What are some ways to help children make dua before using social media, as a reminder to use it with good intention? 

Parenting Perspective 

Making dua before using social media is a beautiful way to transform a worldly habit into a mindful act of worship. It helps to set a positive intention and serves as a spiritual shield. 

Connect Dua to Everyday Routines 

Children learn new habits best when they are linked to an existing routine. Just as you encourage them to say Bismillah before eating, you can encourage a short dua before opening an app. This makes it a natural and consistent practice. 

Create a Short, Child-Friendly Dua 

For younger children, the dua can be very simple. Something like, ‘O Allah, please help me to use this for good and protect me from any harm,’ captures the essence perfectly. This is easier for them to remember and internalise than a longer, more complex supplication. 

Lead by Example 

The most effective way to teach this is to model it yourself. Let your children hear you say a quiet dua before you use your own phone or computer. Your consistent example will show them that this is a normal and important part of being a Muslim online. 

Link Dua to Purpose 

Explain that the dua is not just for protection, but also for setting a good intention. It is a moment to ask, ‘Am I using this in a way that would please Allah?’ This encourages them to approach social media with mindfulness and self-awareness. 

This simple act helps to frame their online time within a God-conscious context. 

Spiritual Insight 

In Islam, supplication (dua) is a direct conversation with Allah, a way of seeking guidance and help in every single aspect of our lives, no matter how small or modern it may seem. 

Allah is Always Near 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Baqarah (2), Verse 186: 

‘And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me – indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me…’ 

This reassures children that Allah is always listening, even when they call on Him for something as contemporary as navigating social media safely. 

Dua is the Essence of Worship 

It is recorded in Jami Tirmidhi, Hadith 3371, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Supplication is worship.’ 

By making dua before going online, children can transform a casual habit into a conscious act of worship, setting their intention for goodness and seeking protection in all that they do.