[Q 528] Praying While Caring for Baby

QUESTION:

If a mother needs to pray and her baby won’t settle, can she
1. Recite out loud for the baby to hear
2. Make eye contact with her baby and read whilst looking at the baby
3. Pick the child up and pray at the same time

ANSWER:

1. Reciting out loud for the baby to hear:

If a woman is alone, or only Mahram (mahram – permanently unmarriageable relatives) are present around her, or if non-Mahram (ghair-mahram – those whom marriage is permissible with) are present but she recites in such a low voice that they cannot hear her, then she may recite audibly in Jahri Salah (jahri salah – prayers in which recitation is audible). However, in the presence of non-Mahram men, reciting in a voice that reaches them is prohibited because it can become a cause of fitnah (fitnah – temptation/trial).

As for Siri Salah (siri salah – prayers in which recitation is silent), even if she is alone, she is not permitted to recite aloud.

Allamah Ibn ‘Abidin al-Shami رضي الله تعالى عنه states:

“ولا ‌تجهر ‌في ‌الجهرية”

Translation: “A woman should not recite loudly in Jahri prayers.”
(Since reciting loudly is not permitted even in Jahri prayers, then it is more strictly not permitted in Siri prayers.)

(Radd al-Muhtar ma‘a al-Durr al-Mukhtar, Volume 2, Page 259, printed in Quetta)

Allamah Badr al-Din ‘Ayni رضي الله تعالى عنه states:

“لأن صوتها فتنة ولهذا منعت من الأذان والإمامة والجهر بالقراءة في الصلاة”

Translation: “Because her voice is a source of fitnah, therefore she has been prevented from giving the Adhan, leading the prayer, and reciting aloud in Salah.”

(‘Umdat al-Qari Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Page 279, Dar Ihya’ al-Turath al-‘Arabi, Beirut)

If a woman is alone or among her Mahram relatives, she may recite aloud. A similar ruling is that it is permissible for a woman to recite Na‘at (na‘at – poetry in praise of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) in front of her Mahram relatives. The jurists have declared a woman’s Na‘at recitation impermissible only when her voice reaches non-Mahram men, because that then becomes a source of fitnah.

Thus, A‘la Hazrat رضي الله تعالى عنه was asked about women who hold gatherings in such a loud voice that it can be heard outside. He replied that this is impermissible, because a woman’s voice is also part of what must be concealed, and a woman’s melodious voice being heard by strangers is a source of fitnah.

(Fatawa Razawiyyah, Volume 22, Page 240, Raza Foundation, Lahore)

2. Making eye contact with the baby while praying:

Turning the eyes to look around without turning the face is Makruh Tanzihi (makruh tanzihi – mildly disliked) and an undesirable act. However, if there is a valid reason, such as ensuring the child’s safety or comforting the child, then there is no harm in doing so, and it does not affect the validity of the Salah.

It is mentioned in Fatawa ‘Alamgiri:

“ويكره ‌أن ‌يلتفت يمنة أو يسرة بأن يحول بعض وجهه عن القبلة فأما أن ينظر بمؤق عينه ولا يحول وجهه فلا بأس به، كذا في فتاوى قاضي خان. ‌ويكره أن يرفع بصره إلى السماء”

(Fatawa ‘Alamgiri, Volume 1, Page 106)

In Bahar-e-Shari‘at it is stated:

“Turning the face to look around is Makruh Tahrimi (makruh tahrimi – severely disliked), whether the entire face is turned or part of it. If the face is not turned and one looks around with only the corner of the eyes without need, it is Makruh Tanzihi. If it happens rarely for a valid reason, then there is no harm at all. Raising the gaze towards the sky is also Makruh Tahrimi.”

(Bahar-e-Shari‘at, Volume 1, Page 626, Maktabatul Madinah)

3. Picking up the child and praying at the same time:

A child should not be held in the arms while praying. If, by lifting the child, ‘Amal Kathir (amal kathir – excessive movement) occurs, then the Salah will become invalid. If ‘Amal Kathir does not occur, the Salah will not be invalid; however, doing so without necessity is Makruh. If there is a genuine need, then permission may be given while observing the other relevant rulings of Salah.

Answered by: Mubashir Attari (AskMufti Scholar)
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated answer
Date: 29th January 2026