How do I protect my children (and baby) from Shaitan, jinn and the evil eye?

The short answer

The Sunnah gives parents clear steps: say the dua before intimacy, keep young children indoors at nightfall, close the doors mentioning Allah's name, and seek refuge for them with the dua the Prophet ﷺ used for Hasan and Husain, seeking refuge in Allah's Perfect Words from every devil, poisonous pest and envious eye.

Evidence 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Explanation

Before a child is even conceived. The Prophet ﷺ said that if a man says before being intimate with his wife, "In the name of Allah. O Allah! Protect us from Satan and also protect what you bestow upon us from Satan", and a child is decreed for them, "Satan will never be able to harm that offspring" 1.

At birth. The Prophet ﷺ said that Satan touches every newborn, which is why it cries, except Maryam and her son Isa (AS). Abu Huraira then recited the prayer of Maryam's mother 2, which the Quran records: "I seek refuge for her in You and [for] her descendants from Satan, the expelled" 3. Parents can make the same dua for their own children.

The Prophet's dua for his grandsons. He used to seek refuge for al-Hasan and al-Husain saying: "I seek Refuge with Your Perfect Words from every devil and from poisonous pests and from every evil, harmful, envious eye", and said Ibrahim (AS) used it for Isma'il and Ishaq (AS) 4.

At Maghrib time. "When night falls, then keep your children close to you, for the devils spread out then. An hour later you can let them free; and close the gates of your house (at night), and mention Allah's Name thereupon" 5. Covering food and water containers with Allah's name is part of the same instruction.

A home full of Quran. Satan runs away from a house where Surah al-Baqarah is recited 6, and the three Quls morning and evening suffice for every purpose 7; teach your children to say them too.

Protection is not about fear. These are small, loving habits that surround a child with the remembrance of Allah, who is the best Protector.

The evidence

  1. 1
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 141
    Sahih Bukhari

    The dua before intimacy protects the resulting child from Satan's harm.

    Narrated Ibn `Abbas:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "If anyone of you on having sexual relations with his wife said (and he must say it before starting) 'In the name of Allah. O Allah! Protect us from Satan and also protect what you bestow upon us (i.e. the coming offspring) from Satan,' and if it is destined that they should have a child then, Satan will never be able to harm that offspring

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ سَالِمِ بْنِ أَبِي الْجَعْدِ، عَنْ كُرَيْبٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، يَبْلُغُ بِهِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ لَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ إِذَا أَتَى أَهْلَهُ قَالَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ اللَّهُمَّ جَنِّبْنَا الشَّيْطَانَ وَجَنِّبِ الشَّيْطَانَ مَا رَزَقْتَنَا‏.‏ فَقُضِيَ بَيْنَهُمَا وَلَدٌ، لَمْ يَضُرَّهُ ‏"‏‏.‏

  2. 2
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 3431
    Sahih Bukhari

    Satan touches every newborn except Maryam and her son; Abu Huraira then recited 3:36.

    Narrated Sa`id bin Al-Musaiyab:Abu Huraira said, "I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, 'There is none born among the off-spring of Adam, but Satan touches it. A child therefore, cries loudly at the time of birth because of the touch of Satan, except Mary and her child." Then Abu Huraira recited: "And I seek refuge with You for her and for her offspring from the outcast Satan

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ، قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏"‏ مَا مِنْ بَنِي آدَمَ مَوْلُودٌ إِلاَّ يَمَسُّهُ الشَّيْطَانُ حِينَ يُولَدُ، فَيَسْتَهِلُّ صَارِخًا مِنْ مَسِّ الشَّيْطَانِ، غَيْرَ مَرْيَمَ وَابْنِهَا ‏"‏‏.‏ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ ‏{‏وَإِنِّي أُعِيذُهَا بِكَ وَذُرِّيَّتَهَا مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ ‏}‏‏.‏

  3. 3
    Quran Aal-i-Imraan · 3:36

    Maryam's mother sought refuge for her and her descendants from Satan.

    فَلَمَّا وَضَعَتۡهَا قَالَتۡ رَبِّ إِنِّي وَضَعۡتُهَآ أُنثَىٰ وَٱللَّهُ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَا وَضَعَتۡ وَلَيۡسَ ٱلذَّكَرُ كَٱلۡأُنثَىٰۖ وَإِنِّي سَمَّيۡتُهَا مَرۡيَمَ وَإِنِّيٓ أُعِيذُهَا بِكَ وَذُرِّيَّتَهَا مِنَ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنِ ٱلرَّجِيمِ ۝٣٦

    But when she delivered her, she said, "My Lord, I have delivered a female." And Allah was most knowing of what she delivered, "And the male is not like the female. And I have named her Mary, and I seek refuge for her in You and [for] her descendants from Satan, the expelled [from the mercy of Allah]

  4. 4
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 3371
    Sahih Bukhari

    The Prophet's dua of refuge for al-Hasan and al-Husain, used by Ibrahim for his sons.

    Narrated Ibn `Abbas:The Prophet (ﷺ) used to seek Refuge with Allah for Al-Hasan and Al-Husain and say: "Your forefather (i.e. Abraham) used to seek Refuge with Allah for Ishmael and Isaac by reciting the following: 'O Allah! I seek Refuge with Your Perfect Words from every devil and from poisonous pests and from every evil, harmful, envious eye

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنِ الْمِنْهَالِ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُعَوِّذُ الْحَسَنَ وَالْحُسَيْنَ وَيَقُولُ ‏ "‏ إِنَّ أَبَاكُمَا كَانَ يُعَوِّذُ بِهَا إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ، أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ، وَمِنْ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لاَمَّةٍ ‏"‏‏.‏

  5. 5
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 3280
    Sahih Bukhari

    Keep children close at nightfall when devils spread out; close doors with Allah's name.

    Narrated Jabir:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "When night falls, then keep your children close to you, for the devils spread out then. An hour later you can let them free; and close the gates of your house (at night), and mention Allah's Name thereupon, and cover your utensils, and mention Allah's Name thereupon, (and if you don't have something to cover your utensil) you may put across it something (e.g. a piece of wood etc)

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الأَنْصَارِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَطَاءٌ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ إِذَا اسْتَجْنَحَ ‏{‏اللَّيْلُ‏}‏ ـ أَوْ كَانَ جُنْحُ اللَّيْلِ ـ فَكُفُّوا صِبْيَانَكُمْ، فَإِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ تَنْتَشِرُ حِينَئِذٍ، فَإِذَا ذَهَبَ سَاعَةٌ مِنَ الْعِشَاءِ فَحُلُّوهُمْ وَأَغْلِقْ بَابَكَ، وَاذْكُرِ اسْمَ اللَّهِ، وَأَطْفِئْ مِصْبَاحَكَ، وَاذْكُرِ اسْمَ اللَّهِ، وَأَوْكِ سِقَاءَكَ، وَاذْكُرِ اسْمَ اللَّهِ، وَخَمِّرْ إِنَاءَكَ، وَاذْكُرِ اسْمَ اللَّهِ، وَلَوْ تَعْرُضُ عَلَيْهِ شَيْئًا ‏"‏‏.‏

  6. 6
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 780
    Sahih Muslim

    Satan flees from the house in which Surah al-Baqarah is recited.

    Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:Do not make your houses as graveyards. Satan runs away from the house in which Surah Baqara is recited

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْقَارِيُّ - عَنْ سُهَيْلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ لاَ تَجْعَلُوا بُيُوتَكُمْ مَقَابِرَ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَنْفِرُ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ الَّذِي تُقْرَأُ فِيهِ سُورَةُ الْبَقَرَةِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  7. 7
    Hadith Sunan Abi Dawud 5082
    Hasan graded by Al-Albani

    The three Quls morning and evening suffice for everything.

    Narrated Abdullah ibn Khubayb: We went out one rainy and intensely dark night to look for the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to lead us in prayer, and when we found him, he asked: Have you prayed?, but I did not say anything. So he said: Say, but I did not say anything. He again said: Say, but I did not say anything. He then said: Say. So I said: What am I to say? He said: Say: "Say, He is Allah, One," and al-Mu'awwadhatan three times in the morning and evening; they will serve you for every purpose

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُصَفَّى، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي فُدَيْكٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي ابْنُ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ، عَنْ أَبِي أَسِيدٍ الْبَرَّادِ، عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ خُبَيْبٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ خَرَجْنَا فِي لَيْلَةِ مَطَرٍ وَظُلْمَةٍ شَدِيدَةٍ نَطْلُبُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِيُصَلِّيَ لَنَا فَأَدْرَكْنَاهُ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ أَصَلَّيْتُمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَلَمْ أَقُلْ شَيْئًا فَقَالَ ‏"‏ قُلْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَلَمْ أَقُلْ شَيْئًا ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ قُلْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَلَمْ أَقُلْ شَيْئًا ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ قُلْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا أَقُولُ قَالَ ‏"‏ ‏{‏ قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ‏}‏ وَالْمُعَوِّذَتَيْنِ حِينَ تُمْسِي وَحِينَ تُصْبِحُ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ تَكْفِيكَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24

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