Before anything else, have a ruqyah performed for him in the evening before bed.
Next, natural remedies can help, such as barley soup (talbina), rich in vitamin B and amino acids like tryptophan, which is also found in dried fruit or honey. Plants can help as well, such as lemongrass, which used to be common in the Sahara, or lemon balm, available as a syrup combined with passionflower, to be taken on an empty stomach in the morning and before bed.
It is also important to have the child engage in physical activity, as the Prophet ﷺ taught us.
The child should also have a moral and intellectual activity, such as learning the Qur'an.
In addition, oil massages, such as with lavender oil, will be a good remedy.
Finally, supplications should be increased, without forgetting that the parents' supplications are very important.
What the science says: for children, stress and anxiety, spiritual remedy
What published research says about the remedies mentioned above, for context — the studies concern material causes, while healing belongs to Allah.
For children
In infants, the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri reduces colic-related crying according to a meta-analysis (Pediatrics, 2018) (Acta Paediatr, 2024); in children, honey soothes nighttime cough (after age one) (Cochrane, 2018), fiber and hydration treat constipation (J Pediatr, 2022), and omega-3s are being studied for hyperactivity (Neuropsychopharmacology, 2018). Precaution: never give honey before age one, no essential oils before age 3 (age 6 for peppermint), doses adjusted to weight; any fever in an infant under 3 months is an emergency.
Stress and anxiety
Chronic stress raises blood pressure and inflammation, and contributes to the onset of many diseases (Arthritis Res Ther, 2010); conversely, calming plants (CNS Drugs, 2013), physical activity, and good sleep reduce anxiety. The foremost remedy remains that of the heart — dhikr, prayer, trust in Allah — which the professor places above all others. Precaution: anxiety that overwhelms daily life, panic attacks, or persistent waswas warrant psychological support that stays true to your values.
The spiritual remedy: legislated ruqyah
Legislated ruqyah — recitation of the Qur'an, authentic supplications, Qur'an-infused water, honey and black seed — is the foremost remedy in the professor's teaching, and by its very nature it lies beyond the scope of scientific study: it is an act of faith grounded in revelation. It in no way conflicts with medical treatment; the Prophet ﷺ said: "Seek treatment, for Allah has not sent down a disease without sending down a cure for it." Precaution: be wary of anyone who claims to heal through talismans, incomprehensible formulas, or by asking for the mother's name — this is not legislated ruqyah; and never abandon medical treatment on the grounds of a presumed occult cause.
