As Muslim parents, we all want the best for our children — to nurture their hearts with īmān, courage, and love for Allah. But in today’s media-saturated world, what seeds are being planted in their hearts?
Movies like the new Huntrix: Demon Hunters may look like harmless entertainment, but beneath the flashy effects lie subtle dangers that can affect our children’s faith and mindset. Even the storyline is questionable; a girl band vs a demon boy band? What are we allowing our children to watch?
And no, it’s not “just a movie.” This is the culture they are surrounded with, the culture they battle on a daily as we teach them the opposite of said culture: such as dressing modestly, not listening to harmful music, not mixing freely with the opposite gender. Why then would we allow our children, especially young children to watch a movie that would “hype them up” for all the wrong reasons?
As parents, we have to understand that we have immense responsibility in our hands and lots of leverage when they are young. We set the rules. This should be one of the times, we put our foot down and gently explain to our child,
“this is not an appropriate movie, I am trying to protect you and do not want you watching this.”
Be open with your children, communicate with them and give them a chance. Children are more perceptive than we give them credit for, and when you reason it out with them, they will understand, and inshaAllah, they will say it themselves;
“if these are the lessons the movie is teaching, then I don’t want to watch it.”
Let’s work hard to nurture and raise such children who can understand what’s right and what’s wrong despite the strong influence and cultural environment we live in.
Here are a few important reasons why we should be cautious:
1. Confusing Fiction with Faith
These movies often present magic, spells, and rituals as powerful and even heroic. But in Islam, magic is a sin that only causes harm. Allah says in the Qur’an:
ۚ وَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلَا يَنفَعُهُمْ ۚ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمُوا۟ لَمَنِ ٱشْتَرَىٰهُ مَا لَهُۥ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَـٰقٍۢ ۚ وَلَبِئْسَ مَا شَرَوْا۟ بِهِۦٓ أَنفُسَهُمْ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ
“…They learned what harmed them and did not benefit them—although they already knew that whoever buys into magic would have no share in the Hereafter. Miserable indeed was the price for which they sold their souls, if only they knew!” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:102)
When children see magic used to fight evil, they may grow confused about where true power lies. As Muslims, we know that all power belongs only to Allah.
2. Distorting the Reality of Jinn and Shaytan
In many of these movies, demons or dark beings are shown as entertaining, funny, or even “good guys.” This blurs the seriousness of the unseen world.
But Allah warns us clearly:
يَـٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ لَا يَفْتِنَنَّكُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ كَمَآ أَخْرَجَ أَبَوَيْكُم مِّنَ ٱلْجَنَّةِ يَنزِعُ عَنْهُمَا لِبَاسَهُمَا لِيُرِيَهُمَا سَوْءَٰتِهِمَآ ۗ إِنَّهُۥ يَرَىٰكُمْ هُوَ وَقَبِيلُهُۥ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا تَرَوْنَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينَ أَوْلِيَآءَ لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ٢٧
“O children of Adam! Do not let Satan deceive you as he tempted your parents out of Paradise and caused their cover to be removed in order to expose their nakedness. Surely he and his soldiers watch you from where you cannot see them. We have made the devils allies of those who disbelieve.” (Surah Al-A‘rāf 7:27)
3. Normalizing Gender Mixing and Attraction
These shows almost always include boys and girls interacting freely — joking, teaming up, and often forming crushes or romantic subplots. While it may seem harmless on screen, it normalizes behavior that Islam discourages. Specifically in Kpop Demon Hunter, it focuses on a band and so it is inevitable that a concert setting will be viewed; girls and boys jumping up and down, shoulder to shoulder, dancing to music is NOT what we want our children doing.
By presenting casual gender mixing and attraction as normal, these movies plant the idea that it’s okay for kids to seek these relationships early. Instead, we want our children to grow up valuing haya (modesty), healthy boundaries, and respect for Islamic guidelines in interactions.
4. The Problem of Music in Entertainment
Almost every popular film today comes with a catchy soundtrack. These songs stay in our children’s minds, repeated over and over, shaping their moods and memories.
Music is a powerful tool of influence, and that is another blog post of its own. Lyrics are what make a song and have a good or bad influence depending on the wording. Music also distracts the heart from Allah’s remembrance. Instead, our homes should echo with Qur’an, adhkār, and nasheeds that are free from instruments.
It’s distressing to hear our Muslim youth, as young as five, singing lyrics to popular songs but don’t even know simple surahs from the Quran. Children are innocent, we cannot blame them. We are the ones holding their hands and guiding them. It is up to us what path we direct them onto.
5. Better Heroes for Our Children
Why look to fictional demon hunters when we have the most inspiring, real-life role models?
- Prophet Mūsā (عليه السلام) who stood bravely against Firʿawn.
- Prophet Dāwūd (عليه السلام) who defeated Jālūt with faith and courage.
- Young companions like ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (رضي الله عنه) who showed strength and tawakkul at an early age.
These are the stories that plant seeds of faith, courage, and trust in Allah in our children’s hearts. It is especially important for our children ages 6 to 12 that we nurture them with these stories and protect them from the influences of social media as much as possible. Why allow them to be introduced to such a culture at such a young age? You are telling your children to be good Muslims, but then confusing them by allowing them to be influenced by all the qualities that contradict the characteristics of Islam.
🌱 Planting the Right Seeds
Every story our children consume is planting a seed. The question is: will it be a seed of īmān, or a seed that is greedy for the dunya?
As parents, we must guard what enters their eyes, ears, and hearts — and replace harmful media with stories that uplift, inspire, and connect them to their Creator.
✨ Let’s raise a generation of children who know that Allah is the greatest, and that the Prophets (AS) & Sahaba (RAD) are our heroes. Let’s teach them the love of the Quran and Sunnah.
