Prayer is obligatory for every sane Muslim who has come of age, except when menstruating and during postnatal bleeding. Children are to be told to pray when the reach the age of seven, and are to be struck for not praying from the age of ten. This is because the Prophet (May Allāh praise him and Peace be upon him) said, “Tell your children to pray once they reach the age of seven, and strike them if they do not pray from the age of ten and separate them in their beds” [Authenticated by Sheikh Al Albānī. in Al Irwā`: 247].