REALITY______________________________________________________________________
Let Us Not Shhhhhh Our Children
SHHHH
I don’t care…
The Messenger of Allah came out to us for one of the two later
prayers [Thuhr or Asr], carrying Hasan or Hussein. The
Prophet then came to the front and put him down, said Takbir
for the prayer and commenced praying. During the prayer, he
performed a very long prostration, so I raised my head and
there was the child, on the back of the Messenger of Allah,
who was in prostration. I then returned to my prostration.
When the Messenger of Allah had offered the prayer, the
people said: “O Messenger of Allah! In the middle of your
prayer, you performed prostration and lengthened it so much
that we thought either something had happened or that you
were receiving revelation!” He said: “Neither was the case.
Actually, my grandson made me his mount, and I did not want
to hurry him until he had satisfied his wish". (Reported by
Nasaa'i, Ibn Asaakir, and Haakim).
The Messenger of Allah would pray holding Umaamah bint
Zaynab bint Rasoolillaah. He would put her down when he
prostrated, and then pick her up again when he stood up.
(Reported by Bukhari and Muslim).
The Prophet said: “When I stand for prayer, I intend to
prolong it, but on hearing the cries of a child, I cut it short, as
I dislike to trouble the child's mother". (Reported by
Bukhari).
I often find such negative comments aimed at parents with
children, especially in relation to having children attend
mosque and when traveling. Mothers have been told to leave
their children at home because they make too much noise or
because they cry at the mosque. Another woman actually had
the audacity to shhhh a child. Then another woman offers
her unsolicited advice – “Rather take him outside”. I have
such immense issues with this attitude. Firstly, this coming
from other women is utterly shocking and so unlike what
Islam teaches through Prophet Muhammad SAW. The
mosque is meant to be a place of community. A place
wherein people are brought closer together. In a community
there is meant to be support. When a mother struggles, go
over and offer constructive advice or help. Do not shoot her
down. No person tells their child to misbehave. Secondly, it
is our constitutional right to attend functions, prayers, and
any other offerings at a religious institution. We have
freedom of religion in South Africa and we should not allow
anyone to strip us of that right. When you travel to the holy
land you will find parents with children in abundance. During
the time of salaah you will see children running around and
crying at the top of the voices.
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Yet, nobody stops them. They are left to simply be,
because that was a Sunnah practice. Children were
welcomed into mosques during the time of our
Prophet SAW. If we prevent children from coming to
the mosque, then we are stopping them from learning
about the masjid from a young age. If we wish for
subsequent generations to be actively involved, then
we need to create this space. Then the story of travel.
So often I hear people complain about having a crying
child on an aeroplane. Firstly, the child has been paid
for so they have every right to fly. Secondly, no parent
wants their child to cry. Travel is tough and so much
harder with children. Show some compassion .
Compassion is lacking. If we want Allah’s Mercy, then
we need to show mercy to his creation. Jareer ibn
Abdullah reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace
and blessings be upon him, said, “Allah will not be
merciful to those who are not merciful to the people.”
(Sahih Bukhari 6941)
May we all reflect on our actions and strive to
please Allah only.
Maryam Rumaney
www.mbrumaney.co