What is the ruling on a ten-year-old girl praying in the first row with men?
It is not permissible for a ten-year-old girl to stand in the first row of men; rather, she should be treated as an adult woman, because she is often desired at this age. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, married Aisha when she was nine years old. Therefore, it is not permissible for her to stand in a row with men due to the concern of them touching her. The jurists have stated that it is not permissible to look at the 'awrah of a six-year-old girl, nor to touch her. The Sunnah has clarified that women stand behind men, as in the hadith of Anas: "So I and the orphan stood behind him, and the old woman stood behind us." In conclusion, it is worth recalling the hadith of Ma'qil ibn Yasar regarding the danger of touching non-mahram women: "For one of you to be stabbed in the head with an iron needle is better for him than to touch a woman who is not permissible for him."
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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