“It is not permissible to parent, teacher or employer to smack a child; this would inevitably inflict psychological as well as physical damage.”
Islam grants parents the right to guide and discipline their children, and brings them up in accordance with the rules of Shariah. Islam considers this the best thing parents may ever offer their children. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “Nothing a parent may award his (or her) child is better than a good upbringing.” Disciplining the child should take place without the use of violence or abusive language; however children should be brought up with pride and self-confidence. It is in this light that we understand the saying of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW): “May Allah have mercy on a parent who helps his (or her) child be grateful and kind to him (or her).” It is not permissible to parent, teacher or employer to smack a child; this would inevitably inflict psychological as well as physical damage. Both psychological and physical damages have been banned by the Islamic Shariah. In handling children, the Shariah urges us to embrace them, and show them love and compassion. We should take into consideration the natural development of the child and what each stage of its development requires, along with the different needs that necessitate understanding and awareness on our part. We are expected to respect the child’s personality, and to wisely reinforce his or her self-confidence and ability to confront life and its challenges.
“Modern educational studies have warned against the repercussions and negative effects of resorting to smacking as an educational method, because it could generate the desire to respond with violence. Studies have shown that most adults who resort to violence in disciplining their children or in dealing with those who are weaker than them in general had themselves been victims of violence during their childhood.”
In doing so, we must not discriminate between the male and female. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “Play with the child for seven years; discipline him (or her) for seven years; accompany him (or her) for seven years; and then release him (or her) to lead his (or her) own life.” Rewards and punishment are all basic foundations for a sound upbringing. Parents, teachers and all those working with children in the various stages of child rearing and development constitute models for the children to follow. They are addressed by the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), who says: “Whoever introduces into Islam a good way, he (or she) will be rewarded for initiating it, and will receive a reward whenever someone follows it without taking a thing away from the reward of the latter. But whoever introduces into Islam a bad way, he (or she) will carry the burden of its sin as well as the burden of the sin incurred by whoever follows it without taking a thing away from the burden of the latter.” All forms of corporal punishment should be avoided as a means of disciplining children. The child’s parents, teachers or employers should never resort to it. Modern educational studies have warned against the repercussions and negative effects of resorting to smacking as an educational method, because it could generate the desire to respond with violence. Studies have shown that most adults who resort to violence in disciplining their children or in dealing with those who are weaker than them in general had themselves been victims of violence during their childhood.
