Children playing with the Prophet(SAW) while he(SAW) was praying

Question

I read in one hadith that whilst the Prophet(SAW) was praying, 2 children came and jumped on his back, and he(SAW) allowed them to play on his back until they had enough fun. Firstly, is the salaat still valid if this occurs nowadays because dont you have to have full concentration whilst praying, and if something like this happened nowadays, wouldnt the person making salaat and the people following him be distracted?? Please clarify for me.Jazakallah

Moulana Muhammad ibn Moulana Haroon Abbassommar · Accepted Answer

Concentration in Salaat is a requisite for its perfection and not its validity. Even though the Musallees (those performing Salaat) may be distracted, their Salaat cannot be regarded as invalid.

However, if the Musallee has to carry the child and place him/her on the ground and later pick him up and put him on his shoulder - as is the case in the Hadith in question - then if 'Amaal-e-Kathir' takes place (i.e. if while doing so, the Musallee is seen by someone else and that the onlooker will regard the Musallee as out of Salaat, i.e. under normal circumstances, such an act is only done by one out of Salaat, e.g. he uses both hands / turns his head sideways to watch the child as he is placing it down, etc.) then the Salaat will break.

Moreover, the Ulama have explained that this was done by Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) with very little action (no Amal-e-Katir) taking place, or this was done before the law of Amal-e-Kathir was introduced. (Mirqaat vol.3 pg.8)

and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Moulana Muhammad ibn Moulana Haroon Abbassommar
FACULTY OF SPECIALTY IN HADITH

CHECKED AND APPROVED CORRECT: Mufti Ebrahim Desai

Question

Answer

Related fatawa