Command your children to pray when they are seven years old, and beat them for (not offering) it when they are ten, and separate them (boys and girls) in beds

Arabic text

عن عمرو بن شُعيب عن أبيه عن جدِّه قال: قال رسولُ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «مُرُوا أولادكمِ بالصلاةِ وهم أبناءُ سبعِ سِنينَ، واضرِبوهم عليها وهم أبناءُ عَشرٍ، وفرِّقوا بينهم في المَضاجِعِ».

Translation

‘Amr ibn Shu‘ayb reported from his father on the authority of his grandfather that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Command your children to pray when they are seven years old, and beat them for (not offering) it when they are ten, and separate them (boys and girls) in beds."

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) clarified that the father should command his children - boys and girls - to pray when they are seven years old, and he should teach them what they need to establish prayer. On reaching ten, he should add the beating if they show negligence in observing the prayer. Moreover, he should separate them in beds.

Benefits

• Teaching young children before reaching the age of puberty matters of religion, the most important of which is prayer.
• Beating should be for the sake of discipline, not torture, so he should beat in a way that suits the child's circumstance.
• The Shariah cares about protecting people's honor and blocks all means that may lead to corruption.

Topics

• Jurisprudence and Juristic Principles
• Jurisprudence of Acts of Worship
• Prayer
• Obligation of Prayer and Ruling on Its Abandoner