What is the veracity of the Hadith: "Play with them for seven [years], discipline them for seven [years], befriend them for seven [years], then give them free rein"?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The mentioned has no origin in the authentic books of . It was mentioned by some of the Salaf with the wording: "Play with your son for seven [years], discipline him for seven [years], and befriend him for seven [years], then let him go his own way." This saying was attributed to Amir al-Mu'minin Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, with doubt regarding the authenticity of this attribution.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/38154
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 38154
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- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy