Are parents sinful if they do not urge their children to pray?
Short answer
Parents and whoever has authority and guidance must take care to command the children to pray and teach them good, and it is not permissible to leave them without direction while able.
Evidence and explanation
The Shaykh stressed the responsibility of fathers and mothers in directing their children to the prayer, and that its basis is enjoining good and cooperating in righteousness and piety.
Scholar referenced
This editorial summary is based on the original source linked below and is not presented as a verbatim quotation from the scholar.
From the text of the answer (Arabic, with an English translation)
Original answer — Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn Baz
ما النصيحة في حث الأولاد على الصلاة؟ — فتوى ١٢١٠٦- Question
«امتدادًا للسؤال السابق سماحة الشيخ هذا السائل يقول في سؤاله -وهو قريب من السؤال السابق-: كثير من أولياء الأمور هداهم الله لا يحرصون على حث أولادهم على أداء الصلوات المفروضة، فهم يتساهلون كثيرًا معهم في ذلك، هل من كلمة سماحة الشيخ حول هذا الموضوع؟ الشيخ: أعد. المقدم: يقول: كثير من أولياء الأمور -هداهم الله- لا يحرصون على حث»
English translation (unreviewed): Continuing from the previous question, your eminence, this questioner says in his question — which is close to the previous one: Many guardians, may Allah guide them, are not keen to urge their children to perform the obligatory prayers; they are very lax with them in that. Is there a word, your eminence, on this subject? — The Shaykh: Repeat. — The presenter: He says: Many guardians, may Allah guide them, are not keen to urge ...
(excerpt from the question)
- From the text of the answer
«نعم، الواجب على جميع المسلمين العناية بالصلاة، وتوجيه أولادهم إليها، الواجب على الآباء والأمهات والإخوة العناية بهذا الأمر، الأب يوجه أولاده، والأم كذلك، والأخ الكبير والعم..»
English translation (unreviewed): Yes, all Muslims must take care of the prayer and direct their children to it. Fathers, mothers and brothers must care for this matter; the father directs his children, and so does the mother, the elder brother, the uncle..
The Arabic excerpts matched the original page word for word by an automated check and have not had human scholarly review. The English translations are unreviewed translations made for this site; they are not an approved Shari‘ah translation. Rely on the Arabic original.
Source
What is the advice on urging children to pray?
Title of the original page (Arabic): ما النصيحة في حث الأولاد على الصلاة؟
Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn Baz, may Allah have mercy on him