Persistence in ordering the wife and children to perform the prayer

2-4-2006 | IslamWeb

Question:

What is the religious ruling on a man who orders his wife and children to perform the prayer, but they perform the prayer one day and they neglect it the second day?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

 

Allaah Says (what means): {And enjoin the prayer upon your family [and people] and be steadfast therein.}[Quran 20:132]. Besides, the Prophet said: "Order your children to perform the prayer when they are seven years of age and beat them if they neglect to do so when they are ten years of age, and separate between them in beds (when they reach ten)." [Abu Daawood and Ahmad] Therefore, this man is obliged to be steadfast in ordering his wife and children to perform the prayer until he makes sure that they are consistent in performing the prayers because they are under his guardianship. The Prophet said: "All of you are responsible for the people under your guardianship and everyone of you will be questioned about those under his guardianship." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]  However, if he orders them to perform the prayer one day and neglects to do so the next day, then he is negligent about those whom Allaah put under his guardianship.

Allaah Knows best.