A Guide for Parents in Protecting Their Children

Protect your Children

Head of the Central Executive Committee of Dawat-e-Islami Maulana Muhammad Imran Attari

Dear parents! Incidents of children being abducted for a ransom are on the rise. According to one report, over 10,000 children have been abducted over the last 7 years in Pakistan. If we do not teach our innocent children to be aware of these things, they could become victims of horrific abuse and injustice.

Teach your children

Parents should teach their children how to protect themselves. They should be told the following:

1   Never enter a stranger’s car because we would never send a stranger to collect you from school.

2   If someone tries to abduct you and force you into a car, fight back and scream as loud as you can. People will be alerted by this and can cause the kidnapper to panic and run away.

3   If a stranger approaches you and initiates a conversation whilst you are walking, walk in a different direction or run away.

4   If a man, irrespective of whether he has a beard and is wearing a turban, or woman, regardless of how well she is dressed, walk with you and offer you sweets and toys, do not walk with them or accept what they offer. Incidents like this occurred during my childhood and my mother told me, “Even if someone offers you a pile of gold, do not go near him.”

Points for parents to keep in mind

1   Never allow your children to travel to school alone as this is extremely dangerous. Safer arrangements should be made for your child to be taken and collected from school. If the child returns from school and no one is at home, he should be told beforehand not to show the key to anyone. If kidnappers see a child with a key, they will understand that he is the only one at home, thereby increasing the threat.

2   Be wary of your surroundings when walking with your child and never use your phone, as people can take advantage when you are distracted.

3   Your child should never leave the home unaccompanied, whether it is to play or for any other activity. If for any reason your child goes somewhere on his own, ensure to take the address and contact details of the site and phone them if your child does not return home on time. 

Important guidance

1   Sometimes, kidnappers learn about their victims beforehand, including the routes they take and the locations they visit. It is my request to all educational institutes to not allow children to leave school with people you do not recognise. Teachers should also be aware of the cars and vans that come to the school regularly. Sometimes, workers in the home provide information to the kidnappers about things like how the children return from school.

2   I request all parents to have passport copies and contact numbers of all employees, drivers, accountants, security guards, etc. Similarly, if someone takes your child to school in a van, take its license number because not all schools provide transport to their students. If something were to happen, they would direct you to the company that provides the vans they use, so it is essential to have these details at hand.

1   If, God forbid, an incident like this occurs, contact the police immediately.  

2   Ensure you are able to contact your family and the authorities at any time in case of an emergency.

Teach your children these duā's

1   Recite ṣalawāt upon the Prophet before and after reciting this duā' three times in the morning and evening: بِسْمِ اللہِ عَلٰی دِیْنِیْ بِسْمِ اللہِ عَلٰی نَفْسِیْ وَوُلْدِیْ وَاَھْلِیْ وَ مَالِیْ “May my religion, life, family, children and wealth be protected through the blessings of Allah’s name.”^[1]

2   Make a habit of reciting یَا قَادِرُ whilst washing each limb during ablution. اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه No human or jinn will be able to kidnap you.^[2]

3   Recite the following duā' when leaving your home, school, or wherever you have spent time:  بِسْمِ اللہِ تَوَکَّلْتُ عَلَی اللہِ لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّۃَ اِلَّا بِاللہ. Sayyiduna Abū Hurayrah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ reports that the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “When a person leaves his home, two angels are stationed with him. When the person says, ‘بِسْمِ اللہِ’, the angels reply, ‘You will be guided to the straight path.’ When he says, ‘لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّۃَ اِلَّا بِاللہ’, the angels respond, ‘You will be free.’ After that, the two devils that are with him come in front of him, and the angels say to them, ‘What do you want with the one who has received guidance to the correct path, protection and freedom?’”^[3]

The elderly can also memorise and recite these duā's whenever they leave their place of work. Islamic sisters should recite these duā's too. If Allah Almighty wills, you will be protected from accidents, theft, kidnappings and evil people, and you will return home in peace. اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه