How to address a child who prostrates in the bathroom Fatwa No: 8718
- Fatwa Date:8-3-2012
My young brother is handicapped, yet he is very intelligent. We tried to make him memorize the Quran by heart, but in vain. We also tried to show him how to do Salaah (prayer), but also in vain. He only likes drawing, numbers and watching television, although we found him several times doing Salaah and prostrating in the bathroom. We kindly ordered him not to do so and were embarrassed to tell a Shaykh about what he is doing. However my friend convinced me to ask a Shakyh to read the Quran before him so that he may be cured from magic, if he is under a spell. What is your opinion, given that my brother has a speech impairment. Please advise.
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
There is no doubt that having a television at home for children to watch and become attached to is wrong. It is no wonder that children do not memorize the Quran by heart because television occupies them.
You should do the following:
1- Ask an expert in reciting the Quran to teach this child to memorize the Quran by heart and to pronounce it correctly.
2- Read the chapter of Al-Baqarah every three days in your house. You may also play a tape recording of this chapter.
3- Teach children to mention the name of Allaah The Almighty before eating, drinking and entering the house and the bathroom.
4- Ask the father or any other person to make Ruqyah (Quranic treatment) for the children. He should read the chapters of Al-Falaq, An-Naas and Al-Ikhlaas and the verse of Al-Kursi [2:255] before them. Alternatively, you may read them before a container of water then pour this water over them. This should be done from time to time.
You should also remove anything that would hinder angels from entering the house, e.g. dogs, statues and pictures depicting humans, animals or birds. Moreover, you should ask a devout Muslim to read the Quran before the child.
Allaah Knows best.