Ibn Mubarak on Parenting: Be gentle with your children

Al-Ghazali reported: A man came to Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him, and he complained about disrespect from his son. Ibn al-Mubarak said, “Have you supplicated against him?” The man said yes. Ibn al-Mubarak said, “You have corrupted him.” Al-Ghazali said, “It is recommended to be gentle with children.”

Source: Iḥyā’ Ulūm al-Dīn 2/217

عن الغزالي جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَىٰ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ الْمُبَارَكِ رَحِمَهُ اللهُ يَشْكُو إِلَيْهِ عُقُوقَ وَلَدِهِ ‏فَسَأَلَهُ إِبْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ أَدَعَوْتَ عَلَيْهِ ‏قَالَ نَعَمْ ‏قَالَ أَنْتَ أَفْسَدْتَهُ وَقال الغزالي وَيُسْتَحَبُّ الرِّفْقُ بِالْوَلَدِ

2/217 إحياء علوم الدين

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