What is the father's obligation toward his children regarding commanding them to pray?
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Question:
From Matrouh Governorate, the listener Muhammad Ali from the Arab Republic of Egypt, in a message he says: I have brothers and sisters, and I command them to pray, but they are negligent in it. Do I bear a sin? And do I have to change this approach?
Knowing that my father is present, and I believe that the authority lies with him.
May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
You must continue to give advice, and you should encourage the father to do what is obligatory upon him, which is commanding them to do what is right and forbidding them from what is wrong. The father has the right to beat them if they reach the age of ten or older, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan ad-Daraqutni 3:5 The father has a great obligation to take care of them, to speak to them, to advise them, to command them and forbid them. If speaking does not benefit, it is obligatory for him to discipline them and beat them until they become upright. And you should be a helper to him in that with good words and a good manner. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says: [Al-Ma'idah: 2] And He says (Glorified and Exalted is He): [At-Tawbah: 71] And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 49a.
So it is obligatory for the father to take care of this matter if the children have reached the age of ten or older; he should take care of them and discipline whoever lags behind, even with a beating that deters them and the like, without there being any danger in it, meaning: a beating that is not severe, a suitable beating that achieves the intended purpose.
As for if they have reached puberty, the matter is more severe. If they have reached puberty, the matter is more severe; if they do not become upright, their case should be referred to the court so that they may be called to repent. If they repent, otherwise it is obligatory to kill whoever does not repent; because abandoning prayer is major shirk, and whoever does not repent from abandoning it must be killed as an apostate, according to the most correct of the scholars' opinions, even if he does not deny its obligation.
So the point is: the matter is great. It is upon the father and upon you, O children, to help him in advising the sons and daughters who do not pray, and who have reached the age of ten or older. And it is upon the father to take care of that more, because he is the primary responsible party, and he should beat whoever lags behind with a suitable beating that achieves the intended purpose.
As for if they have reached puberty, the matter is more severe; he should increase in beating and disciplining them. And if the intended purpose is not achieved, he should refer their case to the one in authority, to the Sharia court, so that they may be called to repent. If they repent, otherwise it is obligatory to kill them for abandoning prayer. We ask Allah for safety. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
From Matrouh Governorate, the listener Muhammad Ali from the Arab Republic of Egypt, in a message he says: I have brothers and sisters, and I command them to pray, but they are negligent in it. Do I bear a sin? And do I have to change this approach?
Knowing that my father is present, and I believe that the authority lies with him.
May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
You must continue to give advice, and you should encourage the father to do what is obligatory upon him, which is commanding them to do what is right and forbidding them from what is wrong. The father has the right to beat them if they reach the age of ten or older, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Order your children to pray at seven years of age, and beat them for it at ten
مروا أولادكم بالصلاة لسبع، واضربوهم عليها لعشرcooperate in righteousness and piety
وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَىThe believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong
وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِHe who amongst you sees something abominable should modify it with the help of his hand; and if he has not strength enough to do it, then he should do it with his tongue, and if he has not strength enough to do it, (even) then he should (abhor it) from his heart, and that is the least of faith.
من رأى منكم منكرًا فليغيره بيده، فإن لم يستطع فبلسانه، فإن لم يستطع فبقلبه؛ وذلك أضعف الإيمانSo it is obligatory for the father to take care of this matter if the children have reached the age of ten or older; he should take care of them and discipline whoever lags behind, even with a beating that deters them and the like, without there being any danger in it, meaning: a beating that is not severe, a suitable beating that achieves the intended purpose.
As for if they have reached puberty, the matter is more severe. If they have reached puberty, the matter is more severe; if they do not become upright, their case should be referred to the court so that they may be called to repent. If they repent, otherwise it is obligatory to kill whoever does not repent; because abandoning prayer is major shirk, and whoever does not repent from abandoning it must be killed as an apostate, according to the most correct of the scholars' opinions, even if he does not deny its obligation.
So the point is: the matter is great. It is upon the father and upon you, O children, to help him in advising the sons and daughters who do not pray, and who have reached the age of ten or older. And it is upon the father to take care of that more, because he is the primary responsible party, and he should beat whoever lags behind with a suitable beating that achieves the intended purpose.
As for if they have reached puberty, the matter is more severe; he should increase in beating and disciplining them. And if the intended purpose is not achieved, he should refer their case to the one in authority, to the Sharia court, so that they may be called to repent. If they repent, otherwise it is obligatory to kill them for abandoning prayer. We ask Allah for safety. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.