Is it permissible for an eight-year-old child to stand in the row between adults during congregational prayer?

It is permissible for a discerning child (seven years and older) to stand in the row of adults during congregational prayer. This is indicated by what Al-Bukhari narrated from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him): "I prayed with an orphan in our house behind the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and my mother Umm Sulaym was behind us."

The majority of scholars have affirmed the validity of a boy joining the row in both obligatory and supererogatory prayers, and the correct view is that the rulings for both types of prayers are the same. The Permanent Committee (for Islamic Research and Issuing Fatwas) affirmed the permissibility of bringing boys to mosques and their standing in the rows, as long as they are discerning and are kept from mischief.