Children in the adult Saff

It is not good to line up children in the adult Saff. There are many people who make their child stand next to them in the adult Saff. It is not a good practice. According to Muswannaf Ibn Abu Shaibah, Hazrat 'Umar (Radiyallahu Anhu) would take children out of the Saff. According to a Hadith which is found in Sunan Abu Dawud, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) used to line up the Saff of children behind the Saff of adults. Some people say that this Hadith is not authentic due to the presence of a narrator named Shahr Bin Hawshab in its Sanad. But there is nothing wrong with the narrator Shahr Bin Hawshab because Imam Tirmizi himself described the Hadith that he reported as authentic. Besides Imam Tirmizi, the scholars of Hadith such as Allaamah Al-Haithami, Allaamah Bin Hajar Al-Asqalaani in his Fathul-Baari also accepted him as a correct narrator.

Thus, there is no reason to reject the Hadith which he narrated. Those who have knowledge may have a look at Meezanul-I'tidaal by Allaamah Az-Zahabi for more information.

[English version of "Zenfant dans saff grand dimoune" – Al Jamiat – Vol.5 No.9]