2802 The Importance of Raising Children and Being Patient with Them

Question:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. He says: My son tires me out when I wake him for prayer, and he delays me from attending it. His question is: Should I leave him and go to pray alone? Also, Honorable Shaykh, he keeps bad company, and I have had a hard time with him. What is your advice to me? Should I kick him out of the house if he continues like this?

Answer:
You must be patient with him, and with the permission of Allah, if you are patient with him and do not be lenient with him, he will get used to it and attend prayer with you. But if he sees that you are being lax with him, or that you leave and leave him alone, he will make things heavy for you. So you must be patient, once, twice, and then he will get used to it, if Allah wills. Do not drive him out of the house unless he is able to be independent, having what suffices him. But if he has nothing, do not drive him out of the house; rather, be patient with him through command and prohibition.