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What did the Prophet recite over his grandchildren?
Sahih al-Bukhari 3371 records that the Prophet, peace be upon him, used to seek refuge for Hasan and Husayn, radiy-Allahu anhuma, with the words: 'I seek refuge for you both in the perfect words of Allah from every devil, every harmful creature, and every envious eye.' The narrator adds that the Prophet then said: 'This is how Ibrahim, peace be upon him, used to seek refuge for Isma'il and Ishaq.' This du'a is short, easy to memorise, and the most directly attested protection for children in the Sunnah.
How do I perform spiritual recitation on a small child or infant?
Recite the Mu'awwidhat (Surah Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, An-Nas) while gently passing your hand over the child, in the same manner the Prophet, peace be upon him, did over himself - cup the hands, blow gently after recitation, and wipe over the child's body (Sahih al-Bukhari 5017). Add the du'a of Sahih al-Bukhari 3371. Recite Ayat al-Kursi over them at night before sleep (Sahih al-Bukhari 5010). Keep your voice calm; the child should associate recitation with comfort, not fear. The routine takes two or three minutes and replaces a thousand non-Sunnah objects.
My child is restless, sleeps poorly, cries without reason - is this the evil eye or black magic?
Most often it is none of those. Infants cry for hunger, gas, teething, illness, or developmental phases. See a paediatrician first to rule out medical causes - feeding issues, ear infections, reflux. In parallel, recite the Mu'awwidhat and the du'a of Sahih al-Bukhari 3371 morning and evening over the child. If a specific person admired the child without saying ma sha Allah and symptoms began immediately afterward, ayn is a reasonable hypothesis - intensify recitation and the prophetic bathing remedy from Sahih Muslim 2188 if the envier is known. Do not jump to sihr; the default is medical or developmental.
?Is it permissible to play Qur'an recitation in the room of a sleeping child?
Yes, with the understanding that recorded recitation is not a substitute for the reciter's own intention. Playing Surah Al-Baqarah in the home is encouraged based on Sahih Muslim 780. The recitation should be at a respectful volume, not used as background noise.
?My older child resists bedtime remembrances - what do I do?
Recite over them yourself, calmly, without forcing them to participate. Children imitate what they see modelled, not what they are commanded to do. Recite over yourself first; recite over them next; over weeks and months, the habit becomes theirs.