The ruling on sending young students to pray the Fajr prayer at school

Question:
May Allah reward you. The questioner says: Your Eminence the Shaykh, peace be upon you and Allah’s mercy and blessings. I love you for the sake of Allah. I am a teacher at a school, and sometimes I have students in the fourth and fifth grades of elementary school who have not prayed the Fajr prayer. Should I send them to the school mosque during class hours to pray Fajr, even if that is before the midday prayer, or what should I do?

Answer:
As for your saying that you love me for the sake of Allah, we say: May Allah love you, the One who cares. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Two men mentioned among them whom you love for the sake of Allah; they gathered together and then separated. It is also reported in a hadith that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Allah, Mighty and Majestic, said: “My love becomes obligatory for those who love each other for My sake, sit together for My sake, dwell together for My sake, and exchange greetings for My sake.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Allah will say on the Day of Resurrection: “Where are those who loved each other for My majesty? I will shade them in My shade on a day when there is no shade except My shade.” As for what you asked about regarding the young students, one must look into their situation. If they have reached the age of discernment, they are to be commanded to pray. At seven o’clock, they are to be commanded to pray at school. They should pray until they become accustomed to it and learn it. They pray it as making up a missed prayer, and they are advised to pray it at its proper time. Their parents are also advised to do so, and they should make them pray it with the people at its proper time. However, if they are under seven years old, there is no need to command them to pray.