Children are gifts from Allah s.w.t. The Quran mentions this fact in the verse:
وَٱللَّهُ جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَٰجًۭا وَجَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَزْوَٰجِكُم بَنِينَ وَحَفَدَةًۭ وَرَزَقَكُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ ۚ أَفَبِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ يُؤْمِنُونَ وَبِنِعْمَتِ ٱللَّهِ هُمْ يَكْفُرُونَ
“And Allah has made for you spouses of your own kind and given you through your spouses, children and grandchildren. And He has granted you good, lawful provisions. Are they then faithful to falsehood and ungrateful for Allah’s favours?”
(Surah An-Nahl, 16:72)
As Muslims, we are responsible for the well-being of our children physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. It is their right to grow up in a healthy and secure environment. The Prophet s.a.w. mentioned in a hadith:
أَلَا كُلُّكُمْ رَاعٍ وَكُلُّكُمْ مَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ
“Every one of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock.”
(Sahih Al-Bukhari)
There are many hadiths of the Prophet s.a.w. that tells us about the importance of taking care of our family. This particular hadith concludes the overarching reminder to bear the responsibility of our respective roles in life, such as that of a leader, an employee and a parent.
Besides providing proper nutrition and education for our children, praying for them is also part of our responsibility. After all, while putting our best efforts in their upbringing, we rely upon Allah s.w.t’s mercy in realising our hopes and commitments for our children. The Messenger of Allah s.a.w. said:
ثَلَاثُ دَعَوَاتٍ مُسْتَجَابَاتٌ لَا شَكَّ فِيهِنَّ دَعْوَةُ الْمَظْلُومِ وَدَعْوَةُ الْمُسَافِرِ وَدَعْوَةُ الْوَالِدِ عَلَى وَلَدِهِ
"There are three supplications that will undoubtedly be answered: the supplication of an oppressed person, the supplication of the traveller; and the supplication of a parent over his child."
(Sunan At-Tirmizi)
Truly, the prayer of the parent for his or her child is answered. Here are some duas that we can recite for our children:
We seek protection from Allah s.w.t, the All-Protecting and the All-Knowing. Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. used to seek Allah's protection for Al-Hasan and Al-Husain by reciting this Dua. It is also encouraged to see a prayer with Allah's Names.
أُعِيذُكُمَا بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ، وَمِنْ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لاَمَّةٍ
U'izukuma bikalimatil-lahit-tammati min kulli shaytanin wa hammah, wa min kulli 'ainin lammah.
“I seek protection for you in the Perfect Words of Allah from every devil and every beast, and from every envious blameworthy eye.”
(Jami’ At-Tirmizi)
In this Dua, we seek protection from Allah s.w.t. against the devils, any poisonous creature, as well as the evil eye, which is a misfortune or harm that is caused by the sight of a person out of envy or jealousy. The Prophet s.a.w. warned us about the evil eye, especially towards our own self.
إِذَا رَأَى أَحَدُكُمْ مِنْ أَخِيهِ أَوْ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ أَوْ مِنْ مَالِهِ مَا يُعْجِبُهُ فَلْيُبَرِّكْهُ فَإِنَّ الْعَيْنَ حَقٌّ
“If one of you sees something from his brother, or in himself, or in his wealth which impresses him, then supplicate for it to be blessed with. Verily, the evil eye of envy is true”
(Musnad Ahmad)
Therefore, when we happen to come across something that impresses us, we should mention the name of Allah and make supplications for it to be blessed with.
This Dua can also be recited when children or anyone are sick and in need of a cure. The Prophet s.a.w. used to read this Dua whenever he visited a patient.
اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ النَّاسِ، أَذْهِبِ البَأْسَ رَبَّ النَّاسِ، اشْفِ وَأَنْتَ الشَّافِي لاَ شِفَاءَ إِلاَّ شِفَاؤُكَ، شِفَاءً لاَ يُغَادِرُ سَقَمًا
Allahuma Rabban-nas, azhibil-ba’sa, isyfi wa anta asy-syafi, la syifa’a illa syifa-uka, syifa-an laa yughadiru saqama.
“O Allah, Lord of the people, take away the disease. Cure him as You are the One Who cures. There is no cure but Yours, a cure that leaves behind no ailment.”
(Sahih Al-Bukhari)
رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا
Rabbana hab lana min azwajinaa wa zurriyyatina qurrata a’yunin waj-alnaa lil muttaqiina imaama.
“Our Lord! Bless us with pious spouses and offspring who will be the joy of our hearts, and make us models for the righteous.”
(Surah Al-Furqan, 25:74)
Prophet Ibrahim a.s. made this Dua, asking Allah s.w.t. to bless him with righteous offspring.
رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ
Rabbi hab lii minas-solihiin.
“My Lord! Bless me with righteous offspring.”
(Surah As-Saffat, 37:100)
Performing the five obligatory prayers is one of the five pillars of Islam. Thus, we should start encouraging our children to pray from a young age and gradually instilling upon them the importance and keenness of performing prayer. This is a Dua that we can recite for ourselves, as well as for our children to be steadfast in prayers.
رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ
Rabbij-’alni muqimas-solati wa min zurriyyati, Rabbana wa taqabbal du’aa.
“My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer, and from my descendants. Our Lord, and accept my supplication.”
(Surah Ibrahim, 14:40)
We can also recite this Dua for our children and even teach them to recite it, especially when facing any difficulties.
اللَّهُمَّ لَا سَهْلَ إلاَّ مَا جَعَلْتَهُ سَهْلاً، وأنْتَ تَجْعَلُ الحَزْنَ إذَا شِئْتَ سَهْلاً
Allahumma laa sahla illa ma ja’altahu sahlan, wa anta taj-alul hazna iza syi’ta sahla.
“Oh Allah! Nothing is easy except what you have made easy. If you wish, you can make the difficult easy.”
(Sahih Ibn Hibban)
As Muslim parents, it is our responsibility to instil the love of Allah s.w.t. and His Prophet s.a.w. in our children.
رَبَّنَا وَاجْعَلْنَا مُسْلِمَيْنِ لَكَ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِنَا أُمَّةً مُسْلِمَةً لَكَ وَأَرِنَا مَنَاسِكَنَا وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ
Rabbana waj-’alna muslimaini laka wa min zurriyyatina ummatan muslimatan laka wa-arina manasikana wa tub ‘alaina innaka anta at-tawwabur-rahim.
“Our Lord! Make us both (fully) submit to You and from our descendants a nation that will submit to you. Show us our rituals, and accept our repentance. You are truly the Acceptor of Repentance, Most Merciful.”
(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:128)
رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِي ۖ إِنِّي تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِين
Rabbi auzi’ni an asykura ni’matakal-lati an’amta ‘alayya wa ’alaa waalidayya wa an a’mala solihan tardhahu wa aslih lii fii zurriyyati inni tubtu ilaika wa inni minal-muslimin.
"My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favour which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to work righteousness of which You will approve and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the Muslims."
(Surah Al-Ahqaf, 46:15)
This dua which we can practise was recited by Prophet Zakariyya a.s., asking Allah s.w.t. to grant him a pious child.
رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِنْ لَدُنْكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً ۖ إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ الدُّعَاءِ
Rabbi hab lii min ladunka zurriyyatan toyyibatan innaka samii’ud-du’aa.
"My Lord, grant me from Yourself a good offspring. Indeed, You are the Hearer of supplication."
(Surah Ali ‘Imran, 3:38)
Other than the above-mentioned Duas, you can also dua with all your heart. By His will, Allah s.w.t may grant your prayers and hope for the success of your children. |
Check out Muslim.Sg's dua collection.