It is every parent’s desire and wish that their children should be pious, obedient and righteous Muslims. Accordingly, parents make an effort to give their children the correct Islamic upbringing and instill the true values of Islam and the sunnah into their hearts.
Nevertheless, together with making the required effort to give their children the correct Islamic upbringing, parents should also ensure that they continue to turn to Allah Ta‘ala in du‘aa and beg Him to guide their children, safeguard them from imaani challenges and dangers, bless them with taqwa (the consciousness of Allah Ta‘ala) and grant them the taufeeq (ability) to lead lives pleasing to Him.
In this regard, there are numerous du‘aas of the pious servants of Allah Ta‘ala, mentioned in the Quraan Majeed and the blessed ahaadeeth, which one may make for the piety of one’s children. Some of these du‘aas are:
Du‘aa of the Special Servants of Allah
In the Quraan Majeed, Allah Ta‘ala mentions that the following du‘aa is the du‘aa which is made by His special servants and pious friends:
رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيّٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِيْنَ إِمَامًا
O our Rabb! Bless us, through our partners and progeny, with the comfort of our eyes (because of their obedience to You), and make us leaders of the righteous (by making our families righteous). (Surah Furqaan v74)
Du‘aas of Nabi Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam)
Many du‘aas of Nabi Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam) which he made for his children and progeny have been recorded in the Quraan Majeed. One of these du‘aas are:
رَبِّ هَبْ لِىْ مِنَ الصّٰلِحِيْنَ
O my Rabb! Bless me with pious offspring. (Surah Saaffaat v100)
In another verse, Allah Ta‘ala mentions the following du‘aa of Nabi Ebrahim (‘alaihis salaam) in which he made du‘aa for his progeny to be punctual and steadfast upon salaah:
رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِىْ مُقِيْمَ الصَّلوٰةِ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِىْ ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّل دُعَاءِ
O my Rabb! Make me one who establishes salaah, and my progeny as well! O our Rabb! Accept my du‘aa! (Surah Ebrahim v40)
Du‘aa of Nabi Loot (‘alaihis salaam)
Nabi Loot (‘alaihis salaam) had a strong concern for his children and family to be saved from the evil influence of his community who were steeped in filth and immorality. Hence, he made the following du‘aa:
رَبِّ نَجِّنِي وَأَهْلِي مِمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ
O my Rabb! Save me and my household from the (evil) deeds which they are doing! (Surah Shu‘araa v169)
Du‘aa of Nabi Zakariyya (‘alaihis salaam)
The du‘aa which Nabi Zakariyya (‘alaihis salaam) made when begging Allah Ta‘ala to bestow him with a pious child is recorded in the following words of the Quraan Majeed:
رَبِّ هَبْ لِيْ مِنْ لَدُنْكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً ۖ إِنَّكَ سَمِيْعُ الدُّعَاءِ
O my Rabb! Bestow me, from Your side, with a pure (and pious) progeny, indeed You are the One who listens to the du‘aa (made by Your servants). (Surah Aal ‘Imraan v38)
Du‘aa of Nabi Dawood (‘alaihis salaam)
Nabi Dawood (‘alaihis salaam) would make the following du‘aa:
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ مَالٍ يَكُوْنُ عَلَيَّ فِتْنَةً وَمِنْ وَلَدٍ يَكُوْنُ عَلَيَّ وَبَالًا
O Allah! I seek Your protection from such wealth that will become a trial for me (by making me rebellious and disobedient to You), and from a child that will be a calamity for me.” (Tabraani – Majma‘uz Zawaaid #17383)
Du‘aa of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)
Among the du‘aas which Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would make, is the following du‘aa:
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ جَارِ السُّوءِ ، وَمِنْ زَوْجٍ تُشَيِّبُنِيْ قَبْلَ الْمَشِيْبِ ، وَمِنْ وَلَدٍ يَكُوْنُ عَلَيَّ رَبًّا
O Allah! I seek protection in You from an evil neighbour, from a wife who will make my hair become white before old age, and from a child who will dominate me (thereby causing me pain).” (Kitaabud Du‘aa -Tabraani #1339)
Du‘aa of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)
Once, Abu Ma’shar complained to Talhah bin Musarrif (rahimahullah) – the renowned Taabi‘ee and student of Sayyiduna Anas bin Maalik (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) – regarding his son. Talhah (rahimahullah) advised him to turn to Allah Ta‘ala and seek His special assistance in regard to his son’s guidance. Talhah (rahimahullah) told him to make the following du‘aa mentioned in the Quraan Majeed (Hilyatul Awliyaa vol. 4, pg. 45):
رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِىْ أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِىْ أَنعَمْتَ عَلَىَّ وَعَلىٰ وَالِدَىَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِـحًا تَرضٰهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِىْ فِىْ ذُرِّيَّتِىْ
O my Rabb! Enable me to be grateful for Your bounties which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and to carry out works of righteousness which You will be pleased with, and instill piety for me in my progeny. (Surah Ahqaaf v15)
According to some of the commentators of the Quraan Majeed, when Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reached the age of forty, he made du‘aa to Allah Ta‘ala to keep him upon righteousness, and to also keep his children upon righteousness, and he made the du‘aa mentioned in the verse above. (Ma‘aariful Quraan vol. 7 pg. 807)
May Allah Ta‘ala assist us to recite these du‘aas in abundance, and may He bless us all with a pious progeny who will be the coolness of our eyes, aameen.