How can parents counter the influence of a popular influencer who promotes haram behaviour? 

Parenting Perspective 

When a child admires an influencer who promotes un-Islamic behaviour, a direct ban can often lead to secrecy. A wiser approach is to engage with your child, helping them develop their own critical filter to see through the glamour. 

Encourage Critical Thinking, Not Just Banning 

Start by asking gentle questions to understand the appeal, such as, ‘What is it that you like about this person?’ This opens a dialogue and allows you to guide their thinking. Teach them to separate the skill from the behaviour it is possible to admire someone’s creativity or confidence without adopting their un-Islamic practices. 

Introduce Better, More Inspiring Role Models 

Actively populate your child’s world with positive alternatives. Seek out and share content from practising Muslim athletes, artists, entrepreneurs, and scholars who are successful and confident while upholding their values. When a child sees that it is possible to be “cool” and faithful, they are less likely to feel that they are missing out. 

Connect Islamic Values to Their World 

Frame your guidance using language that resonates with a young person’s desire for dignity and self-respect. You can say things like, ‘True confidence means you do not need to show off your body to be valued,’ or ‘Real leaders have their own style; they do not just follow the crowd’. This helps them see Islamic values as a source of strength, not restriction. 

By staying engaged and offering strong, positive alternatives, parents can empower their children to choose role models who will genuinely benefit them. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam is clear that the company we keep whether in person or online has a profound effect on our heart, our character, and our ultimate destination. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Furqaan (25), Verse 27: 

‘ And on the Day (of Judgement), those imbued in the darkness (of their ignorance and immorality) shall bite their hands, and shall say: “How I wish I had adopted the pathways taught to me by the Messenger”.’ 

This powerful verse warns of the deep regret that comes from choosing the wrong role models in this life. It reminds us that our ultimate example is the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and parents have a duty to guide their children towards influences that align with his path, not ones that lead away from it. 

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ gave a timeless warning about the influence of our companions. 

It is recorded in Sunan Abu Dawood, 4833, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘A man follows the way of his close friend, so let each of you look to whom he takes as a close friend.‘ 

In the digital age, the influencers a child follows become a form of “close friend.” They spend hours listening to them and absorbing their values. This hadith is a direct instruction to be highly selective about these digital companions, as they will inevitably shape a child’s heart, behaviour, and faith. 

By teaching children to consciously choose role models who are beloved to Allah, parents empower them to navigate modern culture with spiritual clarity and unwavering self-respect.