someone else is praying also comes to them in time.
(I find it amusing though when a child bows for the ruku or does the sajdah before the Imam says Allah-o-Akbar. I also used to be impatient like that!)
If you ask me, I love the children at mosques! It always brings a smile to my face… May Allah Bless our Ummah’s children to follow the right path!
Ameen!
first what does this phrase means.
“be it a child of a mobile phone”
it might become a habit of a child to go to the mosque and that is a positive thing.
Well said GoriWife and Saadat.
child or mobile phone –> both make noise
Interesting. That’s what I wanted. But what bothers me is the sound they make, and suddenly they start nudging people around them or maybe start dancing on their spot. All these things are a regular feature.
So what TheGoriWife and Saadat have said, if I have understood, is that its good to bring children to mosque and be patient with them. Clearly, I have to be patient there!
I agree with GoriWife
.. spot on Masha Allah!
Thing is, that sources of noise is there at home as well (the child is yours.. he’ll be with you at home AND make noise therein!).. the TRIAL in this, is to pray with concentration (as much as you can manage), WITH the kid.
And THAT is how the parents have concentration .. be it mosque or home.
Rahi baat doosron kee
.. so I guess this is a test of their Sabr 
)
(usually the kids are dancing on the spot besides parents only
Thank you everyone. The responses were very enlightening