The Father's Role in Raising His Child to Pray

Question:
May Allah reward you. Umm 'Abd al-Rahman sent these questions to your eminence, saying: Shaykh, I have a son who is nine years old. I advise him to pray and I follow up on him, and I am very concerned about him and his father, but he says that he has prayed when we ask him, and it may be that he has not prayed. Am I sinful for that?

Answer:
Yes, it is obligatory for you to observe him and follow up on him, especially his father. He should take him with him to the mosque, go with him to the mosque, and pray beside him until he becomes accustomed to prayer, gets used to it, and continues with it. It is not enough that he says, "I prayed," and that you do not trust his words and leave him alone. No, the father has the greater share of this responsibility. He should take him to the mosque, keep him with him, and pray beside him until he becomes accustomed to it, gets used to it, and desires it. This is the correct upbringing. Yes.