Advice and Guidance for Fathers and an Explanation of Their Obligation in Raising Their Children

The first message in this episode is from one of our brother listeners, identified as (K. N. J). Our brother says: I observe, O His Eminence the Shaykh, that many fathers have neglected the upbringing of their children, which has resulted in very bad matters for them. Therefore, I ask you to please guide the fathers so that they pay great attention to their children, especially in this time. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and may Allah send blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah, upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow his guidance.
As for what follows: What the questioner mentioned deserves attention; because caring for children, whether male or female, attending to them, and providing them with Islamic upbringing is one of the most important matters. The noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Al-Bukhari narrated it in his Sahih and others.
This great hadith indicates the obligation of caring for the subjects, and the greatest person responsible for this is the ruler over the people, who is the Amir of the Muslims and their Sultan. It is obligatory for him to protect them from everything that harms their well-being, and to safeguard their religion and worldly affairs, and to care for everything that benefits them in this world and the Hereafter, to the extent of his ability and possibility. The greatest of this is care for their religion, so that they are upright upon it and adhere to it, by performing the obligatory duties and avoiding the forbidden things. As it is obligatory for every ruler over the people to judge them by the Shari'ah of Allah, and to compel them to the legislation of Allah, and not to judge them by anything other than the legislation of Allah. He is responsible for this, as the Mighty and Majestic said: [Al-Hijr:92] [Al-Hijr:93], and as in this authentic hadith: We ask Allah to guide the rulers of the Muslims to everything that is in their well-being and the well-being of all the Muslims.
And so, every person is responsible for his household. The father is responsible for his children, and the mother is responsible for her children, in terms of their Islamic upbringing, commanding them to do what is right, forbidding them from doing what is wrong, compelling them to the truth, and making them leave what contradicts the legislation of Allah. This includes the command regarding prayer, for it is the pillar of Islam. It is obligatory for the father to care for his children, and so for the mother, so that they are upright in prayer and preserve it in the houses of Allah with the Muslims. Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: : [Al-Baqarah:238] And He said, the Exalted: [Al-Baqarah:43] And the Mighty and Majestic said: [Al-Tahrim:6] The parents are included in this [Al-Tahrim:6].
And caring for the matter of prayer is among the causes of protection from the Fire, for both the parent and the child. And He, the Exalted, addressed His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saying: [Ta-Ha:132] And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: .
So the child, whether male or female, is commanded to pray when he reaches seven years of age, and is struck for it when he reaches ten years of age; because by this he has approached the age of puberty and is close to it. And when he reaches puberty, it becomes an individual obligation and a fard upon him, and he becomes deserving, if he leaves it, of being asked to repent. If he repents, otherwise he is killed by the order of the ruler. So the matter is great. It is obligatory for fathers and mothers, and the older brothers of the children and their uncles, to cooperate in this matter, and to strive to reform the children and raise them with Islamic upbringing. This includes compelling them to pray, commanding them to pray when they reach seven years of age, and striking them for it when they reach ten years of age and fall short in that.
Likewise, they are commanded to do what Allah has commanded, such as dutifulness to parents, guarding the tongue from cursing, insulting, and lying, and from other sins, and from other things that Allah has forbidden . Likewise, they are prevented from drinking intoxicants and smoking, so that they do not grow up accustomed to this falsehood. It is obligatory for fathers and mothers to care for their children in what benefits them in this world and the Hereafter, and they must prevent them from what Allah has forbidden , so that they grow up with a righteous upbringing and remain steadfast upon the religion of Allah. When they reach maturity, they will have known what is obligatory upon them and what is forbidden upon them, and they will have been raised upon good and the avoidance of evil. Their father, their brother, their mother, and whoever strived in this good will have a reward like theirs, as the noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This is from the favor of Allah . We ask Allah for success and guidance for everyone. Yes.
The presenter: O Allah, amen. May Allah reward you with good.