3. Three Stages of Life
Islamhasdividedtheupbringingofachildintothreestagesfrombirth
toage 21.The divisionisbasedonthe followinghadithofthe Prophet
(s.a.w.):“The childisthe masterforsevenyears; andaslaveforseven
yearsandavizier forseven years;soifhegrowsintoagoodcharacter
within 21 years,wellandgood;otherwiseleavehimalonebecauseyou
have discharged your responsibility before Allah.”
The same hadith has been explained by Imam Ja`far as-Sadiq (a.s.):
“Letyourchildplayuptosevenyears;andkeephimwithyou(foredu-
cationand training) foranother seven years; then ifhe succeeds(well
and good); otherwise, there is no good in him.”