J- Swimming and Archery:
270. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “Teach your children swimming and archery.”1
271. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “Teach swimming and archery to your sons and teach women to spindle.”2
272. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “Teach archery to your sons, for it will bring victory over the enemy.”34
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The Age of Upbringing and Disciplining a Child5
273. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “A child is a master for seven years, a servant for seven years, and a minister for seven years. If you are pleased with his upbringing when he is twenty one years old, that is good, and if not, then let him be, for you are excused with Allah.”6
274. Imām ‘Ali (a.s.) said: “A child is to be trained for seven years, to be disciplined for seven years and is employed for seven years. The end of his physical growth is when he is twenty three years old, and the end of the completion of his intellect is when he is thirty five years old, and after that, whatever comes forth is gained by means of experience.”7
1.. al-Kāfi, vol. ۶, p. ۴۷, h. ۴, narrating from Imām ‘Ali (a.s.). Usd al-Ghābah, vol. ۱, p. ۴۱۲, No. ۴۸۸, with ‘your sons’ instead of ‘your chidlren’, narrating from ‘Abdullah ibn al-Rabi‘ al-Ansāri.
2.. Shu‘ab al-Imān, vol. ۶, p. ۴۰۱, h. ۸۶۶۴, narrating from Ibn ‘Umar. al-Jāmi‘ al-Saghir, vol. ۲, p. ۱۶۱, h. ۵۴۷۷.
3.. Children, whether male or female, must be taught what they need according to the requirements of that sex, even though in certain circumstances and different times these needs may vary. For example, in regards to boys, the purpose of archery is that it is a military art, and not only shooting with bow, and concerning girls, teaching them to spindle is not what is exclusively meant for all times, but it was mentioned in the tradition because of the need of that time. Moreover, girls and women must be trained with the necessary skills according to the requirements of the time and their own needs.
4.. al-Firdaws, vol. ۳, p. ۱۱, h. ۴۰۰۸, narrating from Jābir. Kanz al-‘Ummāl, vol. ۱۶, p.۴۴۳, h. ۴۵۳۴۱.
5.. A six years old child is mentally more capable than a two-year old child in accepting requests, guidance, in the imitating of the behavior of others (who act as a model for the child to imitate), or other types of communications. As the child grows up, these kinds of innate communicative inputs will increasingly produce certain minor and delicate effects. The need of performing complex continual practices may bring about these abilities in a six year old child and will make him respond them, while in most cases the two year old child lacks the recognizing ability for responding to these kinds of directions.
In early period of childhood, the controlled communications of a child to others is also an indication to some changes depending on the age.
A two year old child can manifestly control the behavior of those around him in particular delicate ways, and which he also does. Yet, he is never able to make others accept the conducts he has in mind in an ideal form with enjoying directions which are sometimes partial, oral, with bodily movement, bodily exhibitions, and the like which can be done by a six year old. Finally, the child who is in the state of growth can control his behavior in an increasing form. (Rushdshenākhti, p. ۱۰۶).
6.. al-Mu‘jam al-Awsat, vol. ۶, p. ۱۷۰, h. ۶۱۰۴, narrating from Abu Jabirah. al-Firdaws, vol. ۴, p. ۴۳۰, h. ۷۲۵۲. Makārim al-Akhlāq, vol. ۱, p. ۴۷۸, h. ۱۶۴۹, with ‘his morals’ instead of ‘his upbringing’.
7.. Kitāb Man lā Yahdarhu al-Faqih, vol. ۳, p. ۴۹۳, h. ۴۷۴۶. Makārim al-Akhlāq, vol.۱, p. ۴۷۸, h. ۱۶۵۳, with ‘be leniant’ instead of ‘be trained’.
