FatwaFederal TerritoriesPrayer (Salah)
AL-KAFI #1996: HUKUM SEORANG IBU MENJADI IMAM KEPADA ANAK LELAKI
Is it valid for a mother to lead her 9-year-old son in congregational prayer at home?
Short answer
A mother may not validly lead her son once he has reached the age of discernment (mumayyiz), around 6 or 7 years and above.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Al-Kafi li al-Fatawi
- Topic
- Prayer (Salah)
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
A mother may not validly lead her son once he has reached the age of discernment (mumayyiz), around 6 or 7 years and above. Shafi'i jurists agree that a male, whether adult or discerning child, cannot validly follow a female imam. Conversely, a discerning boy who recites the Quran well is qualified to lead his mother. Daughters may follow their mother in prayer.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Hukum ibu menjadi imam kepada anak-anak lelakinya yang telah mencapai usia mumayyiz iaitu 6 atau 7 tahun adalah tidak sah.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “AL-KAFI #1996: HUKUM SEORANG IBU MENJADI IMAM KEPADA ANAK LELAKI”, 26 July 2024. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/al-kafi-li-al-fatawi/5964-al-kafi-1996-hukum-seorang-ibu-menjadi-imam-kepada-anak-lelaki. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/mother-leading-son-in-congregational-prayer/