Can a boy pray with his mother & a daughter with her father?

Q: Assalaamu'alaykum sheikh,  when is it ok for a boy to stand with his mother in prayer? i.e before puberty or if he doesnt know how to pray? what if there are men present? etc? varying scenarios  when is it ok for a daughter to stand with her father in line for prayer etc?  and any varying scenarios you can think of...  jazakallahu khayr!  

A:

 الحمد لله رب العالمين والصلاة والسلام على أشرف الأنبياء والمرسلين، سيدنا ونبينا محمد وعلى آله وصحبه أجمعين. وبعد

The origins of a woman leading a male in prayer is invalid in consensus of the Scholars of Islam, as Ibn Hazam has stated in his book of Ijma', and also agreed upon by the Hanbali's as mentioned by Imam al-Mardawi al-Hanbali (d. 885H): "It is invalid for a woman to lead a man in prayer, and this is the Madhhab's absolute unrestricted opinion. Thus, it was stated in the book of al-Mustowae'b; This is the correct view of the Madhhab." [al-Insaaf: 2/265]

As for a boy who is under seven, he may pray with his mum for the sake of learning how to pray. As for when he reaches the age of seven which is considered Tamyeez (Islamic Age of Discretion) then he must pray with his father for two main reasons: Firstly, he is rewarded for praying at this age, so he must then pray with a valid Imam which is male like himself. Secondly, according to the Hanbali's, a non-pubescent boy cannot be an Imam. Shaykh Ibrahim Ibn Dhouyaan (d. 1353H) said: "Invalid is the Imamship of Mumayeez (non-pubescent boy) with a pubescent boy, however, it is valid if he leads in a Nafil (recommended prayer), or lead others his age. Ibn Masoud (may Allah be pleased with him) said; 'A boy must not lead in prayer until the Islamic Penal Laws is obligated upon him.' Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said; 'A boy must not lead in prayer until he reaches puberty'. Hence, it was not mentioned any disputes about them from among the other Companions. As for the case of the boy being an Imam in recommended and obligatory prayers among his peers is valid, because they are all rightfully recommended for them to perform." [Manar as-Sabeel fi Sarah ad-Daleel: 1/98]

As for a woman praying next to a man, the prayer is considered valid but yet Makrouh (disliked). The reason for this, is that the Sunnah for a woman is to pray behind a male as stated in many narrations, as for the validity of a man praying next to a woman, Imam al-Buhouti al-Hanbali (d. 1051H) said: "If a woman was to stand next to a man on the right side of him in prayer, ...  this would be considered valid. Hence, as stated in the book of al-Muntaha and other (Hanbali books) if she was to stand next to him on the left instead of the right of him this would entail it to be invalid, otherwise it would be correct." [Kashaf al-Qina'a: 1/488] 

The only issue that would entail the prayer to be invalid when it comes to a woman praying besides a man is her being on the left instead of the right side of him. Thus, this is the case in accordance with the absolute Hanbali position when anyone begins the congregation, that they must begin from the right and not the left otherwise the prayer is deemed invalid. Shaykh Ahmad Ibn Nasir al-Qa'aymi al-Hanbali said: "When one prays more than the duration of one Raka' (unit of prayer) on the left side of the Imam while there are people standing on his right (in an incomplete row on his right), his prayer is invalid, it is also invalid if one whilst praying with the Imam stands behind him individually or stands behind the congregations individually (in the intention he is praying with them)." [Hawashi as-Sabighat: P.133-134]

This all can be summarized as follows:  

1- A young boy under seven, may stand with his mother in prayer for the sake of leaning proposes.

2- A boy can no longer pray by his mother at the age of seven because he has reached Tamyeez which entails him to be rewarded for prayer, which furthermore, entails his prayer to be unacceptable for a woman to lead him in prayer, which further requires his need for another male to lead him in prayer.

3- A Tamyeez boy (reached the age of seven) cannot be an Imam in accordance to the clear statement of Imam Ahmad and his followers and also the relied upon position of the Madhhab. But he may lead one in a Nafl Prayer, or he may lead other peer his age.

4- The prayer of a female that prays besides a male is valid but highly preferred to adhere to the Sunnah which is to pray behind him and only use this in the case of necessity.  

5- No matter what the case may be, one must always begin a congregation on the right of the Imam until the righthand side is filled only then can one lineup on the left of the Imam otherwise it is invalid in a solitary mainstream view of the Hanbali's. Furthermore adding, is if one was to individually pray behind the Imam (instead of originally praying with him on his right) or to pray along with the congregation individually behind it by themselves, are all considered invalid (according to the solitary view of the Hanbali's).

والله اعلم.