The Ruling on a Teacher Striking His Students

The questioner : May Allah bless you. What some Muslims do, for example, regarding striking by teachers—striking students, for instance—is this, first of all, contrary to the Sunnah? And is this anger for the sake of Allah or for himself?

The Shaykh : We do not know; it may be for himself, or it may be for the sake of Allah.

The presenter : Welcome, student.

The Shaykh : A teacher may strike a student because he feels that the student has disrespected him, or he may strike the student because of bad manners, in order to discipline the student.

The presenter : Because.

The Shaykh : Actions are only by intentions.

The presenter : Okay, Khalid. The Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)—what harm is there in the Prophet?

The Shaykh : This does not contradict the Sunnah of the Messenger, because the Messenger commanded striking for the purpose of discipline. He said, "Command your children to pray at seven, and strike them for it at ten." But as for the servant, the donkey, and the like, if they neglect something, they have wasted the right of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and he does not want to take the right for himself.