Training Children for Worship

Al-Rubay’ bint Mu’awwidh – Allah be pleased with her – said while describing how the Prophet – Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – told them to fast ‘Âshûrâ:

We used to make toys out of dyed wool for the children and keep them with us so if the children asked us for food we would give them the toys to distract them until they completed their fast.

Sahîh Muslim. A similar narration is also in Sahîh Al-Bukhârî.

Al-Nawawî states in his commentary on Sahîh Muslim:

In this narration we are shown that children should be trained to do acts of obedience and made used to doing worship; although they are not legally bound.