The children's abandonment of prayer, and the parents' claim that they are unable to discipline or beat them: what is the guidance in this matter?

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, some parents may say, "I am unable to control my children and I cannot beat them. What should I do?" Given that if they knew from him a concern for this matter, an interest in it, anger, and a change in his demeanor due to their abandoning the prayer, that would have an effect on them. Is there a word to say?

Answer:
Yes, and as we mentioned, the leniency of parents toward their children from the very beginning, when they are young, is what led them to not care about the prayer. If they had disciplined them from a young age and implemented the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) , they would have grown up with it, become accustomed to it, and loved it. The negligence of the parents is what caused the children to become stubborn when they grew up. It is obligatory for the parents to observe this matter and to care about it with the utmost care. The father has the right to beat [his children]. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gave him the authority. He said, "And beat them for it at ten." So he has the right to beat, and he is a shepherd, and the shepherd has the right to beat his flock if they disobey. He is a shepherd over these children. And among the authorities of the shepherd is that he beats them for violations.