- One of the important parts of Islamic teachings is about children and their rights and duties. And also the way adults treat them, we mention some of them:
Children in Islam
Childhood stages and children's behavior:
The Prophet Mohammad (s) said: “The child is a boss for seven years; He is a servant [and obedient] for seven years; And he is a Minister for seven years”.[1]
Imam Sadiq (a.s): “A boy plays for seven years; He learns to write for seven years; And for seven years he learns what is permissible and what is forbidden.”[2]
How to treat the children:
The Prophet (a.s) said: “Whoever has a child, should treat him like a child and make himself like a child”.[3]
The Prophet (s): “May God's love be upon that servant who helps his child to become good by doing good to him, making friends with him, and teaching him good manners”.[4]
Imam Ali (a.s): “A teenager's heart is empty like the earth. Whatever is sprinkled in it, that is what you will get”.[5]
Someone complained about his son to Imam Kazim (a.s). Hazrat told him: “Don't beat him, be angry with him, but don't make it long”. [6]
To Love Children:
Imam Sadiq (a.s) narrated from Moses that he said to God: “O Lord! Which one of the jobs is the best for you? God said to him: Loving children, because their nature is based on my oneness, and whenever I take them, I take them to my paradise”.[7]
The Messenger of God (a.s) said: “Love children and be kind to them”.[8]
Imam Reza (a.s): “Whenever you make a promise to children, fulfill it for them. Because they think that you are the ones who give them a living. And without a doubt, the Great and Glorious God does not get angry for anything else as much as He gets angry for (not respecting the rights of) women and children.[9]
Observance of justice between children:
The Prophet (a.s) said to a man who kissed one of his sons and did not kiss the other: “Why did you not observe justice between the two of them?[10]
The Prophet (S) said: “Do justice among your children, just as you would like them to do justice among yourselves in doing good and giving love.”[11]
References:
[1] Wasayel al-Shia, V.15, P. 195 اَلْوَلَدُ سَيِّدٌ سَبْعَ سِنينَ وَعَبْدٌ سَبْعَ سِنينَ وَوَزيرٌ سَبْعَ سِنينَ..
[2] Al-Kafi, V. 6, P. 47 اَلْغُلامُ يَلْعَبُ سَبْعَ سِنينَ وَيَتَعـَلَّمُ الْكِتابَ سَبْعَ سِنينَ وَيَتَعَلَّمُ الْحَلالَ وَالْحَرامَ سَبْعَ سِنينَ.
[3] Man La Yahzor, V. 3, P. 483 مَنْ كانَ عِنْدَهُ صَبِىٌّ فَلْيَتَصابَ لَهُ
[4] Mostadrak al-Wasayel, V. 15, P 169 رَحِمَ اللّهُ عَبْدًا أَعانَ وَلَدَهُ عَلى بِرِّهِ بِالاْءِحْسانِ إِلَيْهِ وَالتَّأَلُّفِ لَهُ وَتَعْليمِهِ وَتَأْديبِهِ
[5] Nahj al-Balaghah, Letter No: 31 ... إِنَّما قَلْبُ الْحَدَثِ كَالْأَرْضِ الْخالِيَةِ مآ أُلْقِىَ فيها مِنْ شَىْ ءٍ قَبِلَتْهُ ...
[6] Bihar, V. 104, P. 99 لاتَضْـرِبْهُ وَاهْجُـرْهُ وَلاتـُطِلْ
[7] Bihar, V. 104, P. 105 : قالَ مُوسَى بْنُ عِمْرانَ: يارَبِّ أَىُّ الْأَعْمالِ أَفْضَلُ عِنْدَكَ؟ فَقالَ: حُبُّ الْأَطْفالِ فَإِنَّ فِطْرَتَهُمْ عَلى تَوْحيدى. فَإِنْ أَمِتّهُمْ أُدْخِلْهُمْ بِرَحْمَتى جَنَّتى.
[8] Al-Kafi, V. 6, P. 49 أَحِبُّوا الصِّبْيانَ وَارْحَمُوهُمْ...
[9] Al-Kafi, V. 6, P. 50 إِذا وَعـَدْتُمُ الصِّبـْيانَ فَفـُوا لَهـُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ يَرَوْنَ أَنَّكُمُ الَّذينَ تَرْزُقُونَهُمْ إِنَّ اللّهَ عَزَّوَجَلَّ لَيْسَ يَغْضِبُ لِشَىْ ءٍ كَـغَضَبِهِ لِلنِّسآءِ وَالصِّبـْيانِ
[10] Man La Yahzor, V. 3, P. 483 فَـهَـلاّ واسَـيْتَ بَيْنَهُما؟
[11] Makarem al-Akhlaq, V. 1, P. 473 اِعْدِلُوا بَيْنَ أَوْلادِكُمْ كَما تُحِبُّونَ أَنْ يَعْدِلُوا بَيْنَكُمْ فِى الْبِرِّ وَاللُّطْفِ