Inspired by the link below, I thought it would be great to have the Quranic wisdom on how to pray for our children’s friendships – another crucial part of Back to School-ness.
(Note: I have taken the points from the article and just added our Islamic references.)
“God knew that his creation of human beings required community and friendship. Cultivating good friendships is important to every parent. Praying for healthy friendships for your children is a wonderful way to encourage the right choice of friends. Take a few minutes to discover 5 ways to pray for your kids’ friendships”:
1. Pray for your child’s heart to understand that they are never alone.
Allah is always there, closer than our jugular vein (50:16). He says: “When My servants asks you about Me, [tell them that] I am indeed nearmost. I answer the supplicant’s call when he calls Me. So let them respond to Me, and let them have faith in Me, so that they may fare rightly.” (2:186)
2. Pray for your child’s mind to make wise choices regarding close friendships.
“Friends can be the very thing that builds you up or tears you down. Any person we choose to be a friend will influence our daily choices. Because of their influence, praying for wisdom is critical!”
Here is a lovely dua in the Quran for this: “My Lord! Grant me [unerring] judgement, and unite me with the Righteous.” (26:83)
3. Pray for your child’s spirit to be friendly.
To have friends, we need to be friendly. And the way we speak to people has a very big impact in this. Allah says: “A good word is like a good tree: its roots are steady and its branches are in the sky? It gives its fruits every season by the leave of its Lord.” (14:24)
Doing good also increases love between people. Allah says: “Indeed those who believe and do good deeds for them will Allah bring about love (endear them [to His creation]).” (19:96)
4. Pray for your child’s mouth not to participate in talking poorly about others or gossiping.
“Talking about others separates friends rather than bringing them closer together.”
Allah says: “O you who have faith! Let not any people ridicule another people: it may be that they are better than they are;… And do not defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames.” (49:11-12)
5. Pray for your child’s love to reach beyond the surface of superficial friendship.
Let us pray that our children are like those that Allah talks about: “They believe in Allah and the last day, and they enjoin what is right and forbid the wrong, and they strive with one another in hastening to good deeds, and those are among the good.” (3:114)
P.S. Thinking about all this reminds me that we need it as much as our kiddos! May Allah strengthen all our friendships inshallah