cannot, out of consideration for him. If he cannot discharge this duty himself and no one else discharges it, they all become deserving of punishment. The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:

“When people see wrongdoing and do not change it, Allah may soon afflict them all with a punishment from Him.”

He also said:

“Whoever among you sees wrongdoing, let him change it with his hand. If he cannot, then with his tongue. If he cannot, then with his heart—and that is the weakest level of faith.”

This applies especially if he beats them for neglecting his own rights: it is reprehensible for him to punish them over his own rights but not over Allah’s rights. Discipline should be administered with a moderate whip and moderate force. He must not strike the face or vulnerable areas where a blow could prove fatal.

He was also asked—may Allah sanctify his soul:

Concerning a man who behaves insolently toward his parents: what punishment is due to him?

He replied:

If a man insults his father and assaults him, he must receive a severe punishment that deters him and others like him from such conduct. Indeed, something even more far-reaching is authentically reported from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) in the two Sahīh collections:

“One of the major sins is for a man to insult his parents.” They asked, “How would a man insult his parents?” He replied, “He insults another man’s father, and that man insults his father in return; he insults the man’s mother, and that man insults his mother in return.”

If the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) counted insulting another man’s father among the major sins, to prevent that man from insulting the original offender’s father, then what of someone who insults his own father directly? Such a person deserves a punishment that prevents him from mistreating