The First Stage: From Birth to Age Seven
Asthe firststageisacare-freeperiod, the childisto be considered as
“master”of theparents. TheProphet said,“The childis themaster for
sevenyears.”Thisistheageofbeingachildandplaying;heorsheisnot
yet fully ready for education through formal instruction.
Whathasbeensaidabove,however,doesnotmeanthatachildcannot
graspor understandanything; not atall.The child is constantlyinflu-
encedbytheatmosphereinwhichhelives;he/shelearnsbyobservation
and imitation; therefore, it is absolutely necessary for the parents to
provide good examples by their own behaviour. The Prophet said,
“Respectyourchildren andteachthemgoodbehaviour,Allahwillfor-
give (your sins).”
Although the child is not ready for formal instructions, our Imams
haveemphasizedthatreligiousissues—verybasicandsimple—should
be introduced to them gradually. “Graduality” is the most important
pointtorememberatthisstageoflife.Thefollowinghadithnarratedby
`AbdullahibnFazlfromthefifthorsixthImamisverysignificanttoun-
derstand what is meant by gradually:
“Whenthechild reaches 3 yearsofage, teachhimseventimesto re-
citela ilaha il-lal lāh.
Thenleavehimatthattillheis 3 years, 7 monthsand 20 daysold;then
train him to sayMuhammadun rasu-lul lāh.
Thenleavehimatthattillhecompletes 4 years,thenteachhimseven
times to saysal-lal lāhu ala Muhammadin wa āli Muhammad. Thenleavehimatthattillhereachestheageof 5 years;thenseeifhe candistinguishbetweentherightandthelefthand.Whenheknowsthe difference, then make him faceqiblahand tell him to dosajdah. Thisistocontinuetillheis 6 yearsofage.Thenheshouldbe toldto pray and taughtrukuandsajdah.
Whenhecompletes 7 years,thenheshouldbeaskedtowashhisface
and hands, and then told to pray.
Thiswillcontinuetillhereachestheageof 9 years,whenheshouldbe
taught proper ritual ablution for prayer and proper salāt.
Whenhelearnsproperwuduandsalāt,Allahforgivesthesinsofhis
parents.”