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The Banes of Upbringing
A) Excessiveness in love:
297. Imām al-Bāqir (a.s.) said: “The worst father is he whose kindness is excessive, and the worst child is the one whose negligence makes him disobey [his-her parents].”1
B) Excessiveness in reprimanding:
298. Imām ‘Ali (a.s.) said: “Excessive blame causes the fire of obstinacy to flame.”2
299. Imām ‘Ali (a.s.) said: “Avoid reprimanding constantly, for this act provokes the committing of sin and belittles [a real] reprimanding.”3
300. Imām ‘Ali (a.s.) said, in one of the wise sayings attributed to him: “If you reprimanded a youth, leave for him some room [for his excuses] concerning his fault, lest he would be drawn to coarseness.”4
C) Disciplining at a time of anger:
301. al-Kāfi, narrating from ‘Ali ibn Asbāt, from one of our companions [a Shi‘i] who said: “The Prophet of Allah (s.a.w.) prohibited punishing at the time of anger.”5
1.. Tārikh al-Ya‘qubi, vol. ۲, p. ۳۲۰. al-Jawharah, p. ۵۲.
2.. Tuhaf al-‘Uqul, p. ۸۴, Ghurar al-Hikam, h. ۱۷۶۸. Bihār al-Anwār, vol. ۷۷, p. ۲۱۲, h.۱, narrating from Kashf al-Mahajjah.
3.. Ghurar al-Hikam, h. ۳۷۴۸. ‘Uyun al-Hikam wa al-Mawā‘iz, p. ۱۶۳, h. ۳۴۸۱.
4.. Sharh Nahj al-Balāghah, vol. ۲۰, p. ۳۳۳, h. ۸۱۹.
5.. al-Kāfi, vol. ۷, p. ۲۶۰, h. ۳. Tahdhib al-Ahkām, vol. ۱۰, p. ۱۴۸, h. ۵۸۹. al-Mahāsin, vol. ۱, p. ۴۲۷, h. ۹۸۴. Bihār al-Anwār, vol. ۷۹, p. ۱۰۲ h. ۲.
