My child is ten and half years old; and when I awaken him for the Fajr Prayer, he prays while sleeping, particularly during prostration. Is there any blame on me or on his father? What advice can you give us? May Allah Reward you.

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

The wise Sharee‘ah orders parents to provide their children with a sound Islamic upbringing; this includes, of course, accustoming them to establishing the prayer when they become seven and above, as confirmed in a Hadeeth of the Prophet who said: “Command your children to offer prayer when they become seven (years old), and beat them (for abandoning it) when they become ten (years old), and separate them (i.e. boys and girls) in beds." [Abu Daawood]

Based on this, let the parents of this child know that their order for their son to offer the prayers is something confirmed so that he would get accustomed to it, for he is approaching the age of puberty. If he does not get accustomed to prayer during that very age, there will be fear that he might be too lazy to offer it when he reaches the age of puberty and becomes competent for religious assignments; and how risky this is!

The advice we give to tackle this matter is to endear prayer to the child and mention its virtue and high status in Islam to him; and to accustom him to sleeping early in order to have sufficient rest before prayer. If this is of no avail to him, then, there is no harm to beat him, but not severely. If this endeavor results in having the child establish the prayer, then, then this what is required, otherwise, the parents should try again and again, in view of the great responsibility due on them. After that, there is no sin on them, in the sight of those who regard it obligatory for the parents to command their children to offer prayer, depending on the previous Hadeeth.

But according to those who construe the command given in the previous Hadeeth within the context of its being favorable (rather than an obligation), then there is no sin on the parents at all.

Allah Knows best.