Is there a specific age at which a child may be punished for his mistakes?
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The questioner : Is there anything that is beneficial from a Shari'ah perspective indicating that at a certain age, the application of the issue of punishment and reward with children begins, or do I punish the child even while he is young?
The Shaykh : There is no specific age, because the age of puberty differs from one young person to another. However, the age of puberty for men, or young men, or males is when they have a wet dream, and for women it is when they menstruate. Some girls menstruate before the age of ten, while for others it is delayed until fourteen or fifteen, and so on. So, the one who sees menstruation at the age of ten has the pen of accountability passed over her.
The questioner : No, I mean, for the father, is there anything indicating that the child, I mean, you do not punish the child, for example, some people say that it is not permissible to punish the child until he distinguishes, meaning he reaches the age of discernment, for example, six or seven years old.
The Shaykh : Now the question is clear. There is nothing except the well-known hadith, from which this ruling is derived, which is his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Abi Dawud 495Hasan Sahih (Al-Albani) So his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan Abi Dawud 495Hasan Sahih (Al-Albani) and after that Sunan Abi Dawud 495Hasan Sahih (Al-Albani) Nothing is more important than prayer in terms of discipline. So, if it is not permissible to discipline them by hitting them until they reach the age of ten, then what is greater than leaving the prayer until they are hit? Is that clear?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is what exists.
The Shaykh : There is no specific age, because the age of puberty differs from one young person to another. However, the age of puberty for men, or young men, or males is when they have a wet dream, and for women it is when they menstruate. Some girls menstruate before the age of ten, while for others it is delayed until fourteen or fifteen, and so on. So, the one who sees menstruation at the age of ten has the pen of accountability passed over her.
The questioner : No, I mean, for the father, is there anything indicating that the child, I mean, you do not punish the child, for example, some people say that it is not permissible to punish the child until he distinguishes, meaning he reaches the age of discernment, for example, six or seven years old.
The Shaykh : Now the question is clear. There is nothing except the well-known hadith, from which this ruling is derived, which is his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
Command your children to pray when they become seven years old, and beat them for it (prayer) when they become ten years old; and arrange their beds (to sleep) separately.
مروا أولادكم بالصلاة وهم أبناء سبع، واضربوهم عليها وهم أبناء عشر، وفرقوا بينهم في المضاجعCommand your children to pray when they become seven
مروا أبناءكم بالصلاة وهم أبناء سبعand beat them for it (prayer) when they become ten years old
واضربوهم عليها وهم أبناء عشرThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is what exists.