Author: Abdul Hai Lay'yan
The Divine Education Model in the Family of the Prophets (part 88)
Educational Lessons from the Story of Prophet ‘Isa (AS) and Maryam (RA)
Third Lesson: Parents Should Seek Allah’s Protection for Their Children from the Evil of Satan and Safeguard Them Through Legitimate Supplications and Ruqyah
When the wife of ‘Imran named her daughter Maryam (RA), she made a great request from Allah the Almighty and uttered an everlasting supplication—a prayer that every believing man and woman and every compassionate and caring parent may recite for their children. She said: (وَإِنِّي أُعِيذُهَا بِكَ وَذُرِّيَّتَهَا مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ) Translation: “And I seek Your protection for her and her offspring from Satan, the accursed.” [1]
In reality, the greatest battlefield for human beings is their struggle against Satan — that enemy who pledged before Allah that he would do everything possible to lead Adam and his descendants astray.
As Allah (SWT) says: (قَالَ أَنظِرْنِي إِلَى يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ * قَالَ إِنَّكَ مِنَ الْمُنظَرِينَ * قَالَ فَبِمَا أَغْوَيْتَنِي لَأَقْعُدَنَّ لَهُمْ صِرَاطَكَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ * ثُمَّ لَآتِيَنَّهُم مِّن بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ وَعَنْ أَيْمَانِهِمْ وَعَن شَمَائِلِهِمْ وَلَا تَجِدُ أَكْثَرَهُمْ شَاكِرِينَ) Translation: “He said, ‘Grant me respite until the day they are resurrected. Allah said, “You are among those granted respite.” He said, “Because You have led me astray, I will surely sit in wait for them on Your straight path. Then I will come upon them from before them and from behind them, from their right and from their left, and You will find most of them ungrateful.” [2]
Human deviation often occurs because of the whisperings of devils among jinn and mankind — those who mislead people through temptation and deception, distancing them from the path of truth. Therefore, the wife of ‘Imran asked Allah to protect this pure and blessed child from the plots and whisperings of Satan so that the blessing of sincere devotion to Allah might be perfected within her.
She did not limit her request to the protection of her daughter alone but also asked that this divine protection encompass her descendants. Allah the Almighty accepted her supplication and prevented Satan from reaching Maryam (RA) and her son, Prophet ‘Isa (AS). [3]
In Sahih al-Bukhari, it is narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “There is no newborn except that Satan touches him at the time of birth, causing the child to cry, except Maryam and her son.” [4]
Then Abu Hurairah (RA) said, “If you wish, recite this verse: (وَإِنِّي أُعِيذُهَا بِكَ وَذُرِّيَّتَهَا مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ) [5].”
Likewise, the Prophet (PBUH) used to supplicate for Al-Hasan ibn Ali and Al-Husayn ibn Ali, saying: «أُعِيذُكُمَا بِكَلِمَاتِ اللهِ التَّامَّةِ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ» Translation: “I seek protection for you both through the perfect words of Allah from every devil and every harmful creature.” [6]
He (PBUH) also said that Prophet Ibrahim (AS) used to seek protection for Prophet Isma‘il and Prophet Ishaq (AS) with this same supplication.
Fourth Lesson: Paying Attention to Children’s Upbringing from the Earliest Years Through Choosing Righteous Mentors and Pure Companions
Allah the Almighty decreed for Maryam (RA) the finest form of upbringing, both in her physical creation and moral development, and placed her among His righteous and blessed servants. During her childhood, He nurtured her among pure and devout worshippers; therefore, she neither became familiar with evil nor allowed deviation to enter her life.
How could a person who grows up in such a pure and faithful environment and is nurtured in an atmosphere filled with faith and purity later be led into deviation and misguidance?
Regarding this, the Noble Qur’an states: (فَتَقَبَّلَهَا رَبُّهَا بِقَبُولٍ حَسَنٍ وَأَنْبَتَهَا نَبَاتًا حَسَنًا وَكَفَّلَهَا زَكَرِيَّا) Translation: “So her Lord accepted her with gracious acceptance, caused her to grow in a good manner, and entrusted her to Zakariyya.” [7]
This verse represents one of the foundational principles of the Qur’an (upbringing) concerning the care of children from birth through the years of growth and adolescence.
The Noble Qur’an emphasizes the importance of caring for children during the formative stages of their personalities so that faith may take root in their hearts and righteous deeds may become evident in their behavior and conduct.
Children should also be raised alongside righteous peers and pure companions so that they may grow like a wholesome plant, with goodness and purity deeply rooted in their hearts and minds. In this way, if influences of evil and corruption ever approach them, they will find no place to penetrate their hearts and souls.
In the beautiful Qur’anic expression (وَأَنْبَتَهَا نَبَاتًا حَسَنًا) Translation: “And caused her to grow in a beautiful manner.” [8]
There lies profound gentleness and deep meaning—an expression that inspires every father and mother to realize that raising children requires care, love, continuous attention, and the selection of a healthy educational environment.
This verse reminds parents of their great responsibility toward their children: that merely bringing a child into the world is not enough; rather, shaping the child’s moral and spiritual character is also a fundamental and divine duty. [9]
To be continued…
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References:
- Surah The Quran Āl ‘Imrān, verse 36.
- Surah Al-A‘rāf, verses 14–17.
- Hamadah, Faruq, Ābā’ wa Abnā’: Malāmiḥ Tarbawiyyah fī al-Qur’ān al-Karīm (“Fathers and Sons: Educational Insights in the Noble Qur’an”), pp. 235–237.
- Narrated by Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of the Prophets (Kitāb al-Anbiyā’), Hadith no. 3191; and by Jami’ al-Tirmidhi, Book of Medicine (Kitāb al-Ṭibb), Hadith no. 2060.
- Surah Āl ‘Imrān, verse 36.
- Narrated by Jami’ al-Tirmidhi, Book of Medicine (Kitāb al-Ṭibb), Hadith no. 2060; and by Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of the Prophets (Kitāb al-Anbiyā’), Hadith no. 3191.
- Surah Āl ‘Imrān, verse 37.
- Hamadah, Faruq, Ābā’ wa Abnā’: Malāmiḥ Tarbawiyyah fī al-Qur’ān al-Karīm, pp. 238–239.
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Surah Āl ‘Imrān, verse 37.
