Discipline of orphans

 

There is a muslim who married a widow who has
two children from her first marriage.Which Islamic rights has this man towards the
children? Has the man the right to tell or force the children to pray? Is the boy allowed
to call him "daddy"?
Is there any case he must treat them differently?

 

Praise be to Allaah.

Yes, he should order them to pray, as the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“Instruct the child to pray when he reaches the age of seven…”
(Reported by Abu Dawood in al-Sunan, Kitaab al-salaat, Baab mataa yu’mar
al-sabiyyu bi’l-salaat).

The scholars said: “The child should be taught about tahaarah
(purity and cleanliness, i.e., wudoo’ etc) and prayer when he reaches
the age of ten years.”

The meaning of discipline or instruction is to smack, threaten
and rebuke. The child’s guardian should teach him about tahaarah
and salaat, and tell the child to do these things, when he reaches the
age of seven, and he should discipline him and force him to do them when he
reaches the age of ten.

The guiding principle here is the hadeeth of the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him): “Teach the child to pray when he is seven, and smack him if he does
not pray when he is ten.” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, who said it
is a hasan hadeeth).

According to another report, he said: “Tell
the child to pray when he is seven, and smack him if he does not do it when
he is ten, and separate them in their beds.” This training is ordained
by Islam to teach the prayer and let the child get used to praying, so that
he will be accustomed to it and will not forget it when he reaches puberty.
There is no difference between boys and girls in this matter of discipline.
(See Al-Mughni by Ibn Qudaamah, Baab sifat al-salaat).

Some people may not feel comfortable about disciplining orphans,
but the right approach is for their guardian to teach them and direct them in
whatever way is beneficial, even if this involves being harsh with the child
for his own sake. There is nothing wrong with that, as the poet said:

“He was harsh so that they would understand. Let the one
who is determined and resolved be harsh sometimes towards those for whom he
cares.”

The scholars said: “(A guardian) has the right
to smack an orphan under his care just as he would smack his own child.”
(See Al-durr al-mukhtaar: Baab al-ta’zeer).

As regards the matter of an orphan calling his guardian “Father”
or “Daddy,” this question has already been answered: please see question
# 1041. And Allaah knows best.