an act of worship that is obligatory upon him (69) with knowledge of it (70), thus it is obligatory upon him despite ignorance, just as [if he were] (71) in the land of Islam.

202 - Issue; He said: (The young boy shall be disciplined regarding purification and prayer once he has completed ten years.)

[Meaning by discipline] (1) is striking, threatening, and reprimanding. Al-Qadi said: It is obligatory for the guardian of the child to teach him purification and prayer when he reaches seven years of age and command him to perform them, and to discipline him (2) regarding them when he reaches ten years of age. The basis for this is the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "Teach the child prayer at seven years old, and strike him for it at ten," reported by Al-Athram, Abu Dawud, and Al-Tirmidhi (4), who said: A Hasan (good) hadith (5). This is the wording of Al-Tirmidhi's narration, and the wording of the hadith of another is: "Command the child to pray at seven years old, and strike him for it at ten, and separate them in their beds." This [command and] (6) discipline (7) regarding the child is for the purpose of training him in prayer, so that he becomes accustomed to it and habitual of it, and does not abandon it upon reaching puberty; it is not obligatory upon him in the apparent view of the Madhhab. And among