8/19. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 711 — Child in Prayer
Bringing Children Into The Masjid
Hadith About Carrying a Child During Prayer
Sunan an-Nasai : 711
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 711
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ سُلَيْمٍ الزُّرَقِيِّ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا قَتَادَةَ، يَقُولُ بَيْنَا نَحْنُ جُلُوسٌ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ إِذْ خَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَحْمِلُ أُمَامَةَ بِنْتَ أَبِي الْعَاصِ بْنِ الرَّبِيعِ وَأُمُّهَا زَيْنَبُ بِنْتُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهِيَ صَبِيَّةٌ يَحْمِلُهَا فَصَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهِيَ عَلَى عَاتِقِهِ يَضَعُهَا إِذَا رَكَعَ وَيُعِيدُهَا إِذَا قَامَ حَتَّى قَضَى صَلاَتَهُ يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ بِهَا .
Abu Qatadah Narrated from:
While we were sitting in the Masjid. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out to us carrying Umamah bint Abi Al-'As bin Ar-Rabi', whose mother was Zainab, the daughter of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). She was a little girl and he was carrying her. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed with her on his shoulder, putting her down when he bowed and picking her up again when he stood up, until he completed his prayer.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 711In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 24English translation : Vol. 1, Book 8, Hadith 712
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 711
This hadith about carrying a child in prayer shows a gentle scene in the Masjid. Abu Qatadah narrated that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم came out carrying Umamah bint Abi Al-As, the daughter of Zainab. She was a little girl, and he prayed while she was on his shoulder. When he bowed, he put her down, and when he stood up, he picked her up again. He continued this until he completed the prayer. The hadith is often searched as Prophet prayed while carrying Umamah. In this wording, the focus is on what he did during the prayer, step by step, without extra explanation.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم prayed while carrying a little girl in this report.
- He put her down when bowing and lifted her when standing.
- The action shows gentleness while still completing prayer.
- The narration gives a clear description of movement during prayer.
