A little while ago, we were getting ready to go somewhere and I suddenly realised I still needed to pray.
So I said, “Wait, I need to pray first.”
One of my nieces immediately replied:
“That’s okay, you’ll only be two minutes.” 😂
I laughed, but afterwards I kept thinking about it.
Because children notice things.
They notice how quickly we pray.
They notice whether Salah feels like something we are trying to squeeze in before leaving the house.
They notice whether we stop what we are doing when the time for prayer comes.
And perhaps most importantly, they notice how we seem to feel about Salah.
We can give children beautiful prayer mats.
We can teach them every position.
We can remind them when it is time to pray.
But long before children understand all of our explanations about Salah, they are watching our own relationship with it.
And sometimes that teaches them more than our words ever could.
Children Learn More Than the Movements of Salah
When children are young, we naturally focus on teaching them how to pray.
Stand here.
Put your hands here.
Say this.
Go into ruku’.
Make sujood.
And of course, they need to learn these things.
But alongside learning the movements, children are quietly learning something else:
What place does Salah have in our family?
Is it something important?
Something peaceful?
Something we look forward to?
Or is it the thing everyone suddenly remembers five minutes before the prayer time ends?
Children are incredibly observant.
They don’t only listen when we say:
“Prayer is important.”
They compare that statement with what they see.
They Notice When We Rush
Sometimes we genuinely are in a hurry.
The school run is waiting.
Dinner is cooking.
Someone is at the door.
We’re trying to get everyone out of the house.
Real family life doesn’t suddenly become calm and organised because it’s time for Salah.
But if children always see prayer treated as something that needs to be completed as quickly as possible, that sends a message too.
Salah can begin to look like:
something we need to get out of the way before getting back to the important stuff.
Which is why that comment from my niece stayed with me.
“You’ll only be two minutes.”
Obviously, she wasn’t trying to make some deep observation about prayer.
But it made me wonder:
What are children learning from the way they see us pray?
They Notice What We Stop For
Think about all the things children see adults make time for.
We make time for work.
Appointments.
Shopping.
Football.
Friends.
Television.
Our phones.
Getting somewhere on time.
So when Salah comes around, children are watching whether this is something worth stopping for too.
Allah says:
“And command your family to prayer and be steadfast therein.”
Surah Taha, 20:132
There’s something powerful about a child seeing their parent simply say:
“We’ll leave after I’ve prayed.”
Not dramatically.
Not as a lecture.
Just as a normal part of family life.
It quietly tells them that Salah has a place here.
Your Attitude Towards Salah Becomes Part of Their Understanding of It
Imagine a child repeatedly hearing:
“Quick, go pray.”
“You still haven’t prayed?”
“Hurry up.”
“Go and get your Salah done.”
None of those sentences is necessarily wrong.
We all need reminders sometimes.
But if that becomes most of a child’s experience of Salah, prayer can slowly become associated with:
pressure
nagging
rushing
being told off
another job to complete
Now compare that with a child also hearing:
“Let’s pray before we go.”
“I love this Surah.”
“That was such a beautiful recitation.”
“Come, let’s pray together.”
“Ask Allah in your sujood.”
The practical requirement hasn’t changed.
But the emotional atmosphere around Salah has.
Let Children See You Wanting to Pray
We often think teaching happens when we sit children down and explain something.
But so much Islamic learning happens in passing.
A child sees you make wudu.
They see you put your phone down.
They see you roll out the prayer mat.
They see you pause your work.
They hear you say:
“Let me pray first.”
You haven’t delivered a lesson.
But you have taught one.
Children need to see that Salah isn’t only something adults make them do.
It is something we ourselves return to throughout the day.
Don’t Make Salah Feel Like an Interruption
There’s a subtle difference between:
“Ugh, I need to pray before we go.”
and:
“I’ll pray and then we’ll go, insha’Allah.”
Same situation.
Completely different feeling.
Children pick up on that.
Of course, none of us will speak beautifully about Salah every single time.
We’ll be tired.
Distracted.
Late.
Human.
The aim isn’t to perform perfect spirituality in front of our children.
It’s simply to become more aware of the message our everyday behaviour sends.
Let Them See Salah During Difficult Moments Too
Children shouldn’t only see us pray because the clock says it’s time.
Let them also see us turn to Allah.
When you’re worried.
When you’re waiting for news.
When something hasn’t gone to plan.
When you’re grateful.
When you’re overwhelmed.
You might say:
“I’m going to pray and make dua about it.”
A child hearing that learns something enormous.
They learn that Salah isn’t disconnected from real life.
It is where we take real life.
Our worries.
Our hopes.
Our gratitude.
Our mistakes.
Our decisions.
Talk About What You’re Saying in Salah
One of the easiest ways to help children develop a deeper relationship with Salah is to move beyond the mechanics.
Ask them:
“Do you know what Alhamdulillahi Rabbil ‘alameen means?”
“Do you know what you’re asking Allah for in Surah Al-Fatiha?”
“What could you make dua for today?”
Children often memorise the words of prayer long before they understand them.
Helping them discover the meaning can completely change the experience.
Instead of simply completing Salah, they begin to realise:
I am speaking to Allah.
Let Them See You Improve Too
You don’t need to pretend you have the perfect relationship with Salah.
In fact, there can be something powerful about children seeing that adults are still learning too.
Perhaps you’re trying to stop rushing.
Perhaps you’re learning the meanings of what you recite.
Perhaps you’re trying to pray earlier.
Perhaps you’re working on your concentration.
You can say:
“I’m trying to slow down in my Salah too.”
That shows children that our relationship with Allah is something we continue working on throughout our lives.
Islamic learning doesn’t finish when you become an adult.
Make Salah Something the Family Shares
Not every Salah has to be an individual instruction:
“You go pray.”
Sometimes make it:
“Come, let’s pray.”
There is something beautiful about children seeing prayer as a shared part of family life.
An adult prayer mat beside a child’s.
Someone calling everyone for Salah.
A younger sibling copying the movements.
Someone reminding everyone gently.
These ordinary moments often become the memories children carry with them.
What If You’ve Always Rushed Your Salah?
Don’t turn this into another reason to feel guilty.
Most of us could improve our Salah in some way.
And parenting has a funny way of making us notice our own habits.
Sometimes teaching children about Islam ends up teaching us too.
If you realise your child mostly sees you rushing, start small.
Pause before beginning.
Put the phone down.
Try to pray a little earlier.
Talk positively about Salah.
Let them see you making it a priority.
Small changes are still changes.
Continue Your Child’s Islamic Learning Journey
Looking for Islamic resources?
✓ Browse our growing collection of free resources by creating a free account.
✓ Join our monthly mailing list for free downloads, updates and new resources.
✓ Explore the Primary Ilm Membership for access to 3,000+ Islamic worksheets, activities, presentations and printables.
✓ Follow us on Instagram and Pinterest for ideas and inspiration.
