Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-As (may Allah be pleased with them) says that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "When your children reach the age of seven, command them to pray, and when they reach the age of ten, beat them for not praying..."
Reference: (Sunan Abu Dawood: 495)
This narration seems to conflict with reason and the nature of religion because prayer is obligatory on a mature person according to Shariah, so it is incomprehensible to beat a child for not praying at the age of ten! On the other hand, how could the noble personality of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, who explained religion throughout his life with gentleness and wisdom, give such an instruction that a conscious act of worship should be enforced by force?First Point
The mentioned hadith is authentic and established; the Imams and Muhaddithin have considered this hadith reliable, such as Imam Tirmidhi, Imam Hakim, Imam Nawawi, Imam Iraqi, and others. In every field, the opinion of experts is considered authoritative, so similarly, in this matter, the opinion of the Muhaddithin will be authoritative.
Second Point
As far as giving commands to minors in hadith is concerned, it is indirect here, meaning the guardian is commanded to instruct the child, whereas in the Holy Quran there is also an example of direct command to the child, which is evidence that there is no objection in giving commands to a non-responsible person:
Allah Almighty says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لِيَسْتَأْذِنْكُمُ الَّذِينَ مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ لَمْ يَبْلُغُوا الْحُلُمَ مِنْكُمْ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ
Reference: (Surah An-Nur:58)
Translation: O you who have believed! Your male and female servants and your minor children should ask your permission at three times before coming to you.
Third Point
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) here commands the parents to instruct their children to pray, to encourage them, and to prepare them to be consistent in it, because as long as the children are under the guardianship of the parents, they are their responsibility.
The command of the Almighty is:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ
Reference: (Surah At-Tahrim:6)
Translation: O you who have believed! Protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones.
Fourth Point
Small discomforts are insignificant for the achievement of a great goal. If the issue of reprimanding a child for not praying is understood in the context that it is for the child's betterment, no sensible person will consider it worthy of criticism, just as when a doctor gives a child an injection or bitter medicine for treatment, the doctor is considered the child's well-wisher and not deserving of blame. Similarly, to make a child adhere to the great worship of prayer, disciplining the child when necessary for correction is not a significant matter.
Fifth Point
Reprimanding a child for good upbringing is not contrary to kindness; rather, it is the true requirement of kindness, because if a child is bent on harming himself, would the guardian's strict behavior towards him be considered wrong?
And here, the matter concerns the life of the Hereafter, which deserves even more that the child be properly trained so that he may be successful and saved from real loss.
Sixth Point
Scholars say that the term "beating" refers to that kind of beating which results in discipline without any harm. It is not permissible for a father to severely beat his children, nor is it permissible to beat them unnecessarily. However, if there is a need, Islam has commanded the disciplining and correction of children. See:
Reference: Al-Mughni by Ibn Qudamah (1/357), Fatawa al-Subki (1/379), I'lam al-Muwaqqi'in by Ibn al-Qayyim (2/23)
.Seventh Point
It is commonly observed that parents are strict with young children on various occasions and consider it correct, such as not getting up for school, not eating food, not taking medicine, using inappropriate language, and society's members do not object to strictness in these matters. So how can it be considered blameworthy to be strict regarding the fundamental pillar of Islam and the most important obligation when there is negligence or laxity in it!
