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Respecting the Infant’s Feelings
200. Imām al-Sādiq (a.s.) said: “The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) while performing the noon and afternoon prayer finished the [last] two units quickly. When he finished, people asked him: “O Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.)! Has anything new about prayer been sent down?” He said: “Why are you asking?” They answered: “You performed the last two units quickly.” He said: “Did you not hear the cry of a child?!”1
201. Makārim al-Akhlāq: People used to bring children to the Prophet (s.a.w.) for him to pray for them to be blessed and to give them a name. He (s.a.w.) used to hold them in his arms out of honor to their families. Sometimes it happened that the child would pass urine [on his (s.a.w.) clothes] and those who saw this would call out, but he (s.a.w.) would say: “Do not interrupt the child.” So, they would leave the child to finish. Then he (s.a.w.) would continue to finish his prayer for the child or naming him, bringing happiness to their family in such a way that they never felt that he (s.a.w.) was displeased by the child’s urinating. Then, when they left, he would wash his clothes.”2
202. Musnad Ibn Hanbal, narrating from ‘A'ishah who said: “Children were often brought to the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) and he would pray for them. One time, an infant who was brought to him urinated and the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said: “Pour some water on it.”3
1.. Tahdhib al-Ahkām, vol. ۳, p. ۲۷۴, h. ۷۹۶. al-Kāfi, vol. ۶, p. ۴۸, h. ۴. Both narrating from ‘Abdullah ibn Sinān.
2.. Makārim al-Akhlāq, vol. ۱, p. ۶۵, h. ۶۸. Bihār al-Anwār, vol. ۱۶, p. ۲۴۰.
3.. Musnad Ibn Hanbal, vol. ۹, p. ۲۹۹, h. ۲۴۲۴۷. Musnad Ishāq ibn Rāhwayh, vol. ۲, p. ۱۱۶, h. ۵۸۷.
