Saudi Gazette report MADINAH — The director general of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs' Madinah branch advised mothers with young children to pray Taraweeh at home, rather than have their children distract other worshipers, according to Al-Madinah newspaper. Mohamed Khatari explained that regular visits to the mosque are important for the religious conditioning of children. Yet, he said, parents should supervise their children. If they know that their children will distract other worshipers, they should not let them go to Taraweeh prayers, he said. Azeeza Al-Saleh, a resident of Madinah, said many children think of the mosque as a playing area. She suggested that every neighborhood or mosque have a nursery, or that each mosque hires a supervisor for the children. Waad Al-Saeed, another Madinah resident, said a mother should pray at home if she cannot control her young children. Young children distract worshipers with their running, Al-Saeed said. She said this is especially true in small neighborhood mosques. Laila Al-Qarafi suggested the use of posters to remind worshipers of the Prophetic tradition that says: “Let your children avoid going to the mosque.” She added that taking children to the mosque for Taraweeh hurts both the mosque and the worshipers. She complained that some mothers get angry and impolite when asked not to bring their children. Isra, Sarah and Asma Al-Bouq, visitors to Madinah, expressed their surprise at the disorder in Madinah's mosques. Some mothers, they said, fail to convey to their children the importance of preserving the sanctity of the mosque. Some children litter the mosque, they added, and recommended the hiring of supervisors to oversee the children while their mothers pray.
