A mother preventing her children from praying in the mosque out of fear of the evil eye

Question:
This questioner says: My sister is always afraid of the evil eye, Honorable Shaykh, and she is afraid for her children, who have reached the ages of twelve and eleven. When her husband says, “I will take them to the mosque,” she says, “They do not pray in my house.” What is the Shaykh’s view on this?

Answer:
This is a mistake, and it is not permissible for her to prevent them from praying in the mosque, especially if they are in the company of their father. As for this intense fear, it is from waswas (whispers of Shaytan). She should seek refuge in Allah from this waswas. As long as they are with their father and with the Muslims, that is better for them, and this is the righteous upbringing. As for keeping them with her on the pretext that she is afraid for them, this is waswas that must be abandoned. She should place her reliance on Allah the Exalted, make du'a (supplication) for them, and include them in her morning and evening dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and supplications for them, and give them the freedom to go to the mosque with their father. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you