[Q 428] Children Playing Inside Masjid, Respecting Masjid Etiquette for Kids, Permissibility of Games in Mosque

QUESTION:

Is it permissible for children to play or do activities inside the main masjid building? For example, playing catch with a ball or throwing a ball around, etc.?

ANSWER:

The Masjid is the house of Allah Almighty, and it has been built for the purpose of worship, remembrance of Allah, recitation of the Qur’an, and religious education—not for playing or recreational activities. Therefore, whether it is the main Masjid area or the fana-e-Masjid (courtyard or surrounding area that is part of the Masjid), no kind of playing is permitted in the Masjid, such as playing with a ball, running, shouting, etc. All such actions are against the etiquette and respect of the Masjid and fall under the category of desecration of the Masjid.

However, if there is an empty space outside the Masjid and fana-e-Masjid, then children may play permissible types of games there.

It should also be remembered that small children who are not able to observe the etiquettes of the Masjid, or from whom there is a risk of the Masjid becoming impure, should not be brought into the Masjid.

A Hadith from Ibn Majah states:

جنبوا مساجدكم صبيانكم ومجانينكم

Translation: Keep your Masjids away from your children and the insane.

(Sunan Ibn Majah, Kitab al-Masajid, Hadith 750)

Answered by: Mubashir Attari (AskMufti Scholar)
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated answer
Date: 16th July 2025.