Duas for a child in Islam – A heartwarming beginning
Do you ever remember the moment when you held a little child for the first time? What is the dua for a baby in Islam?
For me, this moment was like a scene from a movie. My sister had given birth to her first child and I went to the hospital to see him. As soon as the nurse handed me that pink face, my heart forgot to beat. Those little eyes, as if the door of Allah’s mercy had just opened.
And then…
My mother came near me and said softly,
“Son, a special dua is read at such times.”
I was a little confused. “Which prayer?”
My mother smiled, “The one that Nabi ﷺ taught us… so that the child’s life is filled with blessings, health and faith.”
At that time, I realized that prayers for a child are not just words, they are the essence of all our love and hope for that little life.
Why is dua for child important in Islam?
Look, we all know that a child is not just a dream of parents but also a trust from Allah. When you get a trust, there is also a responsibility to take care of it.
Dua is the first step of this responsibility.
It is like you are handing over your child to the most powerful guard in the world – and that guard is not a human being but Allah himself.
Think, how uncertain this world is – diseases, evil eyes, bad environment. Can we be with our child all the time? No. But through dua, we can keep Allah’s mercy and protection with the child all the time.
Which dua should be recited?
The Prophet ﷺ taught us many duas, but the most famous and effective dua for a child is:
عُعِيذُكُمُا بِكِلِمِعتِ اللّٰهِ التّامَّةِ مِنْ كُلِّ شُيْتَانٍ وَهَامِنْ وَمِنْ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لَامِنْ
“I entrust you to the complete word of Allah.” I am to protect you from every devil, poisonous insects and evil eye.”
You can recite this dua at the time of birth of the child and also daily. Especially when the child starts sleeping, it is very beneficial to recite this dua softly in his ears.
Method of reciting the dua
- Hold the child in your lap or sit near him
- Recite the dua with the correct pronunciation
- Blow softly (as if blessing lovingly)
- If the child is older, then recite in his ear in a whisper
This is not just a routine, but a spiritual connection between you and the child.
My own habit
When my niece was 3 months old, one night she started crying a lot. Everyone was worried. Ammi said, “Recite the dua.” I recited the same dua and to tell you the truth, she fell asleep within a few minutes.
Now maybe someone will say that this was a coincidence, but my heart believes that this was Allah’s grace.
Is this dua only for Muslim children?
No, prayer can be done for any innocent child. The only difference is that this prayer is in Arabic and is taught by the Prophet ﷺ, so its effect is related to both faith and intention.
Love hidden in Dua for children
Have you ever noticed, when we give a gift to someone, we also give a card with it in which we write some good words.
Dua is the same “card” for the child, but the difference is that this card goes up to the sky and is presented directly in the court of Allah.
A child feels the most secure in the lap of the mother. But the real security is when the Dua coming from the heart of the mother or father surrounds the child.
Just think – when Nabi ﷺ recited this Dua for his grandsons Hasan and Hussain Raziallahu Anhuma, it did not just contain words, but also the immense love and concern of a grandfather.
Importance of protection from the evil eye
In our society, “evil eye” is not a superstition, but a reality proven by Hadith.
The Prophet (pbuh) said:
“Al-‘Ainu Haqq” – The evil eye is Haq (that is, it really affects)
How many times have you seen that a child is happy and healthy, but suddenly becomes ill or irritable after returning from somewhere. It can occasionally be caused by the evil eye in addition to medical causes.
Therefore, reciting Dua is a way of giving a “spiritual shield” to the child.
Action is also necessary along with Dua
See, just reciting Dua is not enough, rather we should also pay attention to the environment and habits of the child.
Some things that I myself follow and you should also do:
- Give the child a good and meaningful name
- Give the Adhan in his ear (the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh))
- Keep the home environment good and connected to Deen
- Avoid quarreling or abusing in front of the child
Along with Dua, all these things have a deep impact on the upbringing of the child.
The power of parents’ dua
A hadith says that the prayers of three people are never rejected:
Mazloom (one who has been oppressed)
Musafir (one who travels)
Parents’ prayers for their child
It gives me goosebumps just thinking that our words can change the fate of the child.
So never curse your child in anger. It is possible that your words will be accepted at that time.
When the child is ill
Illness is common in children, but at that time it is important to give encouragement along with prayers.
During the time of the Prophet ﷺ, whenever a child fell ill, they would put their hands and pray:
Allah Yazid سَقَمًا
“O Allah, the Lord of the people, take away the pain and grant health; you alone are able to provide it; no other healing exists but your own, and it must be the kind that eliminates all signs of the illness.”
The most memorable moment of my life
Once my niece was suffering from a very high fever. The doctor said it will take time.
Ammi said, “You just keep reciting the dua.”
I repeated the same dua all night.
In the morning her fever had gone down.
The doctor said, “This is a miracle.”
I smiled and thought – this is not a miracle, this is the effect of prayer.
Make prayer a habit
We often think that prayer is only for difficult times, but in reality, prayer should be made a part of the routine.
Like –
- While going to school
- Before going to sleep
- While going on a journey
When the child considers dua as a daily routine, it will automatically become a part of his habit when he grows up.
Conclusion
Praying for the child is not just a religious ritual, but an expression of heartfelt love. It becomes a shield in your child’s life that protects him from every difficulty.
And to be honest, the greatest gift for a child is not a toy, but a prayer for his protection.
FAQs
- Can dua for a child be read at all times?
Yes, you can read it whenever you want, but the best time is morning, evening and before sleeping.
- Is this dua only for newborns?
No, it can be read for children of any age.
- What to do if you don’t know Arabic?
You can read with the translation, but try to learn the correct pronunciation.
- Is wudhu necessary for du’a to be effective?
Wudhu is preferable, but not necessary.
- Is it okay to wear an amulet while praying?
If the amulet is based on Qur’anic verses and is free from shirk, some scholars have said it is permissible.
