Principles
First responsibility: Tawḥīd
Teach your child that Allah is One, the Creator and Sustainer, before anything else. «Command your children to pray at seven, and separate their beds at ten, and strike them for it at thirteen.»
Abū Dāwūd
Lead by example
Children learn what they see; your practice is their first textbook. «Each of you is a shepherd, and each of you is responsible for his flock.»
Bukhārī & Muslim
Kindness and mercy
The Prophet ﷺ kissed Ḥasan and al-Ḥusayn; a desert Arab asked, «Do you kiss your children? We don't.» — he said, «What can I do if Allah has removed mercy from your heart?»
Bukhārī & Muslim
Play and attention
Spend time playing, listening, and building trust. The Prophet ﷺ raced with ʿĀʾishah and let children climb on his back during prayer.
Bukhārī — racing with ʿĀʾishah, Abū Dāwūd — prayer
Good name
Give your child a good name — it is their right and their identity. «The best of your names to Allah are ʿAbdullāh and ʿAbd ar-Raḥmān.»
Abū Dāwūd, Muslim
At seven, teach prayer
Command prayer at seven and separate beds at ten. Be gentle but consistent — prayer is the pillar.
Abū Dāwūd
Teach the Quran early
Encourage memorization of short surahs and daily recitation. «The best of you is the one who learns the Quran and teaches it.»
Bukhārī
Duʿā for your children
Make duʿā for your children's righteousness daily — Ibrāhīm's duʿā for his descendants, and the duʿā of the righteous parents, is a lasting provision.
14:40, 14:41
Protect from bad company
«A man is upon the religion of his close friend» — monitor who your child befriends and guide them to good companions.
Abū Dāwūd, Tirmidhī
Duʿās for Children
رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي
Duʿā of Ibrāhīm
My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer and of my descendants.
14:40
رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ
Duʿā for righteous children
Our Lord, grant us from our spouses and offspring comfort to our eyes.
25:74
بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكَ فِي الْمَوْهُوبِ لَكَ وَشَكَرْتَ الْوَاهِبَ وَبَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَرُزِقْتَ بِرَّهُ
Duʿā for a newborn
May Allah bless you in the gift given you, make you grateful to the Giver, let the child reach maturity and be granted goodness.
Bukhārī & Muslim
أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
Duʿā when angry with children
I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shayṭān — anger is from Shayṭān, and Shayṭān runs from the mention of Allah.
Bukhārī & Muslim
رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِنْ لَدُنْكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ الدُّعَاءِ
Duʿā of Zakariyyā
My Lord, grant me from Yourself a good offspring — You are the Hearer of supplication.
3:38