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 Aḥadīth
Ḥadīth 1

4743 - 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".

Hadith.4743 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) 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."

Ḥadīth 2

4744 - : 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".

Hadith.4744 - Jabir ibn Abdullah Al-Ansari used to walk through the streets of the Ansar in Medina, proclaiming, " Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) 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 (as). If anyone refuses, then investigate the matter of his mother."

Ḥadīth 3

4745 - وَ قَالَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ : "مَنْ وَجَدَ بَرْدَ حُبِّنَا عَلَى قَلْبِهِ فَلْيُكْثِرِ اَلدُّعَاءَ لِأُمِّهِ فَإِنَّهَا لَمْ تَخُنْ أَبَاهُ".

Hadith.4745 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "Whoever feels the coolness of our (Ahlulbayt (as)) love in his heart should frequently pray for his mother, for she did not betray his father."

Ḥadīth 4

4746 - 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".

Hadith.4746 - The Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) 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."

Ḥadīth 5

4747 - وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى قَالَ : "يَشِبُّ اَلصَّبِيُّ كُلَّ سَنَةٍ أَرْبَعَ أَصَابِعَ بِإِصْبَعِ نَفْسِهِ".

Hadith.4747 - In the narration of Hammad ibn Isa, it is reported: "A child grows every year by four finger-widths, measured by his own finger."

Ḥadīth 6

4748 - وَ رَوَى صَالِحُ بْنُ عُقْبَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ اَلْعَبْدَ اَلصَّالِحَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ يَقُولُ: "تُسْتَحَبُّ عَرَامَةُ اَلْغُلاَمِ فِي صِغَرِهِ لِيَكُونَ حَلِيماً فِي كِبَرِهِ ".

Hadith.4748 - Salih ibn Uqbah narrated that he heard the Righteous Servant (Imam Musa ibn Jafar Al-Kadhim (as)) 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."

Ḥadīth 7

4749 - وَ سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ اَلنَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ فَقَالَ: مَا بَالُنَا نَجِدُ بِأَوْلاَدِنَا مَا لاَ يَجِدُونَ بِنَا قَالَ "لِأَنَّهُمْ مِنْكُمْ وَ لَسْتُمْ مِنْهُمْ ".

Hadith.4749 - 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."

Ḥadīth 8

4750 - : وَ سُئِلَ اَلصَّادِقُ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ لِمَ أَيْتَمَ اَللَّهُ نَبِيَّهُ مُحَمَّداً صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ قَالَ "لِئَلاَّ يَكُونَ لِأَحَدٍ عَلَيْهِ طَاعَةٌ".

Hadith.4750 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) was asked: "Why did Allah (swt) make His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) an orphan?" Imam (as) replied: "So that no one would have authority over him."