Hadith explaining where children should stand in salah

Question

Is there any Hadith indicating as to where children should stand in salah with jama’ah. Should they stand among the adults or make a separate row behind the adults?

Answer

Sayyiduna Abu Malik Al Ash’ari (radiyallahu ‘anhu) once said ‘Should I not inform you of the salah of Nabi (sallalahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)? He then went on to say, Nabi (sallalahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) started the salah, the men formed their rows and the youngsters formed their rows behind the men. Then Nabi (sallalahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) performed the rest of the salah. Abu Malik Al Ash’ari (radiyallahu)  went on describing the salah of Nabi (sallalahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). After completing the salah, Rasulullah (sallalahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, this is how my ummah should perform their salah.

(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith: 677. Chapter on the position of the children’s row)

The above Hadith illustrates that children should form their own row behind the men, just as the fuqaha have stated.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar

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التخريج من المصادر العربية

سنن أبي داود (٦٧٧، باب مقام الصبيان من الصف): حدثنا عيسى بن شاذان، حدثنا عياش الرقام، حدثنا عبد الأعلى، حدثنا قرة بن خالد، حدثنا بديل، حدثنا شهر بن حوشب، عن عبد الرحمن بن غنم، قال: قال أبو مالك الأشعري: ألا أحدثكم بصلاة النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «فأقام الصلاة، وصف الرجال وصف خلفهم الغلمان، ثم صلى بهم فذكر صلاته»، ثم قال: «هكذا صلاة – قال عبد الأعلى: لا أحسبه إلا قال: صلاة أمتي».