Question:
Assalamualaikum Dr. I want to ask a question regarding the ruling of caning one’s child excessively that it causes injury to the child while the child only committed a small mistake and should not be punished as such?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the many countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
It is the responsibility of every parent who are Muslims to educate their children. Education for one’s child means instructing to goodness and restricting bad deeds. Among the examples of the evidences that commanded parents to educate their children is a hadith narrated by Abdullah bin ‘Amru bin al-‘Ash R.Anh, where the Prophet PBUH said:
مُرُوا أَوْلاَدَكُمْ بِالصَّلاَةِ وَهُمْ أَبْنَاءُ سَبْعِ سِنِينَ وَاضْرِبُوهُمْ عَلَيْهَا وَهُمْ أَبْنَاءُ عَشْرِ سِنِينَ وَفَرِّقُوا بَيْنَهُمْ فِي الْمَضَاجِعِ
“Command your children to pray when they become seven years old, and beat them for it (prayer) when they become ten years old; and arrange their beds (to sleep) separately.”
Sunan Abu Daud (495)
In the above hadith, it is a commandment of syarak for parents to educate their children especially in the matters of worship of prayer. From the literal meaning of the hadith, it is permissible for parents to hit their children if their children do not pray when they reach ten years old.
Imam al-Nawawi Rahimahullah commented on the hadith when he reviewed the book al-Muhazzab, stating: And prayer is not commanded on those whom prayer is not an obligation on them except for children. The reason is, children are instructed by their parents to pray at the age of seven years old and will get hit if they leave it when they are ten years old.
He then cited the words of Imam al-Syafie Rahimahullah, who said: It is the responsibility of the parents to educate their children and teaching them matters regarding taharah (purification and hygiene) and prayer, and to hit their children if they neglect them when they are mature in thinking (mumayyiz). The same is stated by Imam al-Rafi’e Rahimahullah who said: It is the obligation of parents to teach their children regarding taharah, prayer and the commandments of Islam when their children are seven years old and to hit their children if they leave them when their children are ten years old. See Al-Majmu’ Syarah al-Muhazzab, Al-Nawawi (3/11).
Methodology of Teaching Children
Regarding the methodology of teaching children, there are several ways that parents could apply when teaching their children after advising them with wisdom, love, care and others. Two of them are:
First: Caning
Second: Hitting
The basis that we should understand is, the concept of caning and hitting in Islam is more of an education process and nurturing manners and not a form of corporal punishment. Hence, syarak set several dhawabit (criteria) in employing both these processes. We simplify them as the following:
- In caning children, it should not exceed ten times. This is in accordance with a hadith narrated by Abi Burdah al-Ansari R.Anha, where the Prophet PBUH said:
لَا يُجْلَدُ فَوْقَ عَشَرَةِ أَسْوَاطٍ إِلَّا فِي حَدِّ مِنْ حُدُودِ اَللَّهِ
"No more than ten lashes are to be given except when inflicting one of the Hudud (prescribed punishments) of Allah."
Sahih al-Bukhari (6456)
- Caning must be with the intention to educate children and nurture good and honourable character in themselves and not a form of punishment nor is it to harm or injure them.
- As for hitting them, parents are prohibited to hit on the face of their children. The reason is, there is a prohibition from the Prophet PBUH in a hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah R.Anh, where the Prophet PBUH said:
إِذَا قَاتَلَ أَحَدُكُمْ أَخَاهُ فَلْيَجْتَنِبِ الْوَجْهَ
“When any one of you fights with his brother, he should avoid the face.”
Sahih Muslim (2612)
This is due to the fact that the face of a person is soft and the convergence part of a person’s beauty. It is also a body part that is delicate and will be damaged and impaired when hit.
- Hitting must not cause any injury or harm on the child’s body. This is as we have stated above, where the purpose of hitting is as ta’dibi (educating/lesson) and not ta’qibi (punishment/harm).
Conclusion
To close, we state that excessive caning on children that causes injury is prohibited. The reason is, Islam rejects any form of severity even in good deeds and prohibits causing any harm. It should be known that children are a responsibility from Allah SWT to be protected and given the best possible education by their parents and every parent will be accountable for what they did towards their children in the hereafter. In educating one’s children, it is not just through caning and hitting. Consequently, one should apply both method of targhib (encouragement and advice) and al-Tarhib (warning and caution) in nurturing the character of children. May Allah SWT give us understanding in religion and wisdom in every action that we take. Amin.