Wednesday, 30 July 2025

Young Children Attending Congregational Prayer without Ablution

 

Question: What is the ruling on little girls attending congregational prayer [with men]? Do they cut off the row?

Answer:  Certainly, they cut off the row. A small boy cuts off the row.  It is not proper for a small boy who does not have ablution to stand between people. For you to bring your son [to the mosque] who does not have ablution and have him stand beside you in the row, this is not permissible. However, if you have him stand beside you at the edge or terminal point of the row, then he does not cut off the row. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon him) said in Sunan Abee Daawood, “Whoever connects a row, Allaah will connect him (with His mercy), and whoever cuts off a row, Allaah will cut him off (from His mercy).”

The reality of bringing children to the mosques is a critical issue, and there is praiseworthy and blameworthy aspect concerning it. People have different temperaments, and the furthest of people from justice in this is the father who deprives his children of prayer. If he sees the children, he is afflicted with hatred within himself and becomes upset; and if he sees a defect in them, he goes to extremes in explaining the defect, because he is not at ease in the first place.

The most just person regarding the ruling on the prayer of children in the mosques and bringing them is the father who is keen on his children and their prayer, and who is keen on bringing them to the mosque… but the father must take care of his child not to cut off the row, so he should not make him stand in the row and cut off the row. If a child is in a state of ablution and knows how to pray, what is desirable is that he should be placed at the edges of the row. Some children pray behind the Imam, so the parent should pay attention.

As regards bringing a little girl to the mosque, certainly, she cuts of the row. If a father brings her to the mosque, she should not be in the row. There is nothing wrong with the father saying to his son, ‘You, my son, are not in a state of ablution, so do not stand in the row. Stay away from people. However, whenever you are in a state of ablution, stand in the row.’

The most miserable person who brings children to the mosque is the man whose wife says to him: ‘Take the child to the mosque and relieve us of him.’ This is the most miserable of people because he disturbs the worshippers, tires them out and worries them for the sake of his wife who sits at home. And Allaah knows what she does. This is the most miserable of people.

The basic principle when bringing a child [to the mosque] is that the intention should be good, and that the father teaches his child the Islamic rulings.

Source: Majlis Fataawaa al-Jumu’ah, 15/07/2016, by Shaykh Mashhoor Ibn Hasan Aal Salmaan, transl. by Abdus-Samee Abdus-Salaam.

Wednesday, 23 July 2025

Whoever Perfects Three Levels Has Succeeded

 

Imaam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (may have mercy on him)

Patience in relation to Faith is like the head to the body; and it is of three types:

Patience in performing the obligations of Allah without neglecting them, patience in refraining from His prohibitions without indulging in them and patience regarding His preordainment and decrees without being displeased with them. Whoever perfects these three levels has achieved patience and the happiness and bliss of this world and the Hereafter. Success and victory in this world and in the Hereafter cannot be attained by anyone except [by crossing] through the bridge of patience just as no one can get to Paradise without crossing the Siraat Bridge.

‘Umar bin Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “We found the best of our lives through patience.”

If you reflect over the levels of perfection acquired in the world, you will notice that they are all linked to patience. And if you contemplate the shortcomings for which the individual is blamed and which falls under his ability, you will notice that they are entirely due to lack of patience. Therefore, courage, chastity, generosity and altruism are all traits that stem from patience.

Source: Zaad al-Ma‘aad fee Hady Khayr al-‘Ibaad, by Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah; transl. by Abdus-Samee Abdus-Salaam

Monday, 24 February 2025

It Is either For Allaah or Shaytaan

 

Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

Everything a person uses for the sake of Allah, He will protect him from the evil of utilizing it for himself and for the devil; and anything he does not use for the sake of Allah, he will surely use it for himself and for his desires. So if knowledge is not for Allah’s sake, then it will be for one’s soul and desires; and if an action is not for Allah’s sake, then it will be for show off and hypocrisy. Likewise, if wealth is not spent in obedience to Allah, it will be spent in obedience to the devil and base desires; and if prestige is not used for Allah’s sake, its possessor will use it for his desires and fortunes.

If strength is not employed in carrying out the order of Allah, it will be employed in His disobedience. Whoever accustoms his soul to working for Allah’s sake, there will be nothing more difficult for him than working for other than Allah; and whoever accustoms his soul to working for his desires and fortune, nothing will be more burdensome to him than sincerity and working for the sake of Allah. This is true regarding all forms of actions. Nothing is more burdensome to the one who spends for Allah’s sake than spending for the sake of others; likewise the converse.

Source: Uddah as-Saabireen wa Dhakheerah ash-Shaakireen by Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah; translated by Abdus-Samee Abdus-Salaam