The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was kind and forbearing to old and young alike. He (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) loved children and was compassionate towards them. In this hadith, Abu Qatadah al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) sometimes led them in an obligatory prayer whilst carrying his granddaughter Umamah, the daughter of Zaynab the daughter of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). Her father’s name was Abu’l-‘As ibn ar-Rabi‘ ibn ‘Abd Shams. When the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) stood up, he carried her on his shoulder, as is narrated in as-Sahihayn, and when he bowed and prostrated, he put her down on the ground. Then when he rose from prostration and stood up for the second rak‘ah, he picked her up again, (and continued like that) until he finished his prayer. This indicates that it is permissible to carry children whilst praying, if there are no impure substances (najasah) on them, such as urine, stools and the like. This hadith highlights the compassion and good attitude of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). It indicates that a slight movement whilst praying, picking up a child whilst praying, and other actions, even if they are many but not consecutive – rather they are intermittent – do not invalidate the prayer..