How can I encourage my kids to perform Salaah

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Hereunder are some guidelines on how to encourage children to perform Salaah: [1]

• Value of Imaan:

Inculcate in your children Imaan and values of Imaan. They should love and understand Imaan. They will then be able to practice on the dictates of Imaan.

• How Salaah became compulsory:

Talk about the incident of Meraaj and how Allah called Rasoolullah Sallallahu Alai Wasalam to the heaven to grant him the gift of Salaah.

• Narrate the Importance of Salaah:

Talk to the children about the virtues and importance of Salaah.

• Narrate stories of pious predecessors:

Present incidents of pious predecessors and interesting incidents of Salaah.

The book Fadhail-Al-Salaah of Hadhrat Sheikh Zakariyyah Rahimahullah is beneficial for the above two.

There are incidents of pious ancestors in the book. Every night present them with one incident. Make them repeat that incident to you the following day.

• Openly praise those who perform Salaah:

Praise your children when they perform Salaah. This will encourage them.

• Start Young:

Although it is not necessary for children to perform Salaah before seven years old, it is advisable to create an atmosphere of Salaah in the home to encourage children to perform Salaah.

• Incentives:

Offer them incentives/ gifts and prizes when your children perform Salaah.

• Be a Positive Example: (Walk the talk):

As the parent, you are the primary example to your child of what being a Muslim means. If you prioritise your Salaah in the day, and do not delay or miss it, your child will grow-up knowing its importance. Let them see you praying. The Salah should become integrated into their daily routine, as well as yours. Perform Salaah slowly, so that they can experience the beauty of the Salaah and the peace it brings.

• Educate and teach them practical Salaah:

You can refer to the book Salaat is yours correct authored by Sheikhul Hadeeth Hadhrat Moulana Fadhlu-Rahmaan (Hafidhahullah) and Taleemul- Haqq.

• Constantly make Du’a:

A parent’s du’a for his or her child is definitely answered.

The following du’as from the Quraan for our children are effective:

رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا 

Translation: Oh our Rabb! Grant us the coolness (comfort) of our eyes (grant us pleasure and satisfaction) from our spouses and children (so that they never become a source of regret or distress for us in either world when they follow Islam properly), and make us Imaams (guides) of the pious (make our progeny pious and make us pious enough to guide pious people.)

(Sūrah Al- Furqaan, Aayah 74)

رَبَّنَا وَاجْعَلْنَا مُسْلِمَيْنِ لَكَ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِنَا أُمَّةً مُسْلِمَةً لَكَ وَأَرِنَا مَنَاسِكَنَا وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَا إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ

Translation: Our Lord! Make us both submissive to you and (raise) from our offspring a nation submitting to you, and show us our ways of devotion and turn to us (mercifully), surely you are the Oft-returning (to mercy), the Merciful. 

(Sūrah Al-Baqarah, Aayah 128)

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Muhammad I.V Patel

Student Darul Iftaa
Lusaka, Zambia

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

______