Mother Must Know! Can You Pray While Carrying a Child When There is No One to Help?

Illustration of whether it is permissible to pray while carrying a child (freepik)

YOGYAKARTA - Can you pray while carrying a child, often asked by parents, especially when the little one is fussy at prayer time. Is the prayer still valid according to the sharia?

This situation is very real. Sometimes no one helps. The child cries, while the prayer continues. Then, what is the actual legal basis?

Reported by VOI from the NU Online and Pondok Pesantren Sidogiri websites, the following are some of the concerns:

The Law of Praying While Carrying a Child

In general, carrying or carrying a child while praying is allowed. Thus, your prayer remains valid as long as there is no movement that cancels it.

However, what needs to be considered is the limit of movement. Three consecutive movements can cancel it. One hard movement can also have an effect. So, you still have to be calm and controlled. The short answer: it is allowed and legal, with certain conditions.

Hadis Nabi Menggendong Anak Saat Shalat

The ability to carry a child while praying is based on a sahih hadith. It was narrated from Abu Qatadah al-Anshari that the Prophet Muhammad prayed while carrying his grandson, Umamah binti Zainab and Abu al-'Ash bin Rabi'ah.

In the history it is mentioned that when he was bowing, he put the child down. When he stood up, he carried him back. This hadith is narrated in various reliable hadith books.

The meaning is clear. The Prophet did it directly. This is not just a theory of fiqh. This practice shows the existence of flexibility in Islam. Especially in conditions that indeed require it.

Imam Syafi'i's Affirmation

Meanwhile, Imam Syafi'i in his Musnad emphasized that the hadith is a valid evidence for the prayer of a person who carries a human, animal, or other than the two.

He explained that light actions do not cancel prayers. Small movements that are not continuous are still tolerated.

This view is the basis of the Shafi'i school. Both for fardhu and sunnah prayers. Both for the imam, the makmum, and the person who prays alone. So, in the perspective of the Shafi'i school, this practice has a strong foundation.

Two Important Conditions for Prayer to Remain Valid

Even though it is allowed, there are two important things that must be considered, including the following:

The condition of the child must be pure.

The child being carried must not be in a state of impurity. Both the body and the clothes must be clean.

If it is believed that the child carries filth, for example, has not been circumcised and the part that must be cleaned is still contaminated, then carrying it can invalidate the prayer. Because legally, a person who prays means carrying filth.

However, some scholars argue that the inner part of the skin that must be circumcised does not include the outer member. Therefore, it is not obligatory to purify. According to this opinion, the prayer is still valid.

Here there is indeed a difference of opinion. Therefore, caution is still recommended. It is different if the child only touches without being carried. Touch alone does not invalidate prayer, even if the child carries dirt.

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Then it will be different if the child has been circumcised or there is no dirt on his clothes. In this condition, there is no problem.

The Movement is Not Excessive

It should be noted that small movements do not cancel prayers. Carrying, holding, or putting a child includes light movements as long as they are not repeated continuously.

If the movement occurs several times but is separate and not consecutive, the prayer is still valid. What cancels it is the many and continuous movements.

The reality is, small children are difficult to keep quiet. However, as long as parents maintain calm and do not make excessive movements, the prayer is still valid.

From the explanation above, it can be concluded that carrying a child while praying is permissible. This practice has a strong basis from the hadith of the Prophet. The conditions are clear, namely the child is in a state of purity and the movement is not excessive.

So, is it permissible to pray while carrying a child? Islam does not burden parents. Taking care of children is a trust. Prayer is also a duty. The two can go hand in hand, without having to sacrifice each other.