Can women pray Tarawih behind an immature child

CategoriesSalaah [864]

Fatwa ID: 02477

Answered by: Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Question:

Can women pray Tarawih with Jammah behind a minor boy (Mahram), who is Quran hafiz? 

Answer

بسم الله الرحمن الرحي

In the Hanafi Fiqh, it is not valid for an adult to pray their obligatory or nafl prayers including the Tarawih Salah behind someone who has not yet reached puberty. Children are not legally responsible, and so any prayers they do pray are counted as nafl prayers, hence an adult who is praying a fardh prayer cannot follow an imam who is praying nafl prayers. (Hidayah p.124 v.1)

Saaiduna Ibn Abbas raḍyAllāhu 'anhu (may Allāh be pleased with him) reports that, “A boy is not made an Imam until he experiences a wet dream (reaches puberty)” (Sunan Baihaqi) 

Only Allah Knows Best

Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

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