Is it permissible to search the personal belongings of one's children, and is the mother entitled to destroy anything she finds that is forbidden or prohibited therein?

Parents are advised to inspect their children's belongings from time to time, without their knowledge, for fear of them acquiring forbidden items. This is part of the parents' responsibility towards their children. Many cases of guidance occurred due to the parents' vigilance and care, and by eliminating evil at its inception.

This monitoring should take place if signs of deviation appear in the child. However, if the child is upright, then monitoring and inspecting their belongings falls under ill-suspicion and espionage, both of which are forbidden by the Almighty's saying: (O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy...) Al-Hujurat/12.

If something forbidden is found, it must be destroyed, and advice should be given to its owner, in accordance with the hadith (definition): "Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; if he cannot, then with his tongue; if he cannot, then with his heart—and that is the weakest of faith" narrated by Muslim (49). This change is obligatory, and it may be incumbent upon whoever sees an evil from his wife, child, or servant.