KUALA LUMPUR: Parents are encouraged to bring their children to the Mosque as part of efforts to encourage more Muslims to frequent the place of worship, but they should ensure that their children do not disturb others there.
Pahang Mufti, Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Rahman Osman, said that for children who are Mumayyiz (children or teenagers who can differentiate between positive and negative, right and wrong) can take part in congregational prayers, whereas younger children should be placed further from the prayer area so that the noise they may make does not disturb those who are praying.
"Therefore it is the parents responsibility to ensure that their children do not make too much noise, so much so that it disrupts prayers and disturbs those who are praying," he told Berita Harian.
He said that in Islam when men and women are performing prayers, the children can be placed in the area behind where the men are praying.
Abdul Rahman explained that this is so that the women can monitor the children even when prayers are being performed.
"However, because the women's 'Saf' (The straight line for muslims to stand in line to perform prayers) in the Mosque is quite far behind, it is difficult for them to monitor and keep an eye on the children who are further ahead just behind where the men pray.
"If there are no curtains for 'Saf', then it would be easier for the women to monitor and keep an eye on their children and this would be up to the discretion of the Mosque authority," he said.
Abdul Rahman added that for big Mosques, the Mosque authority can provide a special area like a children's zone which could be slightly further away from where prayers are performed so that the children can play and therefore not be a distraction or cause disruption for those who are praying.
However, he said that once again this goes back to the parents themselves, and if they feel that their children are difficult to control, then they should not bring their children to the Mosque.
"But if the parents feel that their children are disciplined enough and will not be naughty or mischievous, then we encourage them to bring their hildren," he said.
Yesterday it was reported that some women at the Puncak Alam Mosque in Kuala Selangor claimed that they were not allowed to pray in the Mosque's main prayer hall because they brought their children with them.
The women claimed that the Mosque's committee instructed them to leave the main prayer hall during Terawih prayers and informed that the prayer area was only for adults.
