#866: At what Age can a Child be beaten and for what should the Child be beaten?

866. QUESTION

Assalamu alaikum wa raatuLLAH pls my admiable shaikhs pls what is the islam stands on beating a child as someone told me dat its haram to beat a child excerpt for salat as stated in d hadith of our noble Rasul sala LLAHU alaihi wa salam

ANSWER:

Wa alaikum salam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.

Alhamdulillah!

As regarding the Sharī’ah stand on disciplining a child by beating. First we have to understand that beating as a form of discipline is generally discouraged except when it becomes absolutely necessary or prescribed by the sharī’ah. This is because it was never a method of the prophet alaihi salam. In Islam, the fundamental value with which children are related with (in any circumstance) is with mercy. Apart from this being stipulated in the sharī’ah, it is also a universally accepted fact.

It was narrated Jurors Abu Huraira radiallahu anhu said: The Messenger of Allāh alaihi salam kissed al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali when al-Aqra’ ibn Haabis al-Tamimī was sitting with him. Al-Aqra’ said: I have ten children and I have never kissed one of them. The Messenger of Allāh alaihi salam said: “The one who does not show mercy will not be shown mercy.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Thus, in correcting and disciplining children, this must be done based on mercy and with mercy.

And that is why the scholars have stipulated that the beating should be light and should not be painful and should not break the skin, or break a tooth or bone. It should be on the back or the hand and the like, and the face is to be avoided because it is forbidden to strike it.

Sheikh Ibn Uthaymin said
“what is meant by smacking here is smacking that is not painful, a light smack that serves the purpose and does not cause any harm” (Liqaa al Baabil Maftooh).

They also stipulated that such correctional smackings must not be more than 10 strikes because of what was narrated from Abu Bardah al-Ansarī that he heard the Messenger of Allāh alaihi salam said: “No one should be given more than ten lashes except in the case of one of the hadd punishments of Allāh.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Regarding this, Ibn al-Qayyim rahimahullah said:

The words of the Prophet, “No one should be given more than ten lashes except in the case of one of the hadd punishments of Allāh,” referred to an offence or criminal act, which has to do with what Allāh has prescribed as a punishment.

If it is said: What do we mean by ten or less?

The answer is: This has to do with when a man hits his wife, his slave, his child, or his hired worker for the purpose of discipline and the like: it is not permissible for him to give more than ten blows. This is the best way to understand the hadeeth. I’laam al-Muwaqqi’een (2/23)

Furthermore, it is stipulated that it is only done when you are sure it will be effective in correcting, i.e. the real message is clearly passed to the child.

Sheikh Ibn uthaymin rahimahullah said:

… but it is limited only to cases where smacking will be beneficial, because sometimes you smack a child but he does not benefit from being smacked, it only makes him scream and cry more and does not serve any benefit. (Liqa al Baabil Maftooh)

As regarding the confusion regarding whether it’s allowed to beat for other than Salah, then know that the fundamental principle regarding this issue is derived from the Qur’ān and Hadīth;

“O you who believe! Ward off yourselves and your families against a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who disobey not, (from executing) the Commands they receive from Allaah, but do that which they are commanded” (Surah At tahreem)

From the verse we understand that any beating or smacking must be for the reason of achieving the aim of saving the child from the anger of Allāh.

It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allāh ibn ‘Umar said: I heard the Messenger of Allāh alaihi salam say: “Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock. The ruler is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock. A man is the shepherd of his family and is responsible for his flock. A woman is the shepherd of her husband’s household and is responsible for her flock. A servant is the shepherd of his master’s wealth and is responsible for his flock.” He said: and I think he said, “A man is the shepherd of his father’s wealth and is responsible for his flock. Each of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Thus, just as a shepherd might resort to beating or hitting his animal in order to keep them aligned with the flock, parents are allowed to resort to beating or smacking children at any age according to the principles we have mentioned above.

It can be understood that, this is general for all circumstances including for Salah or other than Salah.

As regarding the Hadīth of Amr ibn Shu’ayb from his father that his grandfather said: The Messenger of Allāh alaihi salam said: “Teach your children to pray when they are seven years old, and smack them (lightly) if they do not pray when they are 10 years old, and separate them in their beds.” (Abu Dawood and Ahmad) Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Irwa

Know that, this Hadīth only specifies when smacking is obligated or should be used as a means of discipline in the case of Salah. It does not in anyway restricts smacking a child to the mentioned age and for the mentioned purpose (which is Salah).

As we have mentioned above, it can be generally derived from the ayah of at-tahrim and the Hadīth of Ibn umar that, (sharī’ah prescribed) smacking is a method that can be resorted to for discipline in all circumstances. While the statement of Amr ibn Shu’ayb only specifies the age to start using this in the case of Salah.

Regarding this, Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen rahimahullah said:

The Prophet alaihi salam commanded us to tell our children to pray when they are seven years old, and to smack them (lightly) if they do not pray when they are ten years old, even though they are not obliged to do that yet, so that they may be trained in doing acts of worship and obedience and may get used to them, so that it will be easy for them to do that after they grow up and it will be dear to them. The same applies to all matters that are blameworthy; young children should not get used to them even though they are not yet under any obligation, because otherwise they will get used to them when they grow up and will enjoy indulging in them. (Fataawa Noor ala al-Darb, 11/38)

So it should be clear that the statement of Amr ibn Shu’ayb only specifies when smacking should be used in the case of Salah. But as regarding other cases, then smacking is allowed at all ages however under the strict conditions we have mentioned above.

And Allah knows best.

Bārakallāhu Fīkum
Jazākumullāhu Khayran.

Abū Hafs

4th Rabīu Al-Awwal, 1441AH.

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