Preventing the small child from passing infront of the one praying
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Question: What is the ruling regarding a small child under the age of 2 years passing infront of the one praying; is it imperative that he is prevented and not allowed to do so?

Response: Yes, it is not permissible to leave a young child to pass infront of the one praying, and the child is not (accountable for the) sin because he has not (reached the age where he is) responsible. However, whoever is beside the one praying is sinful if he is able to prevent him from doing so because the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) ordered that the passerby be prevented from passing infront of the one praying [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (1/129) the hadeeth of Abul-Jahm (radhi-yAllaahu 'anhu)].

Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan
al-Muntaqaa min Fataawa Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaan - Volume 5, Page 32, Fatwa No.40