Question Summary:
My daughter has gratification disorder and doctors say it is common. What should I do?

Question Detail:

 
I have a question regarding my daughter, she is 3 years old now. Since she was around 2 years old, she started masturbating. We dont let her watch movies or cartoons or listen to music. She hasnt seen anyone do this since she hasnt even started school. And its only the parents and her at home and our families live in a different country!!  This is very troubling for us and we dont know how to handle this. We tried explaining and also being strict but it has failed. Now she knows she shouldnt do it and does it when she thinks we arent looking and tries to hide it from us. The doctors say that it is common for kids to do this. Is this habit viewed as common amongst kids in Islam? How do we view and handle this according to Islam? Are there any duas for this problem that we can recite?
I am worried that this habit could continue into adulthood.
 

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
We make dua that Allah cure her. Ameen.
You have mentioned that doctors have reassured you that this is common and that you are worried that this habit could continue into adulthood.
While our cursory research also indicates that “gratification disorder” is not an uncommon behavior among toddlers we would recommend that the best course of action in this case would be to approach a righteous, Muslim pediatrician and get his advice and opinion.
You should recite the following dua from the Quran:
رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَى وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ
وَأَصْلِحْ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِي إِنِّي تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
“...My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to work righteousness of which You will approve and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the Muslims.” [46:15]
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Sohail ibn Arif,
Assistant Mufti, Darul Iftaa
Chicago, USA
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.