6 supplications
Duas for Children and Their Protection
Children are a trust and a test. The Prophet ﷺ sought protection for his grandsons every day, and the prophets before him prayed for their descendants before and after they were born. These duas accompany parents from the hope of a child to the day the child prays alone.
Protection for children
أُعِيذُكُمَا بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ، مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ، وَمِنْ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لَامَّةٍ
U‘idhukuma bi-kalimatillahit-tammah, min kulli shaytanin wa hammah, wa min kulli ‘aynin lammah.
I seek protection for you both in the perfect words of Allah from every devil and every poisonous creature, and from every evil eye. The Prophet ﷺ said this over al-Hasan and al-Husayn, saying Ibrahim used it for Isma‘il and Ishaq.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari
For righteous children
رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِنْ لَدُنْكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ الدُّعَاءِ
Rabbi hab li min ladunka dhurriyyatan tayyibah, innaka sami‘ud-du‘a’.
My Lord, grant me from Yourself good offspring; You are the Hearer of supplication. The dua of Zakariyya.
Source: Qur’an 3:38
For a righteous child
رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ
Rabbi hab li minas-salihin.
My Lord, grant me a child from among the righteous.
Source: Qur’an 37:100
Comfort of the eyes
رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا
Rabbana hab lana min azwajina wa dhurriyyatina qurrata a‘yunin waj‘alna lil-muttaqina imama.
Our Lord, grant us from our spouses and offspring comfort to our eyes, and make us leaders of the righteous.
Source: Qur’an 25:74
Keep me and my children praying
رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي، رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ
Rabbij‘alni muqimas-salati wa min dhurriyyati, rabbana wa taqabbal du‘a’.
My Lord, make me one who establishes the prayer, and from my descendants too. Our Lord, accept my supplication.
Source: Qur’an 14:40
Gratitude for the blessings
رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَى وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِي إِنِّي تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
Rabbi awzi‘ni an ashkura ni‘matakal-lati an‘amta ‘alayya wa ‘ala walidayya wa an a‘mala salihan tardah, wa aslih li fi dhurriyyati, inni tubtu ilayka wa inni minal-muslimin.
My Lord, enable me to be grateful for the favour You have bestowed on me and on my parents, and to do righteous deeds that please You, and make my offspring righteous. I have repented to You, and I am among the Muslims.
Source: Qur’an 46:15
Protecting children every day
The Prophet ﷺ used to seek protection for al-Hasan and al-Husayn with the words “U‘idhukuma bi-kalimatillahit-tammah…” and said that Ibrahim used to seek protection for Isma‘il and Ishaq with them (al-Bukhari). Parents can say it each morning and evening over their children, changing the pronoun for one child or a daughter.
He also told parents to keep children indoors at sunset, when devils spread, and to mention Allah when closing doors (al-Bukhari, Muslim). Protection combines du‘a with care.
Raising children upon prayer
Ibrahim asked Allah to make him and his descendants establish prayer (14:40). The Prophet ﷺ said: “Teach your children prayer at seven” (Abu Dawud), and he was gentle with children, carrying his granddaughter while praying. The du‘a of a parent for a child is answered (Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi), so parents should pray for their children and never against them.
Practical tips
- Say the protection du‘a over your children every morning and evening.
- Pray for them aloud so they hear you love them.
- Teach them short duas by repeating them together daily.
- Never curse your children, even in anger.
- Be a model of prayer: children copy what they see.
Duas for Children and Their Protection: questions and answers
What du‘a protects children from the evil eye?
“U‘idhukuma bi-kalimatillahit-tammati min kulli shaytanin wa hammah, wa min kulli ‘aynin lammah” (al-Bukhari), saying “u‘idhuka” for a boy and “u‘idhuki” for a girl.
Can I pray for my children in my own language?
Yes, outside the obligatory prayer any language is fine, and parents are encouraged to name their children in their du‘a.