The Ruling on Neglecting to Advise the Young Until They Grow Up

Question:
Some people say: "This son is young; if Allah wills, he will grow up and repent to Allah, or he will become sensible, or something like that?"

Answer:
No, that is not acceptable. It is obligatory to strive against him and advise him. Who says that he will grow up? He may die at the age of sixteen or seventeen. No, this is a mistake. This is procrastination, and it is obedience to Satan.
It is obligatory to hasten with repentance, even if he is seventeen, eighteen, or sixteen. The point is that once he reaches puberty, it becomes obligatory for him. Even before he reaches puberty, he should be disciplined so that he becomes accustomed to good. He should not be left to commit sins, even if he is eight or nine years old. He is not permitted to drink intoxicants, nor is he permitted to insult his parents, nor is he permitted to mess with anything that harms people. He must be prevented from doing so, even if he is young.