Question:
| QUESTION1- FOR A SCHOLAR TO HIT A CHILD FOR NOT LEARNING ISLAMIC STUDIES IS IT PROVEN FROM PROPHET S.A.W AND THE SAHABAH AND WHAT IS THE REFERENCE? |
Answer:
It will be permissible to hit the child (without causing any injuries) in order to discipline him and teach him the basics of Islamic studies. It has been narrated by Amar bin Shu’aib (R.A.) who narrates from his father who in turn narrates from his grandfather that Rasoolullah (S.A.W.) said: “Command your children to perform Salaah at the age of seven and beat them at the age of ten and separate their sleeping places.” One should keep in mind that Islam encourages the disciplining and reforming by way of leniency. When Nabi (S.A.W.) sent Abu Moosa Ash’ari (R.A.) and Mu’aaz (R.A.) to Yemen he advised them regarding a few short and comprehensive fundamentals of Da’wah, he said: “Be lenient and do not be harsh, give glad-tidings and do not cause estrangement.” Many a times unnecessary harshness produces unhealthy and harmful results thus a famous historian Allamah Ibn Khaldoon (R.A.A.) while very wisely discussing the nature of students and the unhealthy result of unnecessary harshness writes: “Those who choose to discipline their slaves, children or servants with acrimony and harshness instil fear into their hearts. As a result they become faint-hearted and lose their alertness due to which they become lazy and it provokes them to lying and a number of other evils . They learn to become sly and conspire to such an extent that eventually it becomes their nature. However one should not be too lenient and not hit at all because due to this they sometimes transgress and become disobedient and it also removes the fear from their hearts. This is understood from the Hadith of Nabi (S.A.W.) in which he says: “Allah showers His mercy on that person who hangs a whip in his house so that his family and children will be mindful of him.” In short, Tarbiyat should be made with lots of wisdom and hitting the child should be the last resort as understood from the Hadith of Salaah. (Raddul Muhtaar, Vol. 3, Page 208, Bukhari, Vol. 2, Page 622, Haraam wa Halaal, Page 464 and 467)
And Allah Ta’ala knows best
Ilyaas bin Hashim Limbada
Attested to as correct by:
Mufti Muhammad Ashraf
Darul Iftaa
Jameah Mahmoodiyah
Springs
30 March 2004
08 Safar 1425