Parents’ du’aa’ against children

 

What is the ruling on parent’s du’aa’s against their children, which are sometimes said with no reason. Are they answered?.

Praise be to Allaah.

Children are one of the blessings of this worldly life, as
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this
world”

[al-Kahf 18:46] 

They are the apple of their parent’s eye, the joy of their
hearts, so how can they pray against them? 

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
forbade praying against one’s children, one’s wealth and one’s own self,
lest that be at a time when du’aa’s are answered. He (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Do not pray against yourselves, do
not pray against your children, do not pray against your wealth, lest that
coincides with a time when Allaah is asked and He gives, so He answers your
prayer.” Narrated by Muslim (3014). 

The parent’s du’aa’ for or against his child is answered. The
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Three
prayers are undoubtedly answered: the prayer of one who is wronged, the
prayer of the traveller and the prayer of a father for his child.” Narrated
by Ibn Maajah (3862); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Silsilat
al-Ahaadeeth al-Saheehah (596). The version narrated by Imam Ahmad says:
“the prayer of a father against his child.” 

A mistake that is made by many fathers and mothers is that
they pray against their children if the latter do something that makes them
angry. What they should do is pray for them to be guided and for Allaah to
set their affairs straight. 

By His mercy, Allaah does not answer the du’aa’ of parents
against their children if it is at a time of anger, because Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning): 

“And were Allaah to hasten for mankind the evil (they
invoke for themselves and for their children, while in a state of anger) as
He hastens for them the good (they invoke) then they would have been ruined.
So We leave those who expect not their Meeting with Us, in their trespasses,
wandering blindly in distraction”

[Yoonus 10:11] 

Ibn Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in his
Tafseer (2/554): 

Here Allaah tells us of His forbearance and kindness towards
His slaves, for He does not answer them when they pray against themselves or
their wealth or their children at moments of anger. He knows that they do
not really mean any ill, so He does not answer them out of kindness and
mercy, as He does when they pray for themselves or their wealth or their
children for goodness, blessing and growth. End quote. 

And Allaah knows best.