Children Imitate What You Do

Did you know that children of smokers are four times more likely to become smokers compared to children of non-smokers? The numbers paint a clear picture: children model what they see. The same is true when it comes to Salah – teach your child how to pray early!

Children absorb your actions and your values even more than your words. If you’re serious about teaching your child how to pray, then it starts with you. Children often imitate not just the act of praying but the time spent, the level of khushu’, how timely prayers are, etc. It may not seem like it when you’re telling your 6- or 7-year-old repeatedly to join you in prayer, but your attempts will eventually be fruitful!

Islam understands this deep truth about child development. That’s why Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ laid out a balanced approach for introducing children to worship gradually and lovingly.

How to Teach Kids to Pray in Islam

Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ was not just a Messenger; he was the perfect example of a father and teacher. When it came to parenting, he encouraged play, mercy, and age-appropriate responsibility.

He said:

“Play with them for the first seven years, teach them for the next seven, and befriend them for the next seven.”
— (Reported by Al-Bayhaqī)

This profound guidance highlights how the early years (0–7) are for bonding, play, and emotional connection. It’s not about enforcing strict rituals. Instead, it’s about modeling the love of prayer, being gentle, and laying the spiritual groundwork.

Then from age seven onward, instruction becomes more structured:

“Instruct your children to pray when they are seven years old, and discipline them for it [lightly] at ten if they do not do so. And separate them in their beds.”
— (Abū Dāwūd 495; authenticated by Al-Albānī)

This hadith provides a clear three-year learning window (7–10 years), where children are gradually taught how to pray consistently. The discipline mentioned at age ten is a last resort—and even then, it must be gentle, symbolic, and without harm.

Why Starting Early is Important

Teaching your child to pray offers lifelong spiritual and emotional benefits:

• Builds inner peace and mental resilience
• Fosters gratitude and mindfulness
• Strengthens identity and connection to Allah
• Creates a family culture of ʿibāda

How to Teach Your Child How to Pray: 7 Practical Tips

1. Be Their First Role Model
   Let them see you pray. Invite them to join you with no pressure. Even if they just mimic your movements, they’re learning.
   Tip: Give your toddler their own brightly colored prayer mat—a special space just for them. It makes prayer feel fun and important.
2. Make It a Moment of Love, Not a Lecture
   At 4 or 5, invite them to stand beside you. Use words like, “Come pray with me—let’s talk to Allah together.”
3. Start Teaching at Seven, Just Like the Prophet ﷺ Said
   By age seven, begin helping them pray all five daily prayers. Teach them gently—starting with Fajr and building up.
4. Use Positive Reinforcement
   Celebrate when they remember prayer or perform it well. Avoid criticism; encourage consistency over perfection.
5. Talk to Them About the Meaning of Prayer
   Explain why we pray: because we love Allah, need Him, and want to thank Him. Use age-appropriate stories and examples.
6. Make Salah Visual and Fun
   Prayer charts, prayer mats, star stickers, or a family “prayer time” are great ways to build excitement and habit.
7. Stay Calm, Stay Consistent
   If they miss a prayer, remind them kindly. Your consistency and calm demeanor will teach them far more than scolding ever will. When they lie about having prayed on time, consider just accepting their word instead of challenging it. They will understand later. Exposing them as liars will put a massive barrier between you and your child, making teaching them to pray more difficult.

O My Son, Establish Prayer

Reflect on Luqmān’s timeless advice to his son – perfect for discussing prayer, gratitude, and character development with your children:

Ayah 12
وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا لُقْمَانَ الْحِكْمَةَ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِلَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يَشْكُرْ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِ ۖ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيدٌ
“And We had certainly given Luqmān wisdom [saying]: ‘Be grateful to Allāh.’ And whoever is grateful is grateful for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever denies [His favor] – then indeed, Allāh is Free of need and Praiseworthy.”

Ayah 13
وَإِذْ قَالَ لُقْمَانُ لِابْنِهِ وَهُوَ يَعِظُهُ يَا بُنَيَّ لَا تُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّ الشِّرْكَ لَظُلْمٌ عَظِيمٌ
“And [mention] when Luqmān said to his son while he was instructing him: ‘O my son, do not associate [anything] with Allāh. Indeed, association [with Him] is great injustice.'”

Ayah 14
وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ وَهْنًا عَلَىٰ وَهْنٍ وَفِصَالُهُ فِي عَامَيْنِ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيْكَ إِلَيَّ الْمَصِيرُ
“And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination.”

Ayah 15
وَإِن جَاهَدَاكَ عَلَىٰ أَن تُشْرِكَ بِي مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلَا تُطِعْهُمَا ۖ وَصَاحِبْهُمَا فِي الدُّنْيَا مَعْرُوفًا ۖ وَاتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ مَنْ أَنَابَ إِلَيَّ ۚ ثُمَّ إِلَيَّ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
“But if they strive to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them. Accompany them in [this] world with appropriate kindness and follow the way of those who turn back to Me [in repentance]. Then to Me will be your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do.”

Ayah 16
يَا بُنَيَّ إِنَّهَا إِن تَكُ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِّنْ خَرْدَلٍ فَتَكُن فِي صَخْرَةٍ أَوْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ أَوْ فِي الْأَرْضِ يَأْتِ بِهَا اللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَطِيفٌ خَبِيرٌ
“O my son, indeed if wrong should be the weight of a mustard seed and should be within a rock or [anywhere] in the heavens or in the earth, Allāh will bring it forth. Indeed, Allāh is Subtle and Acquainted.”

Ayah 17
يَا بُنَيَّ أَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَانْهَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا أَصَابَكَ ۖ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ
“O my son, establish prayer, enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and be patient over what befalls you. Indeed, [all] that is of the matters [requiring] determination.”

Ayah 18
وَلَا تُصَعِّرْ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمْشِ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ
“And do not turn your cheek [in contempt] toward people and do not walk through the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allāh does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful.”

Ayah 19
وَاقْصِدْ فِي مَشْيِكَ وَاغْضُضْ مِن صَوْتِكَ ۚ إِنَّ أَنكَرَ الْأَصْوَاتِ لَصَوْتُ الْحَمِيرِ
“And be moderate in your pace and lower your voice; indeed, the most disagreeable of sounds is the voice of donkeys.”

The 5,475-Reminder Strategy

Between ages 7 and 10, you’ll naturally invite your child to pray 5 times a day for 3 years, that’s:

365 days × 5 prayers × 3 years = 5,475 gentle reminders

Kids may be lazy or reluctant at first, but after thousands of consistent prompts, prayer will become an essential and automatic part of their life. Sabr pays off!

Quick Comparison: Prophetic Parenting Stages

Age Range	Focus	Key Action
0–7	Bond & Play	Model prayer; use toddler prayer mat
7–10	Guided Instruction	Teach prayers; deliver 5,475 reminders
10+	Responsibility & Discipline	Encourage solo Salah; prompt kindly

Dua When Teaching Your Child to Pray

Ultimately, our children pray by Allah’s will. We can model, remind, and encourage, but “Indeed, Allah guides whom He wills”. Sincere dua can change their qadar:

رَبَّنَا وَاجْعَلْنَا مُسْلِمَيْنِ لَكَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِنَا أُمَّةً مُّسْلِمَةً لَّكَ وَأَرِنَا مَنَاسِكَنَا وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ
Our Lord, and make us Muslims [in submission] to You and from our descendants a Muslim nation [in submission] to You. And show us our rites and accept our repentance. Indeed, You are the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful

Rabbanā wa-j’alnā Muslimayni laka wa-min dhurriyyatinā ummatan Muslimatal laka wa-arinā manāsikanā wa tub ‘alaynā. Innaka Anta t-Tawwābu r-Raḥīm.

If you are a Muslim living in the west like me, make sure you check these effective ways to teach your child arabic!