DOHA: The decision by the management of the Imam Mohammad bin Abdul Wahab Mosque to ban children from evening prayers has evoked mixed reactions from many here who have also called for a review.
Many people have asked the management of the mosque, also known as the State Mosque, for a review saying that the decision would make it difficult for women to attend evening prayers.
The head of the management of the mosque, Sheikh Malallah bin Abdurrahman Al Jabar, announced on Saturday that children under the age of seven will be banned from entering the mosque during Isha (evening prayers) and Taraweeh (late evening prayers).
He asked worshippers in both men and women prayer areas to comply with the new rule, saying that the decision was taken after receiving many complaints against children, who worshippers said had turned the mosque into a play area.
Many, including local clerics, have said that this decision would affect women the most as they cannot leave their children alone at home.
“The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had reduced the time of the prayer when he heard the children crying in the mosque. He did not stop people from bringing children to the mosque because it disturbs worshippers,” a local cleric, who did not want to be identified, said.
Some said that if other mosques in the country begin to follow the new rule it would become difficult for women with young children to go to mosques at all.
“Where will these women with young children go? It’s only during Ramadan that most women go to the mosque for evening prayers and now they won’t be able to pray with other women,” said Ayesha Khan.
Al Jabor, meanwhile, said that people have to follow certain rules when visiting mosques that are obligatory on every Muslim, Al Sharq reported yesterday.
Some others, on the other hand, praised the decision saying that the situation had gone ‘out of control’ with children running around in the mosque without showing any respect for worshippers.
“I’ve seen some young children deliberately disturbing worshipers by making faces, running around, and in some cases even taking things out of the their pockets when someone is praying,” said Yusuf Ismail.
The Peninsula
