Wording for a Boy or a Girl

أُعِيذُكُمَا

أُعِيذُكُمْ

This changes the pronoun to suit the person for whom you are supplicating; it is not a new supplication. For two children, say "Uidhukuma" (I seek protection for you both), and for a group of children, "Uidhukum" (I seek protection for you all).

Steps for Ruqyah on a Child

Calmly recite over your child whatever you can of the Quran, and supplicate with the words of protection above and with supplications for healing when the child is ill. Al-Fatihah is among the prescribed recitations: the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, approved its use as ruqyah, as reported by al-Bukhari, no. 5736. Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, and An-Nas may also be recited. It is authentically reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would recite them, blow lightly into his hands, and wipe his body with them at bedtime; reported by al-Bukhari, no. 5017.

You may also recite other parts of the Quran, such as Ayat al-Kursi. Bringing these recitations and supplications together here, however, is not a description of a particular program authentically reported from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, for performing ruqyah for children. You do not have to follow a fixed sequence or complete them all every time.

If you perform nafth, let it be light: a gentle blowing that may be accompanied by a small amount of saliva, not spitting on the child. You may blow lightly into your hands and then gently wipe the child without causing harm. Recitation and supplication are also valid without blowing or wiping. Do not force the child into a position that frightens or hurts them.

For further details on how to perform ruqyah, read How to Perform Ruqyah on Yourself.

Daily Protection for Children

Seek protection for your child, maintain remembrance, prayer, and Quran recitation at home, and gradually teach the child adhkar they can understand and memorize. Let your words about Allah's protection reassure them, rather than make them afraid of every visitor or relative.

اللهم بارك فيه

If you admire a child's beauty, health, or ability, supplicate for blessing for them, for example: O Allah, bless him. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, instructed people to pray for blessing when admiring something in the authentic hadith about Sahl ibn Hunayf, may Allah be pleased with him; reported by Ibn Majah, no. 3509.

Respecting a child's privacy in photographs and personal information is good, but it is not a specifically prescribed form of spiritual protection. Refraining from posting photographs does not, by itself, guarantee protection from the evil eye.

Is Every Child's Illness Caused by the Evil Eye?

No. Crying, fever, poor sleep, or loss of appetite can have many causes. These symptoms alone are not enough to diagnose the evil eye or envy. A diagnosis does not become correct simply because a child cried or yawned while someone recited over them.

Common Mistakes

لَا بَأْسَ بِالرُّقَى مَا لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهِ شِرْكٌ

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "There is no harm in ruqyah so long as it contains no shirk"; reported by Muslim, no. 2200.

Ruqyah must therefore not involve invoking jinn, seeking rescue from the dead, or using talismanic symbols and words of unknown meaning. It is not permissible to hang beads, a blue-eye charm, or threads on a child in the belief that they protect against the evil eye.

Ruqyah does not permit hitting, choking, or violently shaking a child, frightening them by shouting, or giving them an unknown substance that may harm them. If you fear for the child's safety because of such a practice, stop the harm and seek medical help and assistance from the appropriate child-protection authority when needed. A good intention does not make harming a child a permissible treatment.