Advice for the guardians of students

Q: Some people say that one of the causes of the low level of students' religious and academic performance is the neglect of their children by their fathers, their focus on their own projects, and their lack of follow-up. Is there any advice from your eminence for these guardians?

A: There is no doubt that the neglect of children by their fathers and mothers, and their failure to encourage them to seek knowledge, are among the causes of their weakness. It is obligatory for fathers, mothers, and older brothers to be of assistance to their children in understanding the religion, learning, caring for the pursuit of knowledge, and preserving study times. This is what is obligatory upon them. As for their neglect and leniency with them, that is among the causes of their failure, among the causes of their lack of knowledge, and among the causes of their laziness.
It is obligatory for fathers, mothers, and older brothers to discipline those who lag behind and are lenient, to care for this matter, and to encourage the children to be diligent and active, to be consistent in attending lessons, to preserve study times, and to preserve prayer in congregation, such as the Fajr prayer and others. This is what is obligatory upon everyone. We ask Allah to guide the Muslims to perform what is obligatory upon them for their children and others. He is the best of those asked and the nearest of those who answer. And may Allah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.