Teaching children how to Supplicate







 


As a mother we know some of our children know how to get permission or approval for things they want, well they ask in the right way and the right time.  Sometimes they do the thing they know mother loves to get what they want. We also need to teach our children to make supplication as well and to divert their needs towards Allah SWT. Educating them the right ways and the right time. When you teach your children to make dua, you're teaching them to turn to Allah for all their needs. When they're happy, sad, worried, depressed - whatever the mood is, there is always Allah there for them. It'll give them hope to carry on and an optimism that everything will turn out alright.
When you teach your children to not only supplicate for themselves, but for others as well, you're teaching them openhandedness, compassion, kindness and caring for others. When they see someone in need and they lift up their hands to supplicate for the person, it requires them to understand the needs of others and a caring and kind attitude to want goodness for them. There are two parts to consider while supplicating, to make sure that It will be accepted and thus, it is the biggest part of learning to make their understanding of asking a way to achieve confidence and trust on Allah SWT.
1. Time when supplications are accepted
2. How your supplications will be accepted

1. Time when supplications are accepted

In different hadiths we came to know about the timings of accepted supplications, we must teach our children about these timings and keep on reminding them, for example, when it's raining gently ask your child, you know it's the time when your supplications are accepted and ask him to supplicate from his wish list.
 supplication when rain falls
This is a time when the blessings of Allah descend from the Heavens, and is also one of the times when the supplication of a worshipper is accepted.

Sahl ibn Sa’ad narrated that the Prophet SAW said,

“Two are the du’as that are never returned: the du’a made when the prayer is called, and at the time of rainfall.”
When the Adhaan is called
You might not always get to hear the Adhaan, but when you do, remember to point out to your childern that this is another special time to supplicate.

It is narrated that the “When the prayer is called, the doors of the skies are opened and the du’a is answered.” (al Tayalisi in his Musnad #2106
  An hour on Friday
Allah has blessed us with Friday Jumu’ah prayers, and in addition to that, there is a special hour on Friday during which, if any Muslim stands in front of Allah and asks for something good, he will be granted it. The majority of opinions say that this hour is after Asr, right before sunset.

“Friday has twelve hours. There is one hour during which, if a Muslim asks Allah anything, Allah will give it to him, so find it during the last hour after Asr.” (Abu Dawud)

Make this a special time of day for you and your children. Mark it on a calendar, set a reminder, and make a special supplication.
After making Wudhu
The Prophet SAW said, there is not one of you that makes wudu, and does it perfectly, then says: I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah. He is Alone, having no partners. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and messenger’, except that the eight gates of Paradise are opened for him, and he can enter into it through whichever one he pleases’ [Muslim, Abu Dawud)
 When waking up at night
All parents have to, at some point, deal with little Muslims waking them up in the middle of the night. Make it a habit, before you shush them back to sleep, to tell them to remember Allah and make a quick du’a.

The Prophet SAW said, ‘Whomever wakes up at night and says La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la shrika lahu lahulmulku, wa lahul hamdu, wa huwa ala kulli shai’in qadir. Alhamdu lillahi, wa subhanallahi wa la ilaha illallahu, wallah akbir, wa la hawla wala quwata illa billah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah (SWT) He is the only one who has no partners. His is the kingdom and all the praises are for Allah (SWT) All the glories are for Allah (SWT) And none has the right to be worshipped but Allah (SWT) and Allah (SWT) is the greatest and there is neither might nor power except with Allah (SWT) and then says, Allahumma ighfir li (O Allah! Forgive me) or invokes Allah (SWT), he will be responded to and if he makes ablution and performs Salat (prayer), his Salat (prayer) will be accepted. (Sahih al-Bukhari)

2. How your supplications will be accepted

Encourage your children to supplicate for others what they want for yourself. As a Muslim, we are supposed to feel the pain of other Muslims and pray for them and let our children learn to supplicate for other Muslim brothers and sisters. Life can throw us in the same situation where we might need supplications of others.

“He who supplicates for his brother behind his back (in his absence), the Angel commissioned (for carrying supplication to his Lord) says: Amen, and it is for you also”.[Sahih Muslim]
Praise Allah SWT before supplication, in a hadith it is mentioned,
“The supplication of Prophet Yunus (A.S) when he supplicated, while in the belly of the whale was: ‘There is none worthy of worship except You, Glory to You, Indeed, I have been of the transgressors. (Lā ilāha illā anta subḥānaka innī kuntu minaẓ-ẓālimīn)’ So indeed, no Muslim man supplicates with it for anything, ever, e he Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “You must not supplicate: ‘O Allah! forgive me if You wish; O Allah bestow mercy on me if You wish.’ But beg from Allah with certitude for no one has the power to compel Allah.” Sahih Bukhari, Book 18, Hadith 233xcept Allah responds to him.” - Jami at-Tirmidhi Book 48, Hadith 136
having good hope that your supplications will be answered.

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “You must not supplicate: ‘O Allah! forgive me if You wish; O Allah bestow mercy on me if You wish.’ But beg from Allah with certitude for no one has the power to compel Allah.” Sahih Bukhari, Book 18, Hadith 233

Another narration of Muslim is: “A supplication should be made in full confidence and one should persistently express his desire (before Allah) in his supplication, for no bounty is too great for Allah to bestow (upon his slaves).”
And last not but not the least Supplicating isn’t enough, teach them to make efforts and supplicate both at a time. Depending on Almighty Allah for providing you everything while sitting at ease can’t be possible. As Allah states in the Holy Quran that,

Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.  – Surah Ra’ad, verse 11

May Allah accept our prayers and all the supplications, Ameen!

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