5 Prophetic Ways to Keep Your Children Under Allah’s Protection ﷻ
Children are a trust from Allah. Not only must we attend to their physical, intellectual and spiritual needs, we must also keep them from harm.
Protecting our children from the evil in this world is the responsibility of every parent.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is reported to have said:
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ
كُلُّكُمْ رَاعٍ، وَكُلُّكُمْ مَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ، فَالإِمَامُ رَاعٍ وَمَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ، وَالرَّجُلُ رَاعٍ فِي أَهْلِهِ وَمَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ، وَالْمَرْأَةُ رَاعِيَةٌ فِي بَيْتِ زَوْجِهَا وَمَسْئُولَةٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهَا، وَالْخَادِمُ رَاعٍ فِي مَالِ سَيِّدِهِ وَمَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ، وَكُلُّكُمْ رَاعٍ وَمَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ
Every one of you (people) is a shepherd. And every one is responsible for whatever falls under his responsibility. A man is like a shepherd of his own family, and he is responsible for them.
(Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Whether it is from seen or unseen forces, the Prophet advised us on how we can safeguard our children.
Here are 5 Prophetic ways to protect your children:
1. Du’a for Protection
The Prophet used to say the following to seek the protection of Allah for Al-Hassan and Al-Hussein:
عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُعَوِّذُ الْحَسَنَ وَالْحُسَيْنَ وَيَقُولُ " إِنَّ أَبَاكُمَا كَانَ يُعَوِّذُ بِهَا إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ، أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ، وَمِنْ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لاَمَّةٍ ".
u‛eedhukumaa bi kalimaat-illaahi-taammati min kulli shayṭaanin, wa haammatin, wa min kulli ‛aynin laammah.
I seek protection for you in the perfect words of Allah from every devil, and every beast, and from every evil eye.
(Al-Bukhari 4/119)
It is advised to say this du’a over your children in the morning, evening and before leaving the house.
2. Recite the Last Three Chapters of the Quran & Ayat ul-Kursi
Surah Al-Ikhlas, Surah Al-Falaq, and Surah An-Nas are well known for their protective properties. Recite these chapters into your hands and wipe them over the children before they sleep.
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَانَ إِذَا أَوَى إِلَى فِرَاشِهِ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ جَمَعَ كَفَّيْهِ، ثُمَّ نَفَثَ فِيهِمَا، فَقَرَأَ فِيهِمَا: قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ، وَقُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ، وَقُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ، ثُمَّ يَمْسَحُ بِهِمَا مَا اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْ جَسَدِهِ، يَبْدَأُ بِهِمَا عَلَى رَأْسِهِ وَوَجْهِهِ وَمَا أَقْبَلَ مِنْ جَسَدِهِ، يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Hadith 5017.
It was narrated from ‘Aisha that:
When the Prophet (peace be upon him) went to bed every night, he would hold his hands together and blow into them, and recite into them Qul Huwa Allah Ahad, Qul a’oodhu bi rabb il-falaq and Qul a’oodhu bi rabb in-nas. Then he would wipe them over whatever he could of his body, starting with his head and face and the front of his body, and he would do that three times.
(Al-Bukhari 5017)
عَنْ خَالِدِ بْنِ مَعْدَانَ، عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، قَالَ: قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ
يَا عُقْبَةُ بْنَ عَامِرٍ، أَلَا أُعَلِّمُكَ خَيْرَ سُوَرٍ أُنْزِلَتْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنْجِيلِ وَالزَّبُورِ وَالْفُرْقَانِ الْعَظِيمِ؟ قُلْتُ: بَلَى، جَعَلَنِي اللَّهُ فِدَاكَ. قَالَ: فَأَقْرَأَنِي: قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ، وَقُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ. ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَا عُقْبَةُ، تَعَوَّذْ بِهِمَا، فَمَا تَعَوَّذَ مُتَعَوِّذٌ بِمِثْلِهِمَا
An-Nasa’i recorded that Ibn ‘Abis Al-Juhani said that the Prophet said to him:
“O Ibn Abis! Shall I guide you to, or inform you, of the best thing that those who seek protection use for protection)”
He replied:
“Of course, O Messenger of Allah!’’
The Prophet said:
“Say: ‘I seek refuge with the Lord of Al-Falaq.’’ and “Say: ‘I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind.’” “These two Surahs” (are the best protection.)
Similarly, Ayatul kursi, the 255th verse of Surah Al-Baqarah, is renowned as a protection against the Satan. Parents should include Ayatul kursi in the daily remembrance that is recited over your children.
Abu Hurayrah said:
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ وَكَّلَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِحِفْظِ زَكَاةِ رَمَضَانَ، فَأَتَانِي آتٍ فَجَعَلَ يَحْثُو مِنَ الطَّعَامِ، فَأَخَذْتُهُ، وَقُلْتُ وَاللَّهِ لأَرْفَعَنَّكَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم. قَالَ إِنِّي مُحْتَاجٌ، وَعَلَىَّ عِيَالٌ، وَلِي حَاجَةٌ شَدِيدَةٌ. قَالَ فَخَلَّيْتُ عَنْهُ فَأَصْبَحْتُ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ مَا فَعَلَ أَسِيرُكَ الْبَارِحَةَ ". قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ شَكَا حَاجَةً شَدِيدَةً وَعِيَالاً فَرَحِمْتُهُ، فَخَلَّيْتُ سَبِيلَهُ. قَالَ " أَمَا إِنَّهُ قَدْ كَذَبَكَ وَسَيَعُودُ ". فَعَرَفْتُ أَنَّهُ سَيَعُودُ لِقَوْلِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِنَّهُ سَيَعُودُ. فَرَصَدْتُهُ فَجَاءَ يَحْثُو مِنَ الطَّعَامِ فَأَخَذْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ لأَرْفَعَنَّكَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم. قَالَ دَعْنِي فَإِنِّي مُحْتَاجٌ، وَعَلَىَّ عِيَالٌ لاَ أَعُودُ، فَرَحِمْتُهُ، فَخَلَّيْتُ سَبِيلَهُ فَأَصْبَحْتُ، فَقَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " يَا أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، مَا فَعَلَ أَسِيرُكَ ". قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ شَكَا حَاجَةً شَدِيدَةً وَعِيَالاً، فَرَحِمْتُهُ فَخَلَّيْتُ سَبِيلَهُ. قَالَ " أَمَا إِنَّهُ قَدْ كَذَبَكَ وَسَيَعُودُ ". فَرَصَدْتُهُ الثَّالِثَةَ فَجَاءَ يَحْثُو مِنَ الطَّعَامِ، فَأَخَذْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ لأَرْفَعَنَّكَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم، وَهَذَا آخِرُ ثَلاَثِ مَرَّاتٍ أَنَّكَ تَزْعُمُ لاَ تَعُودُ ثُمَّ تَعُودُ. قَالَ دَعْنِي أُعَلِّمْكَ كَلِمَاتٍ يَنْفَعُكَ اللَّهُ بِهَا. قُلْتُ مَا هُوَ قَالَ إِذَا أَوَيْتَ إِلَى فِرَاشِكَ فَاقْرَأْ آيَةَ الْكُرْسِيِّ {اللَّهُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَىُّ الْقَيُّومُ} حَتَّى تَخْتِمَ الآيَةَ، فَإِنَّكَ لَنْ يَزَالَ عَلَيْكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ حَافِظٌ وَلاَ يَقْرَبَنَّكَ شَيْطَانٌ حَتَّى تُصْبِحَ. فَخَلَّيْتُ سَبِيلَهُ فَأَصْبَحْتُ، فَقَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَا فَعَلَ أَسِيرُكَ الْبَارِحَةَ ". قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ زَعَمَ أَنَّهُ يُعَلِّمُنِي كَلِمَاتٍ، يَنْفَعُنِي اللَّهُ بِهَا، فَخَلَّيْتُ سَبِيلَهُ. قَالَ " مَا هِيَ ". قُلْتُ قَالَ لِي إِذَا أَوَيْتَ إِلَى فِرَاشِكَ فَاقْرَأْ آيَةَ الْكُرْسِيِّ مِنْ أَوَّلِهَا حَتَّى تَخْتِمَ {اللَّهُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَىُّ الْقَيُّومُ} وَقَالَ لِي لَنْ يَزَالَ عَلَيْكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ حَافِظٌ وَلاَ يَقْرَبَكَ شَيْطَانٌ حَتَّى تُصْبِحَ، وَكَانُوا أَحْرَصَ شَىْءٍ عَلَى الْخَيْرِ. فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَمَا إِنَّهُ قَدْ صَدَقَكَ وَهُوَ كَذُوبٌ، تَعْلَمُ مَنْ تُخَاطِبُ مُنْذُ ثَلاَثِ لَيَالٍ يَا أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ". قَالَ لاَ. قَالَ " ذَاكَ شَيْطَانٌ ".
The Messenger of Allah put me in charge of guarding the zakat of Ramadan. Someone came to me and started grabbing (taking illegally) handful of the food. I took hold of him and said:
‘I will take you to the Messenger of Allah.’
He said: ‘I will teach you some words by means of which Allah will benefit you.’
I said: ‘What are they?’
He said: ‘When you go to your bed, recite this ayah: “Allah! La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), Al-Hayyul-Qayyoom (the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists)…”
(Surah al-Baqarah, 2:255).
Then Allah will appoint a guard for you who will stay with you and no Satan will come near you until morning.’
The Messenger of Allah asked me:
‘What did your prisoner do last night?’
I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, he taught me something, and claimed that Allah would benefit me by it.’He said:‘What was it?’I said:
‘He taught me to recite Ayatul kursi when I go to bed, and said that no Satan would come near me until morning, and that Allah would appoint a guard for me who would stay with me.’
The prophet said:
‘He told you the truth, although he is an inveterate liar. That was the Satan’
(Al-Bukhari 2311 ; Muslim)
3. Surah Al-Baqarah
Recitation of Surah Al-Baqarah is known to keep the devil away from the home. Since many tribulations are satanic in nature (evil eye, possession, black magic), keeping Satan away from your homes is fundamental for protecting your family.
Abu Hurayrah reports that the Messenger of Allah said:
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ تَجْعَلُوا بُيُوتَكُمْ مَقَابِرَ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَنْفِرُ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ الَّذِي تُقْرَأُ فِيهِ سُورَةُ الْبَقَرَةِ " .
“Do not make your houses like graves, for the Shaytan runs away from a house in which Surat al-Baqarah is recited.”
(Muslim, 780)
Sahl ibn Sa’d said that the Messenger of Allah said:
إِنَّ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ سَنَامًا، وَإِنَّ سَنَامَ الْقُرْآنِ سُورَةُ الْبَقَرَةِ، مَنْ قَرَأَهَا فِي بَيْتِهِ لَيْلًا لَمْ يَدْخُلِ الشَّيْطَانُ بَيْتَهُ ثَلَاثَ لَيَالٍ، وَمَنْ قَرَأَهَا نَهَارًا لَمْ يَدْخُلِ الشَّيْطَانُ بَيْتَهُ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ
“Everything has a hump (or, high peak), and Al-Baqarah is the high peak of the Quran. Whoever recites Al-Baqarah at night in his house, then Shaytan will not enter that house for three nights. Whoever recites it during a day in his house, then Shaytan will not enter that house for three days.”
(Abu Al-Qasim At-Tabarani and Ibn al-Mundhir )
4. Etiquettes in the Toilet
The toilet is an area of filth and the jinn are attracted to such dirty places. The Prophet taught us ways to protect ourselves from their influence and potential harm when using the washroom. It is important to teach these etiquettes to your children from a young age.
These include saying the Sunnah du’as upon entering and leaving the toilet.
It is good practice for parents to keep the daily du’as visible around the house for the children to read. Stick these du’as onto your wall, or keep them in the appropriate places, to encourage your children to seek protection in Allah and facilitate their memorization.
5. Precautions at Maghrib Time
The Prophet recommended not allowing our children outdoors around the time of Maghrib as at this time the devils are out. Practically, this means keeping them indoors thirty minutes before the start of the Maghrib prayer, and one hour after Maghrib begins.
The Prophet said:
عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ
إِذَا كَانَ جُنْحُ اللَّيْلِ أَوْ أَمْسَيْتُمْ فَكُفُّوا صِبْيَانَكُمْ، فَإِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ تَنْتَشِرُ حِينَئِذٍ، فَإِذَا ذَهَبَتْ سَاعَةٌ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَخَلُّوهُمْ، وَأَغْلِقُوا الْأَبْوَابَ وَاذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ، فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لَا يَفْتَحُ بَابًا مُغْلَقًا
“When night falls, keep your children indoors, for the devils are out and about at this time. When an hour of the night goes by, you can let them go.”
(Al-Bukhari 5623 and Muslim 2012)
The Prophet said:
عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ
لَا تُرْسِلُوا فَوَاشِيَكُمْ وَصِبْيَانَكُمْ إِذَا غَابَتِ الشَّمْسُ حَتَّى تَذْهَبَ فَحْمَةُ الْعِشَاءِ، فَإِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ تُبْعَثُ إِذَا غَابَتِ الشَّمْسُ حَتَّى تَذْهَبَ فَحْمَةُ الْعِشَاءِ
“Do not send out your cattle or your children when the sun sets until the blackness of the night descends, for indeed the Satans are sent forth when the Sun sets until the blackness of the night descends.”
(Muslim)
It is also recommended to cover food and drink, and close the doors and curtains of the house at Maghrib time.
The Prophet said:
عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ
خَمِّرُوا الْآنِيَةَ، وَأَوْكُوا الْأَسْقِيَةَ، وَأَجِيفُوا الْأَبْوَابَ، وَاكْفِتُوا صِبْيَانَكُمْ عِنْدَ الْمَسَاءِ؛ فَإِنَّ لِلْجِنِّ انْتِشَارًا وَخَطْفَةً، وَأَطْفِئُوا الْمَصَابِيحَ عِنْدَ الرُّقَادِ؛ فَإِنَّ الْفُوَيْسِقَةَ رُبَّمَا اجْتَرَّتِ الْفَتِيلَةَ فَأَحْرَقَتْ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ
Meaning: “Cover the vessels
“Cover your dishes, close your containers, shut your doors, and keep your children indoors at nightfall, for the Jinn are out and about and stalking.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3316; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2012.)
In all things, the Prophet (peace be upon him) gave us the best and most complete advice.
The Prophet Muhammad is the best of examples with regards to protecting our children from the evil in this world.
Adhere to his Sunnah and it will be sufficient insha’Allah.
May Allah SWT guide and protect our off spring from evil eyes at all times. Aamin
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