Preventing a small child from passing infront of the worshipper

Reference: al-Muntaqaa min Fataawa Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaan v5 p32 no.40

Question: What is the ruling regarding a small child under the age of 2 years passing infront of the one praying; is it imperative that he is prevented and not allowed to do so?

Response: Yes, it is not permissible to leave a young child to pass infront of the one praying, and the child is not [accountable for the] sin because he has not [reached the age where he is] responsible. However, whoever is beside the one praying is sinful if he is able to prevent him from doing so because the Prophet ﷺ ordered that the passerby be prevented from passing infront of the one praying [transmitted by al-Bukhaaree no.509 and Muslim no.505].


Translation originally published on 19 October, 2005.

Graduate of the Islaamic University of Madeenah, having completed the Arabic Language programme at the Institute of Arabic Language before progressing to the Faculty of Sharee'ah, from which he graduated in 2004.

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