Muhammad (saw) – The Perfect Man — Page 648
CHAPTER 26 The Holy Prophet Muhammad sa 's Love for his own Offspring and other Children 648 Chapter 26 The Holy Prophet Muhammad sa 's Love for his own Offspring and other Children The Holy Prophet Muhammad sa was commissioned as a prophet at the time when every kind of human right was being trampled. The rights of one's own children and other children were being denied. Some babies were killed (before birth) for fear of poverty and in some tribes the custom of burying the young girls alive was prevalent. The Holy Prophet Muhammad sa gave children the right to live honourably. He said, "Respect your children and give them good training. " 1 Similarly he said, "There is no greater gift from a father to his son, than good training. " 2 The Holy Prophet Muhammad sa 's teachings regarding training of children were full of wisdom. He instructed that at birth Adh a n and Takb i r should be said in the baby's ears. The wisdom inherent in this instruction is that the child listens to the words of God and His Messenger right from the beginning. Then he advised his followers that the child should be told to offer prayer when he is seven years old. Three years period was allowed for this advice and persuasion. He further advised "If children do not offer prayer even at the age of ten years, they can be punished. " 3