Chapter on Disciplining and Testing a Child
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 3|Book 3|Chapter 53
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh
Volume 3, Book 3, Chapter 53
Chapter on Disciplining and Testing a Child
8 hadiths · 1 commentary
قَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "دَعِ اِبْنَكَ يَلْعَبْ سَبْعَ سِنِينَ وَ يُؤَدَّبْ سَبْعَ سِنِينَ وَ أَلْزِمْهُ نَفْسَكَ سَبْعَ سِنِينَ فَإِنْ أَفْلَحَ وَ إِلاَّ فَإِنَّهُ مِمَّنْ لاَ خَيْرَ فِيهِ".
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "Let your child play for seven years, then discipline him for seven years, and then keep him close to yourself for seven years. If he succeeds, then that is well; but if not, then he is among those in whom there is no good."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ كَانَ جَابِرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ اَلْأَنْصَارِيُّ يَدُورُ فِي سِكَكِ اَلْأَنْصَارِ بِالْمَدِينَةِ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ " عَلِيٌّ خَيْرُ اَلْبَشَرِ فَمَنْ أَبَى فَقَدْ كَفَرَ يَا مَعَاشِرَ اَلْأَنْصَارِ أَدِّبُوا أَوْلاَدَكُمْ عَلَى حُبِّ عَلِيٍّ فَمَنْ أَبَى فَانْظُرُوا فِي شَأْنِ أُمِّهِ".
Jabir ibn Abdullah Al-Ansari used to walk through the streets of the Ansar in Medina, proclaiming, " Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام is the best of creation, and whoever denies it has disbelieved. O community of the Ansar, raise your children upon the love of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام. If anyone refuses, then investigate the matter of his mother."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "مَنْ وَجَدَ بَرْدَ حُبِّنَا عَلَى قَلْبِهِ فَلْيُكْثِرِ اَلدُّعَاءَ لِأُمِّهِ فَإِنَّهَا لَمْ تَخُنْ أَبَاهُ".
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "Whoever feels the coolness of our (Ahlulbayt عليه السلام) love in his heart should frequently pray for his mother, for she did not betray his father."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: "يُرَبَّى اَلصَّبِيُّ سَبْعاً وَ يُؤَدَّبُ سَبْعاً وَ يُسْتَخْدَمُ سَبْعاً وَ مُنْتَهَى طُولِهِ فِي ثَلاَثٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ سَنَةً وَ عَقْلِهِ فِي خَمْسٍ وَ ثَلاَثِينَ سَنَةً وَ مَا كَانَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَبِالتَّجَارِبِ".
The Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام said: "A child should be nurtured for seven years, disciplined for seven years, and then employed (given responsibility) for seven years. His physical growth reaches its peak at twenty-three years, and his intellect matures at thirty-five years. Whatever comes after that is through experiences."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى قَالَ: "يَشِبُّ اَلصَّبِيُّ كُلَّ سَنَةٍ أَرْبَعَ أَصَابِعَ بِإِصْبَعِ نَفْسِهِ".
In the narration of Hammad ibn Isa, it is reported: "A child grows every year by four finger-widths, measured by his own finger."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى صَالِحُ بْنُ عُقْبَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ اَلْعَبْدَ اَلصَّالِحَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ يَقُولُ: "تُسْتَحَبُّ عَرَامَةُ اَلْغُلاَمِ فِي صِغَرِهِ لِيَكُونَ حَلِيماً فِي كِبَرِهِ ".
Salih ibn Uqbah narrated that he heard the Righteous Servant (Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim عليه السلام) say: "It is recommended for a boy to be lively and energetic in his childhood so that he may grow to be gentle and patient in his adulthood."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ اَلنَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ فَقَالَ: مَا بَالُنَا نَجِدُ بِأَوْلاَدِنَا مَا لاَ يَجِدُونَ بِنَا قَالَ "لِأَنَّهُمْ مِنْكُمْ وَ لَسْتُمْ مِنْهُمْ ".
A man asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), "Why do we feel a stronger attachment to our children than they feel toward us?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) replied: "Because they are from you, but you are not from them."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ سُئِلَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ لِمَ أَيْتَمَ اَللَّهُ نَبِيَّهُ مُحَمَّداً صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ قَالَ "لِئَلاَّ يَكُونَ لِأَحَدٍ عَلَيْهِ طَاعَةٌ".
Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام was asked: "Why did Allah سبحانه وتعالى make His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) an orphan?" Imam عليه السلام replied: "So that no one would have authority over him."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
Commentary #1