What is the way to guide children to prayer, given the father's intense keenness on that? And what is the ruling on abandoning children and not obliging them to pray?

Guidance is of two types: The first is the guidance of divine grace (Tawfiq) and inspiration, which belongs solely to Allah, as He states: "Indeed, you do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills." No one can grant your children divine grace except Allah, and you must supplicate for them often.

The second is the guidance of indication, explanation, and instruction, which Allah has granted to whomever He wills, as He states: "And indeed, you do guide to a straight path." You possess this type of guidance for your children and are religiously obligated to provide it. Thus, you should command them to pray at seven and discipline them for it at ten.

Their negligence in prayer might stem from your shortcomings in teaching them, or from a corrupt environment, or from bad company.

We advise you to continue advising them and commanding them to pray without weariness, fulfilling the obligation of enjoining good and forbidding evil, and what Allah has made incumbent upon you concerning your dependents, for prayer is the pillar of the religion. Seek out the reason for their abandonment of prayer and strive to remove it.