How can parents guide children to use dua when they feel disturbed or shaken by what they saw? 

Parenting Perspective 

When a child is exposed to something disturbing online, they can be left feeling unsettled, fearful, or guilty. In these moments, one of the most powerful tools a parent can offer is to guide their child towards making duʿa (supplication). This teaches them to turn their feelings of distress into a direct and healing conversation with Allah. 

Teach Duʿa as a Source of Comfort 

You can encourage your child to see duʿa as a direct way of speaking to Allah Almighty about anything that is on their mind. Explain that it is not just for asking for big things in life, but is also a powerful tool for moments when their heart feels heavy or shaken. This helps them to see supplication as a safe refuge where they can express their feelings honestly. 

Keep the Supplications Simple and Sincere 

Show them that duʿa does not need to be complicated. Sitting with your child and making a short, heartfelt supplication together, asking for protection, forgiveness, and peace of heart, demonstrates how simple and powerful it can be. 

Model the Habit of Making Duʿa 

Children learn best by example. It is important to normalise making duʿa by making it a visible part of your own family routine, such as before sleep, after prayer, or during any moment of difficulty. By seeing you turn to Allah naturally, your children will learn that supplication is not a formal ritual, but a constant and comforting source of strength. 

Connect Duʿa to Emotional Healing 

Gently explain that turning to Allah in moments of fear or guilt is the best way to calm an unsettled heart. This helps your child to see the direct connection between their spiritual practice and their emotional well-being, giving them a tool they can use for the rest of their lives. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam reminds us that the heart finds its truest peace through turning to Allah in moments of distress. By teaching children to link their feelings of calmness with the act of making duʿa, parents can help to strengthen both their emotional resilience and their faith. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Ghaafir (40), Verses 60: 

‘ And your Sustainer stated: “Pray to me and I (Allah Almighty) will respond to you; indeed, those people who are too arrogant to worship Me, shall enter into Hell in humiliation”.‘ 

This verse is a direct and beautiful invitation from Allah to seek Him through duʿa. It is a powerful reassurance for a child that Allah is always listening and promises to respond to every sincere call. 

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

‘Dua is the essence of worship.’ 

This teaching clarifies that the act of turning to Allah in supplication, especially during moments of fear, guilt, or pain, is not just a source of comfort for the heart, but is in itself a profound act of worship that is beloved to Him. 

By encouraging their children to use duʿa when they feel disturbed, parents can help them to channel their difficult emotions into an act of faith. Over time, this builds deep resilience, showing them that they are never truly alone, as Allah is always near, ready to heal and strengthen their hearts through their sincere supplication.