For all mommies out there! Dealing With Children during prayer Abu Qataadah radiyallahu anhu said: The Prophet Sallallahu alayhi wa Sallam prayed, and he was carrying Umaamah bin Zainab. So when he bowed he put her down,and when he would stand up he picked her up." (Al-Bukharee in his Saheeh, Kitaabul-Adab, "Mercy Towards The Child.") From 'Amr bin Saleem who narrated from Abu Qataadah , that the Prophet Sallallahu alayhi wa Sallam did that in Salaatul-'Asr (The 'Asr Prayer). (Kitaabul-'Iyaad (#227) 'Abdullah bin Mas'ood radiyallahu anhu said: " The Messenger of Allah Sallallahu alayhi wa Sallam was praying, so when he would prostrate, al-Hasan and al-Husyan hopped on his back. So when they wanted to prevent them (from that), he indicated to them to leave them alone. So then, when he completed his prayer, he put them both in his lap and said: "Whoever loves me, then let him love these two." (As-Saheehah of Shaykh al-Albaanee #312. Shaykh al-Anjaree mentioned regarding this hadeeth that if this is what the Prophet Sallallahu alayhi wa Sallam did during the prayer, with its great position and importance in Islaam, then imagine how the Prophet Sallallahu alayhi wa Sallam was with his children outside the prayer! 'Abdullah bin Abee Qataadah narrated from his father, Abu Qataadah, that the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu alayhi wa Sallam said: "Indeed when I stand up in the Salaah, i want to elongate it, and I hear the crying of a child so I shorten my prayer out of dislike of making things difficult upon his mother." And Shareeks bin 'Abdillah said: " I heard Anas bin Maalik saying: 'I never prayed behind any Imaam a lighter more perfect prayer than that of the Prophet Sallallahu alayhi wa Sallam. And if he heard the crying of a child he would shorten the prayer out of fear of putting his mother to trial." (Al-Bukhaaree in Kitaabul-Adhaan, Chapter "The One who Enlightens The Prayer Due To Carrying The Child". Benefit This is in reference to the first hadeeth posted, this narration shows the prophet Sallallahu alayhi wa Sallam did that in the obligatory prayer, not the voluntary prayer as some claim. likewise his carrying Umaamah, as Shaykul Islaam Ibn Tamiyyah mentions, is from those movements reported in the Sunnah that are allowed during the prayer for benefit, like his order to kill the snake and the scorpion during the Salaah, his opening the door for 'Aa'isha, his moving forward to prevent a women from passing in front of him and his grabbing the Shaytaan and choking him. (see Majmoo'atul- Fataawa 22/560). The noble Shaykh 'Ubayd al-Jabiree mentioned that it is likewise allowed for the women to move in order to prevent her child from touching something harmful, like a pot of hot food cooking on the stove (Umdatul-Fiqh class in Kuwait, cassette#1) Taken From the Book by Shayku-Islaam Muhammad bin'Abdul-Wahhab (d.1206H)