Riyad as-Salihin, 302
Sabrah bin Ma'bad Al-Juhani (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Teach a boy Salat (the prayer) when he attains the age of seven years, and punish him (if he does not offer it) at ten". <b>[Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi, who categorized it as Hadith Hasan]</b>. The narration in Abu Dawud is: Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Order a boy to perform Salat (the prayer) when he is seven years old".
و عن أبي ثرية سبرة بن معبد الجهني رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : " علموا الصبي الصلاة لسبع سنين" واضربوه عليها ابن عشر سنين" حديث حسن رواه أبو داود، والترمذي وقال حديث حسن. ولفظ أبي داود: " مروا الصبي بالصلاة إذا بلغ سبع سنين".
References1 variant
- In-Book Reference
- Introduction, Hadith 302
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
<b>Guidance from the Hadiths:</b><br>
1) Children have a right over their parents that they command them to perform the prayer when they are seven years old and beat them for not performing it when they are ten years old.<br>
2) The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) ordered that the children be beaten for not offering the prayer for the purpose of disciplining and correcting them, not for tormenting them and causing them pain. Mercy entails that a child should learn how to obey Allah Almighty so that he would be brought up as a pious person.