تTarbiyyat.comBeta
← Topics

Family life

Digital detox and screen-free family time

Setting aside regular periods free from devices, whether in the evenings, at weekends or during Ramadan, and spending that time together as a family.

Resources

ت

Gulshan-e-Waqfe Nau, Germany — 31 May 2015 (smartphones)

alislam.org

Gulshan-e-Waqfe Nau, Germany — 31 May 2015 (smartphones)

Al Islam (Official)

Practical solutions for your family

If you are looking for tools and services to protect your children online, these providers can help.

These are independent third-party providers. Tarbiyyat.com is not affiliated with them and receives no endorsement.

Verified guidance from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Directly sourced from Friday Sermons, Q&A sessions and official publications — no paraphrasing.

  • Khalifatul Masih V · Friday Sermon

    Any internet or TV use that displaces worship is a 'polytheistic gathering'

    “Avoid all kinds of raucous and vulgar talk and polytheistic gatherings. Establish five daily prayers. Hence, you should not ignore any of the commandments of Allah.”

    — The Promised Messiah (as), Malfoozat, vol. 5, pp. 75-76, cited by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba)

    Frankfurt, Germany · 2017-04-21

    Verified source

    Publication: Al Fazl International, 12 May 2017

    WatchRead

  • Khalifatul Masih V · Friday Sermon

    Screen time at night undermines the quality of morning prayer

    “You can observe this in most homes that the eldest to the youngest are not offering Fajr Salat on time as they were either watching TV or were online on the Internet until late, watching some program and, as a result, they could not wake up on time.”

    — Friday Sermon, 20 May 2016, Gothenburg Mosque, Sweden

    Baitul Futuh Mosque, London · 2013-03-15

    Verified source

    Publication: Al Fazl International, 5 April 2013

    WatchRead

  • Khalifatul Masih V · Address to children

    A direct warning to children themselves: idle scrolling can harm body and mind

    “Idly watching TV, or scrolling endlessly on electronic devices can damage your physical and mental health.”

    — Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba), quoted in 'Phones: A Love-Hate Relationship', Review of Religions

    Germany · 2019-01-01

    Verified source

    Publication: Cited in Review of Religions, 'Phones: A Love-Hate Relationship'

    Read

  • Khalifatul Masih V · This Week with Huzoor — timestamp 19:58

    'How can we safeguard ourselves from the addiction of mobile phones?'

    “19:58 – How can we safeguard ourselves from the addiction of mobile phones?”

    — alislam.org episode page, This Week With Huzoor – 24 November 2023

    Broadcast mulaqat with Waqifaat-e-Nau, Belgium · 2023-11-24

    Verified source

    Publication: alislam.org video archive

    Watch

  • Khalifatul Masih V · Address, Annual Ijtema Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya UK

    Khuddam should make prayer their central discipline despite distractions

    “Members of Khuddamul-Ahmadiyya are at an age and period in their lives where they have the most physical strength and also the greatest potential to progress and advance in all spheres of their lives. It should not be difficult for them to fulfill the obligations of the worship of Allah. And so all Khuddam and Atfal should be regular in their prayers and should offer them in congregation as much as possible.”

    — Address, Annual Ijtema Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya UK, 26 September 2016, Kingsley, Surrey (Weekly Badr Qadian, 7 September 2017)

    Kingsley, Surrey, UK · 2016-09-26

    Verified source

    Publication: Weekly Badr Qadian, 7 Sept 2017

    Read

Trusted online-safety guidance

Verified advice on this topic from recognised child online-safety organisations.

Step-by-step digital detox programme

Choose what you want to change, and we will build a week-by-week plan for your family, with reminders and a printable set of home rules.

Build my plan

Explore more topics

Suggested next reads, plus the topics parents are asking about most right now.

See all topics

Still have questions?

Tap a question below to ask it in the guidance chat, or write your own.

Ask your own question

Coping tools for doom scrolling

A quick plan for the moment it happens, the settings that make scrolling less sticky, and words to start the conversation.

The 90-second reset

Use this the moment you or your child notice the scroll has taken over. Do it together the first few times.

  1. 1Name it out loud: "I have been scrolling and I did not choose to."
  2. 2Put the phone face down, at arm's length, or in another room.
  3. 3Take three slow breaths and unclench your jaw and shoulders.
  4. 4Stand up, stretch, drink some water, or step outside for a moment.
  5. 5Say a short prayer or dhikr, or read one verse — turn the attention upward.
  6. 6Decide the next thing on purpose: homework, a chore, a walk, or five minutes of talking.

Settings that make scrolling less sticky

0 of 22 done

Change these together with your child and explain why. Tick them off as you go — your progress is saved on this device.

iPhone and iPad

Android

TikTok

Instagram

YouTube

Conversation starters

Calm, curious openings — not accusations. Pick one and ask it tonight, or ask Tarbiyyat for help with the reply.

Have a specific question?

Ask Tarbiyyat for guidance tailored to your family and this topic.

Ask a question