A Parent’s Supplication Against a Child

Q: A man has three children who do not fall short in obeying him or being dutiful to him, yet he supplicates against them. Does his supplication harm them?

A: It is not befitting for a person to supplicate against his children; rather, he should beware of doing so, for it may coincide with the hour of answered supplication. He should not supplicate against them. If they are righteous, the prohibition of supplicating against them is even more severe. As for if they are falling short, he should still not supplicate against them, but rather supplicate for them with guidance, righteousness, and success. This is how a believer should be. The texts from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) warn the Muslim against supplicating against his child, or his family, or his wealth, lest it coincide with the hour of answered supplication and he thereby harms himself, or harms his family, or harms his child. You, O questioner, should guard your tongue, and you should emphasize to those you teach who engage in this matter that they should guard their tongues, and fear Allah in this, so that they do not supplicate against their child or against any other Muslim, but rather supplicate for them with good, rectitude, and uprightness.