Reference: Fataawa Noor ‘alad-Darb – Question No.6209, Page 34, Volume 12
Question: What is the ruling regarding he who nurtures his children upon prayer from their age of understanding until they have attained 15 years of age, and thereafter these children do not obey their parents [and abandon the prayer]? So with what do you advise these parents regarding this [great] responsibility to ensure [their children regularly] maintain their prayers?
Response: I suspect that whoever fears Allaah ‘Azza wa Jall and firmly adheres to the guidance of the Prophet ﷺ in commanding his children – both male and female – to pray when they are seven [years of age], and smacks them at the age of ten if they do not, in addition to beseeching Allaah for their guidance – then I do not think that Allaah ‘Azza wa Jall will disappoint him regarding his children, and [in shaa.-Allaah] they shall be [religiously] upright.
However, the problem is that some people are negligent with this responsibility, and are not concerned whether their children pray or not, are well-mannered or corrupt, are [religiously] upright or tyrannous. So when they grow up they (the parents) are punished for their [children’s] disobedience towards them. That is because they (the parents) did not fear Allaah regarding [their responsibility towards] them (the children), and as a result they (the children) did not fear Allaah regarding [their obedience towards] them (their parents).
So I do not think that anyone who fears Allaah regarding [his responsibility towards] his children, and adheres to the path of the Sharee’ah in guiding them – except that Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) will guide his children [in shaa.-Allaah].
