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Fatwa CenterDisciplining children
Question
What are the Islamic rulings on hitting kids in the face? Is it considered Haram? What are the rulings on discipline of our children in Islam?
Answer
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
It is not permissible to hit somebody’s face as the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: “If anyone among yours hits someone, he has to avoid hitting the face, and should not say, ‘may Allah turn your face ugly’….” [Reported by Ahmad and others from the Hadith of Abu Hurairah]
As regards disciplining our children, this depends on the age of the child.
If the child is young, especially in the first seven years, it is enough to advise and guide him/her with soft words without resorting to hitting the child, because hitting is not convenient at this age. But when the child grows up and reaches the age specified by the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) by saying, “Order your children to perform Salah at the age of seven and hit them if they do not perform it at the age of ten, and separate their beds)”. [Reported by Ahmad]. So when the child reaches this age, then it is permissible to hit him/her in order to discipline him/her, but without hitting him violently or severely, and the hitting of the child should be the last resort. A parent should not hit the child when he is angry or as revenge. It is said that the last cure someone resorts to is slightly burning the sick part of the body with fire. Before resorting to hitting, one has first to advise and admonish, if this is beneficial, or to deny the child something he/she likes, for instance not allowing him to play. Every parent is well aware of what his child loves or hates.
The parents should supplicate much for their children to be guided by Allah and enabled to do good deeds.
Finally, we ask Allah to enable everyone to educate children and nurture them with a correct Islamic education.
Allah knows best.
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