The Ruling on Disciplining Children for Abandoning Prayer

Question:
A questioner asks, saying: I have children whom I order to pray. Sometimes they pray and sometimes they do not get up. Is there a sin on me, and I did not leave them alone except out of helplessness?

Answer:
You must fear Allah regarding them. The one who does not pray is to be struck; the one who lags behind is to be struck and disciplined, as the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: If he has reached full maturity, or if he is referred by order to the authority so that he is disciplined, the point is that you must fear Allah regarding them according to your ability, through age and striking until they are upright, or by referring them to the authority or the governor so that they assist you in that. If they are of age, then either they become upright, or you disavow them and keep them at a distance from you until they become upright. If it is possible to refer them by order to the authority or the governor so that they assist you in that, then this is obligatory, and do not neglect them.