مُرُوا أَوْلَادَكُمْ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَهُمْ أَبْنَاءُ سَبْعِ سِنِينَ، وَاضْرِبُوهُمْ عَلَيْهَا وَهُمْ أَبْنَاءُ عَشْرِ سِنِينَ، وَفَرِّقُوا بَيْنَهُمْ فِي الْمَضَاجِعِ
Instruct your children to pray when they are seven years old; at ten years, the narration speaks of disciplinary striking concerning prayer, and of separating their sleeping places.
Source: أبو داود
مُرُوا is an imperative meaning “instruct.” أَوْلَادَكُمْ means “your children,” سَبْعِ سِنِينَ means “seven years,” and عَشْرِ سِنِينَ means “ten years.” فَرِّقُوا directs separation; الْمَضَاجِعِ means sleeping places.
The two ages indicate a staged approach: teach and establish a habit before expecting greater responsibility. The phrase وَاضْرِبُوهُمْ appears in the narration; its juristic conditions and limits are a separate subject. A child’s safety, dignity, and constructive learning must remain central.