9 duas for your children’s protection, health, guidance and success
In brief:
Parents can make dua for their children’s protection, health, faith, guidance, good character and overall well-being.
✓ Seek Allah’s protection for your children from harm and the evil eye
✓ Make dua for their health, righteousness and steadfastness in prayer
✓ Teach them duas for ease when facing exams and other difficulties
✓ Pray for their faith, guidance and good character
✓ Make sincere personal duas for what is best for your children
This article was first published on 9 January 2021 and has since been updated as of September 2026.
Photo Credit: Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS)
Children are among the blessings and favours Allah s.w.t. has bestowed upon us. The Quran reminds us of this blessing:
وَٱللَّهُ جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَٰجًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَزْوَٰجِكُم بَنِينَ وَحَفَدَةً 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 caring for our children’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. Children have the right to grow up in a healthy, safe and secure environment. The Prophet s.a.w. reminded us in a hadith:
كُلُّكُمْ رَاعٍ وَكُلُّكُمْ مَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ
“Every one of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock.”
(Sahih Al-Bukhari)
This hadith reminds us of the responsibilities we carry in caring for those entrusted to us, including our children.
Besides providing proper nutrition, care and education for our children, making dua for them is also part of our responsibility. While doing our best in their upbringing, we ultimately rely on Allah s.w.t. for His guidance and help. 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 for his child."
(Sunan At-Tirmidhi)
The special status of a parent's dua reminds us of the importance of sincerely praying for our children. Here are some duas that we can recite for their protection, well-being and guidance:
1. Dua to protect your children from harm and the evil eye
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:
أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ، وَمِنْ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لاَمَّةٍ
A'uzhubikalimatil-lahit-tammati min kulli shaytanin wa hammah, wa min kulli 'ainin lammah.
“O Allah! I seek Refuge with Your Perfect Words from every devil and from poisonous pests and from every evil, harmful, envious eye.”
(Sahih Al-Bukhari)
In this dua, we seek protection from Allah s.w.t. from devils, any harmful creatures and the evil eye. The Prophet s.a.w. also taught us to ask Allah s.w.t. to bless what we see that impresses us.
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)
Ultimately, we recognise that all good comes from Allah s.w.t, and we turn to Him for His blessings and protection.
2. Dua for children’s health and recovery from illness
This dua can be recited for our children or anyone who is unwell and seeking recovery. The Prophet s.a.w. would recite it when visiting someone who was sick.
أَذْهِبِ البَأْسَ رَبَّ النَّاسِ، وَاشْفِ أَنْتَ الشَّافِي لاَ شِفَاءَ إِلاَّ شِفَاؤُكَ، شِفَاءً لاَ يُغَادِرُ سَقَمًا
Azhibil-ba’sa rabban-nas, wa-syfi anta asy-syafi, la syifa’a illa syifa-uka, syifa-an laa yughadiru saqama.
“O 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)
While seeking appropriate care and treatment, we can also turn to Allah s.w.t, recognising that all healing ultimately comes from Him.
3. Dua for children to be a source of joy and righteousness
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)
Through this dua, we not only pray for righteous children who bring joy to our hearts, but also ask Allah s.w.t to help us become good examples for them and others.
4. Dua for children’s success
Prophet Ibrahim a.s. made this dua asking Allah s.w.t. to bless him with righteous offspring. It reminds us that the success we hope for our children goes beyond their studies and future endeavours to include growing in faith and righteousness.
رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ
Rabbi hab lii minas-solihiin.
“My Lord! Bless me with righteous offspring.”
(Surah As-Saffat, 37:100)
5. Dua for children to remain steadfast in prayer
Performing the five obligatory prayers is one of the five pillars of Islam. We can encourage our children to pray from a young age and gradually help them understand the importance of establishing prayer. We can also recite this dua for ourselves and our children, asking Allah s.w.t to help us remain steadfast in prayer.
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)
6. Dua for children during exams and other difficulties
We can also recite this general dua for our children and teach them to recite it when facing exams and other 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)
7. Dua for children’s faith and devotion to Allah s.w.t.
As Muslim parents, we hope to nurture in our children a sincere love for Allah s.w.t. and His Prophet s.a.w, and help them remain steadfast in their faith throughout their lives.
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)
This dua also reminds us that while praying for our children’s faith, we should continually strive to strengthen our own relationship with Allah s.w.t.
8. Dua for righteous children and grateful parents
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 beautifully connects gratitude, righteous deeds and our hopes for our children. It reminds us to be grateful for Allah's s.w.t. blessings while striving to do what pleases Him and praying for righteousness in our offspring.
9. Dua for good and righteous offspring
Prophet Zakariyya a.s. made this heartfelt dua asking Allah s.w.t. to grant him good offspring.
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)
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Beyond these supplications, we can also make sincere dua for our children in our own words, asking Allah s.w.t. for what is best for them. May Allah s.w.t. protect our children, guide them towards what is good, grant them good health and righteous character, and help us fulfil our responsibilities towards them with wisdom, compassion and love. |
Explore more duas in MuslimSG's dua collection.
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