Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Sir,

Assalamualaikum!

I want you to comment on the Hadith of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in which he has asked the believers to force their children to offer Salaat at the age of ten even if the parents have to beat them. I would like to ask whether it is compulsory to beat the child, as it may cause hatred in him. The beauty of Islam is that it's the submission of the heart to the will of Allah (SWT) so I think the best way is to convince him with logic and polite manner. May Allah forgive us all.

Regards.

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Answer:

Beat children if don’t pray

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 495 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said:’Command your children to pray when they become seven years old, and enforce (beat) them for it (if they refuse to pray) when they become ten years old.’

Your Question: I would like to ask whether it is compulsory to beat the child, as it may cause hatred in him. The beauty of Islam is that it's the submission of the heart to the will of Allah (SWT) so I think the best way is to convince him with logic and polite manner.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) guided the believers to encourage their children to start offering their prayers regularly when they reach seven years of age, and enforce the prayers strictly upon them by the age of ten…..so that the children form a habit of offering their prayers unto their Lord from a very early age.

It is only obvious that one should encourage their small children to pray, and try their absolute utmost to convince them to fulfill this obligatory rite of prayers unto their Lord with patience, with wisdom, with logic, or even by offering them incentives if they fulfill their prayers……but if one’s child has reached the age of ten and still refuses to pray, one is guided to use force only as an absolutely last option to compel them to offer their prayers.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan