of the narrators. Indeed, there are authentic narrations that affirm that the rows of women should have been behind those of men. However, there is no authentic had?th about making the rows of children behind those of men save this weak one which is not to be taken as an evidence.
Accordingly, I believe that children may stand in the same rows of men if there is enough space. The had?th of Anas and the orphan who stood behind the prophet ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) in Sal?t is a clear cut proof on this point’. (1)
[35] Doing Sal?t in disconnected rows:
Qurrah Ibn Iyas ( - رضي الله عنه -) said: ‘At the prophet’s ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) time, we were ordered not to stand between the poles and were firmly expelled away from them’. (2)
Abdul Hamid Ibn Mahm?d said: ‘I once joined ’Anas Ibn M?lik in his Sal?t on Friday. We were forced to be next to the poles by the great number of praying muslims, we stood either infront of behind them. Anas ( - رضي الله عنه -) then said: ‘We used to move a way from the poles and avoid them at the prophet’s ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) time’. (3)
Ibn Mas‘?d ( - رضي الله عنه -) used also to order muslims not to stand between the poles. (4)
(1) “Tam?nul Minnah” (p. 284). See: “Mishk?tul Mas?b?h” (vol. 2 / p. 348).
(2) Narrated by At-Tay?lis? in “Al-Musnad” (no. 1073), Ibn Khuzaimah in “As-Sah?h” (no. 1567), Ibn M?jah in “As-Sunnan” (no. 1002), Ibn Hibban in his “Sah?h” (no. 400), Al-H?kim in “Al-Mustadrak” (vol. 1 / p. 218), and Al-Baihaq? in “As-Sunnan Al-Kubr?” ( vol. 3 / p. 104). Al-H?kim considered its chain of narrators as authentic, with which Ath-Thahabi agreed.
(3) Narrated by: Ibn Khuzaimah in his “Sah?h” (no. 1568), Ab? D?w?d in “As-Sunnan” (no. 673), At-Tirmith? in “Al-J?mi‘ ” (no. 229), Ahmad in “Al-Musnad” (no. 12366), An-Nas?’? in “Al-Mujtab?” (vol. 1 / pp. 131 - 2) and Al-H?kim in “Al-Mustadrak” (vol. 1 / no. 2100, 218). Its chain of narrators is authentic as mentioned in “Al-Fath” (vol. 1 / p. 578). At-Tirmith? judged the had?th as “good and authentic”. The had?th is narrated in “As-Silsilah As-Sah?hah” (no. 335).
(4) Narrated by: Ibn Q?sim in “Al-Mudawwanah” (vol. 1 / p. 106) and Al-Baihaq? in “As-Sunnan Al-Kubr?” (vol. 3 / p. 104).