Osama Al-Sebai

Makkah Daily

 

Several writers have dealt with the issue of undesirable activities taking place inside the Prophet’s Mosque and its courtyards in Madinah, especially the area set aside for women. Accompanied by my wife, I visited the holy mosque during the last Haj holidays.



While entering the mosque and while leaving it, I witnessed some negative practices, which the officials in charge of the mosque should address. Much to the annoyance of worshippers, children make noises and cry while prayer is going on.



Sometimes, the crying of small children persists throughout the time of prayer which disturbs worshippers both inside and outside the mosque, causing them to lose their concentration.



Apart from these children, their mothers are also involved in creating a disturbance. It is common to see groups of women gathered together inside the mosque or in its courtyard engaging in conversation before and after prayers. They also exchange tea, coffee, pastries and sweets.



At times their voices are loud while their children play and make noise as if they were in a playground. Apparently, there is nobody responsible for preventing this behavior.



This mostly happens from the time of evening prayers until morning prayers, and it takes place while worshippers are engaged in performing prayers or in reciting the Holy Qur’an or are immersed in supplication.



It is evident that it is difficult to stop children, especially breastfeeding infants, from crying, so the only way to put an end to this problem is to keep the children away from the mosque and its courtyards. For this, I suggest that there should be restrictions placed on the entry of children up to the age of five to the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque.



There should be female staff to monitor this and to prevent children from playing or making noise.

Child care centers should be set up adjacent to the mosque so that mothers can  pray together with other worshippers in a calm and serene atmosphere.



These centers can charge parents a nominal fee for taking care of their children. I ask the officials of the Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, especially its President Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais to look into this important matter.