Fatwa's Insights - Kinship
The Ruling On Inflicting Harm On A Spouse, Child, Or Student For Educational Purposes
THE 34TH MEETING OF THE PERLIS STATE FATWA COMMITTEE / 2018
6 JANUARI 2018 / 18 RABIUL AKHIR 1439H
THE RULING ON INFLICTING HARM ON A SPOUSE, CHILD, OR STUDENT FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES
1) Inflicting physical or psychological harm on a spouse, child, or student in any form in an unjust manner, even for the purpose of education, is prohibited.
2) Permission to strike for educational purposes is only allowed on the condition that it does not cause harm to the physical or psychological well-being of the person being educated. The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said:
مُرُوا أَوْلادَكُمْ بِالصَّلاةِ وَهُمْ أَبْنَاءُ سَبْعِ سِنِينَ، وَاضْرِبُوهُمْ عَلَيْهَا وَهُمْ أَبْنَاءُ عَشْرٍ، وَفَرِّقُوا بَيْنَهُمْ فِي الْمَضَاجِعِ
Meaning: "Command your children to perform prayer when they are seven years old, and strike (discipline) them for it when they are ten years old and separate their sleeping places (between boys and girls)." (Narrated by Abu Dawud. Authenticated as Sahih by al-Albani in Sahih Abi Dawud)
3) Striking, slapping, or any harsh action upon the face is absolutely prohibited based on the hadith of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), even if done for the purpose of discipline or in jest. He said:
إِذَا قَاتَلَ أَحَدُكُمْ أَخَاهُ فَلْيَجْتَنِب الْوَجْهَ
Meaning: "When one of you fights with his brother, let him avoid (striking) the face." (Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim)
4) Likewise, striking any parts of the body that are susceptible to injury, such as the head and the private parts, is prohibited.
Resolved at the Meeting of the Majlis Agama Islam dan Adat Istiadat Melayu Perlis No. 1 of 2018 convened on 13 January 2018.