Are young children allowed inside the masjid you attend for Taraweeh prayer?
I have been along to Taraweeh with my husband twice so far this Ramadan to one of the popular masjids in Riyadh – it’s the King Khalid masjid where Sheikh Khaalid Al-Jaleel now leads the prayer.
I left my older children at home since I am lucky enough to have a responsible teen and another who is almost a teen but I couldn’t leave the newest addition (8 weeks old) at home since she is breastfed. I discovered at the first Taraweeh of this Ramadan that children are not allowed inside so I stayed in the courtyard of the masjid and prayed there and when baby wanted to be held or fed I just sat and quietly listened. I had the baby in the carseat so she was comfortable and so I could join in some of the prayer. I think she was mesmerised by the Qur’an as she was very settled! She’s probably used to the sheikh’s qira’ (recitation) as I have playing some of his Qur’an cd’s in the kitchen while I cook!
I have been to the same masjid before for other daily prayers and there was no problem taking children in but since this is Taraweeh prayer and the masjid gets very full and too many people take along small, unruly children, there is this rule for the month of Ramadan. Understandable really when you see the unruliness of the children – running around, throwing dirt, kicking and throwing water bottles and leaving the litter for others to pick up and so forth. It makes me wonder why people take such small children along to such a long prayer. The children will inevitably become bored and won’t be able to keep still – their antics only serve to distract their mothers and others from their prayer.
13 responses so far ↓
Umm Afraz // August 26, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Assalaamu Alaikum!
Masha Allah how wonderful! May Allah Bless you and your family, and accept your ‘amal and forgive your sins..Aameen!
Where I go to pray, children are allowed, but as you said it depends on the child and his/her behavior. Last Ramadan, I took Afraz to the masjid with me, since he was just 5 months old..so he would just stay put..but now, I dont think I can take him..I havent tried it yet, Insha Allah will try it for a day and see..if he seems fine, then Insha Allah I would continue to attend in masjid, or else, it would be at home Insha Allah.
Ines // August 26, 2009 at 5:20 pm
I wouldn’t dream of taking my children to such long prayers in the masjid…then again I guess it all depends on the little ones behaviour. Having said that it is somtimes the mothers who pose the problem by not disciplining their children and/or ignoring them ….
Please sis, next time you go make du’a for me
um almujahid // August 26, 2009 at 7:27 pm
assalamu alaykum
oh masha’Allah!
Yes, kids are allowed at our local masjid but I would never take my son there…. he would get bored after a while and then… HELP!
masha’Allah!!
khanserai // August 26, 2009 at 9:02 pm
assalamu alaykum,
our masjid in VA has two sections- one for adults (+any kids old enough to stay through taraweeh) and second section for families (with young kids). They also have babysitting available & an area for youth – basically something for everyone so kids enjoy going to the masjid and adults can take part in prayer without worry.
The Ruling Numerator // August 27, 2009 at 1:02 am
A belated Ramadaan Mubaarak to you.
I believe one takes kids along since they don’t have anywhere to put them. If the children are old enough to be left alone, they’re usually old enough to fast and pray in the Jama’ah. So the little ones, who cannot be left alone, are taken along.
Br00ke // August 27, 2009 at 1:42 am
I just finished posting a rant about this from the article in Arab News today, tis the season
Khanserai–Your masjid sounds wonderful masha Allah, may Allah reward that brilliant and sensitive person(s) who designed it, ameen!
Umm Aaminah // August 27, 2009 at 1:48 am
A’salaamu alaikum and Ramadhan mubarak! Children are allowed at our masjid for taraweeh but we provide babysitting. Alhamdulillah we are not a very large community but growing insha’Allah. We have maybe 100 to 150 each night. We also have nightly iftars as there are many students in the area and also converts (like myself) without Muslim family around.
Some people want to take their children into prayer with them; if they can sit still for 8 rakat it is fine but they have to go if they are unruly.
In our community this works best because all Muslims should have chance to be with other Muslims during Ramadan and babysitting makes it doable.
On a personal note, my daughter Aami is now 14 mo old and I would NOT take her.
She is too active; we go some for iftar and I help babysit but I am unable to participate in taraweeh this year. Wa allahu alim.
Wasalaam,
Umm Aaminah
Nabila // August 27, 2009 at 4:22 pm
As-Salam aleikoum,
I have just arrived to your nice blog, mashaAllah.
Jazak Allah Khair for your good articles and thoughts you share.
InshaAllah I will be visiting you.
Ramadan Kareem
Nabila
carimah // August 28, 2009 at 4:39 pm
As’salaam’alaykum
I just had a chat with a neighbour about this. The masjid’s don’t have a policy, but the people are not friendly when you do it. I personality would wait for the prayers when it is in winter and hence earlier in the evening, so that the kids are not as tired. Secondly insha’Allah they are older and can have some sort of understanding of etiquette. Right now I can barely make salaah at home without feeling I am in the middle of a playground!
zak. // August 30, 2009 at 5:11 am
i think here in singapore, we’re lucky to have masjid that are ‘family-friendly’ they have set aside corners to entertain little ones with colouring and so on. with wonderful ladies who are unable to do their solah as volunteers. some masjid even have playground in the grounds. tt way parents can do their solah knowing their kids are playing safely and not disturbing them.
may more masjid be more ‘family-friendly’ insyallah.
and ramadhan kareem to you and family
Rainbow In the grey sky // August 31, 2009 at 6:37 pm
children are allowed but i was a little anoyed alst night as they became bored and distacting with exsseive movements which in turn took my attention away from my prayer! on the other hand if they was not allowed then i couldn’t attend as my DD comes with and quietly reads her book in the side when she is tierd.
UmmSalahudin // August 31, 2009 at 7:16 pm
Kids are allowed at our masjid but the imam recently made an announcement to parents about minding them during salah. It’s tough so I’ve decided to do iftar, maghrib and isha at the masjid. Then I go home and do taraweeh there. I live up the street from the masjid, though.
Oum Anas // September 2, 2009 at 4:31 am
Assalamu aleikum
The mosques around here do allow children. I’ve never been a fan of those mosques where they ban children from the prayer hall, in fact I’ve stopped going to such mosques altogether for Taraweeh (only ‘forced’ myself to go for eid prayers there, so we can go as a family). Other sisters I know feel the same.
We have the problem of slightly older children and teens slipping out during Taraweeh, vandalising and being unruly, in the streets, hence the constant announcements to parents to keep their children with them! Allah almusta’aan.
Most of my children have been going since they were babies, and they know to behave during prayers, that’s what they’re taught at home. The girls have even prayed next to me, which caused a lot of praise and a box of chocolates! That made them mighty proud, mashaa Allah.
If you need to keep them occupied, try some colouring pages, a pen and paper, or if they can read but not yet 7-10 yrs old (at which point I think they should pray), they can follow in a mushaf. And be tolerant, think of how the Prophet (sAas) prayed with children around.
I’ve held babies through prayers, and I’ve skipped some rak’aats for nursing, but I’m thankful for the child-friendly mosques, where I’ve been able to benefit from the reciting, prayers, supplications, atmosphere and sisterhood. Alhamdu lillah.