More Baby, Less Shark. Planning for children in the Masjid
If you are not a parent , or have the kind of amnesia that parents sometimes develop when their children grow up , then you might assume that not having children in the Mosque is actually a solution to the Baby-Shark-induced attention .
The inconvenient ( and often sticky ) truth is that not having children in the mosque is a serious problem , not a solution . Not having children in the mosque means a whole generation of the Muslim community growing up outside the Muslim community .
Limiting the presence of children and prioritizing the mosque to fully formed , quietly attentive , and spiritually disciplined attendees like adults is a bit like limiting triathletes to health club membership . You are already fit . So, can we let someone else use the treadmill , even if they don't use it as well as you can ?
The mosque is the center of the community, all Muslims, not a shrine for reverent silence . For a more detailed discussion on this , please see this excellent Soundvision article , Children in the Mosque , Making Space for Our Future .
For suggestions on how to help your children enjoy the mosque without bringing their children to tears , I offer the following suggestions :
Come prepared
Rather than assuming that nothing will entertain your child other than the carpet and how many strange faces they can spot in bilaterally symmetrical patterns , bring them something to play with . One way to do this is to make your child a special bag for the mosque .
Reusable water bottle . Choose a bottle from which your child can drink independently , it is desirable that it does not spill or spill on the carpet of the mosque . No one appreciates wet prostration
A nut-free snack . If you think it's too difficult to care for people with life-threatening allergies , consider how difficult it is to bury a child who dies of anaphylaxis . Children share snacks in the mosque , and that's fine as long as no one dies .
A small , quiet toy . The dollar store can be extremely helpful in keeping your inventory fresh and financially feasible . Please be aware of the risk of swallowing as your child will likely share the toy with others . One hopes .
Sweater or blanket . Sitting in a ventilated building for a long time can make anyone cold .
Art supplies . Pack pencils , crayons , or markers IF you feel your child may refrain from drawing on the walls , or allowing other , younger children to do so . Magic erasers do not work on the prayer rug .
Critically - and I mean critically - do not allow your children access to the special mosque bag unless they are in the mosque . The last thing you want is for your child to get bored with its content before they even get to prayer . Keeping this bag out of your child's reach will help keep its contents fresh and interesting for longer .
Non-parental tip . Keep allergen-free candies in your pocket . Reward children who sit nicely ( with parental permission ) and you've killed two birds with one stone .
You have helped the child establish a happy memory and relationship with the mosque .
Children make less noise with lollipops in their mouths .
Do not pack .
Balls : Even the small ones , even for small children . They will take your child's ball and they will play with it because that is what balls are for . Also consider possible damage to light fixtures , ceiling fans , audio/video equipment , and the goodwill of people who have been hit , come down ,or kicked in the shins . The mosque is not just a place to play ball , even if the floor is green and there are lines on it
Toy guns , Toy weapons . It should go without saying . And yet, I have seen stun guns , foam swords , and toy guns in the mosque . Apart from the basic internal etiquette of fighting with a sword , nor firing projectiles in a house of worship , please be sensitive . No one wants to see weapons in his mosque
Non-parental tip . If you see a child on a tablet , do not lecture their parents . As a special needs parent , there are times when I also let my autistic son sit on the tablet to prevent meltdowns or just try to get 15 more minutes than him so I can finish attending class . Don't automatically assume laziness or incompetence on behalf of parents whose children you see on an electronic device .
A reward for success in this life and the next
You appear in the mosque because you hope for a reward from Allah . As an adult , you can defer the satisfaction of this gift until after your death . Your children , however, do no
Plan for failure
Children do not walk the first time they try . They also won't sit well the first time you ask for it . Decide what your exact plan is if you have to retreat & regroup for another day .