Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalaam alaikum,

I have a 15 months child and i and my husband only stay in our house. My husband goes away in the morning for work and comes in the evening. in the day i am with my child alone.

1. During the day whenever i offer namaz my child sits and plays nearby, but sometimes comes in front and sits in the place of sazda. so i move him aside and continue with the namaz. please let me know is it allowed during prayer, or me doing such will break my namaz.

2. Also, whenever my child passes urine/motion and i clean him when i am in wuzu, will my wudu be broken or can i continue with the wudu? 

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Answer:

Infant child wudu prayer

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: …..during the day whenever i offer namaz my child sits and plays nearby,but sometimes comes in front and sits in the place of sazda.so i move him aside and continue with the namaz. please let me know is it allowed during prayer,or me doing such will break my namaz.
Abu Qatadah reports that the Prophet (saws) was offering his ‘fajr’ prayer and (the infant) Umamah bint Zainab was on his neck [shoulder]. When he (saws) performed ruku', he (saws) put her down, and when he (saws) got up from his sajdah, he (saws) would place her back on his neck.

Related by Ahmad and Nasa'i.

Abdullah ibn Shidad relates that his father said: "The Messenger of Allah (saws) came to us either during the noon or afternoon prayers and he was carrying (his grandchild) Hassan (r.a.) or Hussain (r.a.). The Prophet proceeded to the front and put him down and made the ‘takbir’ for the salah. During the salah, he (saws) made a long sajdah. I raised my head and saw the child (sitting or resting) on the back of the Messenger of Allah (saws) while he was in sajdah. I returned to my sajdah. When the Messenger of Allah (saws) finished the salah, his companions said to him: 'O Messenger of Allah (saws), you prostrated during your salah so long that we suspected you were thinking about some matter or you were receiving some revelation.' The Prophet (saws) said: 'None of that happened but my (grand)son was resting (on my back) and I hated to rush him until he had finished what he desired."'

Related by Ahmad, an-Nasa'i, and al-Hakim.

In light of the above guidance of the Messenger of Allah (saws) there is absolutely no harm if a believer picks up or holds a child while performing their prayers.

Thus if your child happens to sit or play around you while you are in your state of prayer, there is absolutely no harm if you move it a little to perform your sajdah or other rites of prayer, or even hold it in your arms while performing the prayer.

Your Question:….also,whenever my child passes urine/motion and i clean him when i am in wuzu,will my wudu be broken or can i continue with the wudu? 

Umm Qais came to the Messenger of Allah (saws) with her unweaned son. After a while, the baby urinated in the Prophet's (saws) lap. The Prophet (saws) called for some water, which he sprinkled over his clothes, and did not give them a complete washing.

Related by Bukhari and Muslim.

If a baby’s vomit or stools or urine do touch a parent or a person, it does not effect the validity of their wudu or state of purity. The person should simply wash the part of the clothes or body where these impurities might have touched, and make themselves available for prayer.

The scholars in Islam are of the opinion that the sprinkling of pure water is sufficient as long as the infant is still nursing. If the infant eats solid food, its urine must be washed from the parts of the clothes and/or body where the impurities might have touched; but in all cases the wudu itself of the person who is touched by the baby’s impurities neither breaks nor become invalid.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan