Is It Halal to Hit Children to Teach the Qur’an?

Question

Is it halal to beat children to teach them the Qur’an?

Bottom Line

Teach them, don’t beat them.

Quick Answer

The prophetic way is mercy, patience, and wisdom. Harming, frightening, or humiliating a child to make them learn the Qur’an is not allowed. Teaching should nurture love of Allah’s Book and protect the child’s dignity.

Key Takeaways

• Method: gentle instruction, encouragement, and consistency.
• No harm: anything that injures, shames, or instills fear is prohibited.
• Goal: connect the child’s heart to the Qur’an, not merely their memory.
• Discipline: Use non-physical, age-appropriate strategies when needed.

Detailed Answer

Islam’s ethos of tarbiyah is built on compassion. Mercy is the doorway to knowledge. The Messenger ﷺ was sent as a mercy and taught with kindness. Education in Islam begins with character. When the teacher’s heart is soft, the child’s heart opens. This is how love for the Qur’an takes root. The Qur’an praises gentleness and forbearance, and the Sunnah models patient teaching. Striking children to force memorization conflicts with that spirit and risks turning them away from the Book.

“It is by mercy from Allah that you were gentle with them”  Qur’an 3:159

The Qur’an came to heal, not to harm. Teaching it should feel like light, not pressure. A teacher’s smile can carry a verse further than a raised hand ever will. Plant love now, and the child will carry Allah’s words for life.

“Allah is gentle and loves gentleness in all matters.” Sahih Muslim 2593

Practical ways to encourage Qur’an learning

• Small steps daily: 10–15 minute sessions, one target at a time, then praise
• Warm start: open with a short du‘a together and one ayah about Allah’s mercy to set the tone
• Model and echo: you recite slowly, the child echoes, then both recite together
• Chunking: break lines into 3–4 word phrases, master each chunk, then blend
• Positive ratio: aim for three praises for every correction
• Gentle correction: pause, smile, say “try again from this word,” then guide the makharij
• Gamify: sticker chart or points for effort, consistency, and beautiful adab, not just speed
• Short reviews: begin each session with a 2-minute revision of yesterday’s work
• Age-fit goals: younger kids focus on love of recitation and sounds before heavy memorization
• Environment: a quiet space, a soft voice, no screens, and a copy of the mushaf for them to hold
• Constructive consequences: if boundaries are needed, use calm time-outs, lost screen time, or extra review, never hitting

Why harshness fails

Harshness may force words onto the tongue, but it closes the heart. A child who associates the Qur’an with fear will avoid it later. Gentle plants love, and love sustains lifelong recitation.

What This Means for You

Keep lessons short, warm, and consistent. Praise effort, correct kindly, and celebrate small wins. If behavior needs addressing, use non-physical, respectful strategies. Your mercy is the child’s bridge to the Qur’an.

And Allah knows best.

References

Primary Sources

Qur’an

1. Al-Anbiya 21:107: The Prophet ﷺ as a mercy.
2. Aal ‘Imran 3:159: By mercy, you were gentle with them.

Hadith

3. Tirmidhi 1921: Show mercy to the young and honor the elders.
4. Sahih Muslim 2593: Allah is gentle and loves gentleness.
5. Sahih Muslim 2328: The Prophet ﷺ did not strike a servant or child.

Modern Research & Reports

6. Rosenshine, B. “Principles of Instruction.” American Educator 2012. PDF
7. Hattie, J., Timperley, H. “The Power of Feedback.” Review of Educational Research 2007. SAGE
8. Cepeda, N. J., et al. “Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks.” Psychological Bulletin 2006. PubMed
9. Karpicke, J., Roediger, H. “The critical importance of retrieval practice.” Science 2008. Science
10. PBIS guidance on praise ratios for behavior support. NJ PBSIS brief