Have you ever wondered how to teach a child to pray in Islam? As a Muslim, taking a prayer is a must as it is a mandatory deed to do. Muslims should take a five-day prayer daily as their duty in the way to search for Allah’s blessing.
Not surprisingly, in Muslim society, learning how to pray and things that invalidate Salah starts when they are still a child. As a parent, you may be wondering how to teach a child to pray in Islam. Moreover, sometimes children don’t listen very well to what adult says.
Even so, here we have some tips on how to teach a child to pray in Islam and things that break and invalidate your Wudu. Most of them are based on the Quran, so it is valid to apply in daily life. Let’s check them out below!
1. Introduce Allah
The first thing first before taking a step on how to teach your child to pray in Islam is introducing Allah to your child. They would have a difficult time understanding the meaning of their prayer if you don’t introduce Allah first.
Prayer must be a mandatory duty that Muslims do toward Allah along with their life. Such as mentioned in the Quran surah Al Mulk verses 1-2 below which you can make as Dua to keep away from sin.
تَبٰرَكَ الَّذِيْ بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُۖ وَهُوَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌۙ – ١ ۨالَّذِيْ خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيٰوةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ اَيُّكُمْ اَحْسَنُ عَمَلًاۗ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيْزُ الْغَفُوْرُۙ – ٢
“Glory be to Allah who rules (all) the kingdom, and He has power over all things. Who created death and life, to test you, which of you is better indeed. And He is Mighty, Most Forgiving.” (QS 67: 1-2)
2. Introducing the Prophet of Muhammad
Introducing the Prophet of Muhammad as a good leader who should follow can be the most exciting moment for the child. Through storytelling or so, introducing His behavior on take a prayer will inspire your child to do the same way.
Having some Duas for protection from shirk by introducing the great of the Prophet Muhammad is better to do. Such as mentioned in the Quran surah An-Nur verse 56 as Muslims should know the Prophet well and have a duty of five days of prayer.
وَاَقِيْمُوا الصَّلٰوةَ وَاٰتُوا الزَّكٰوةَ وَاَطِيْعُوا الرَّسُوْلَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُوْنَ – ٥٦
“And perform prayers, pay zakat, and obey the Messenger (Muhammad), so that you will be given mercy.” (QS 24:64)
3. Story Telling
Children love to hear about storytelling. That is why in so much research, storytelling can be one of the effective ways how to teach a child to pray in Islam. They love to hear them as many times as they want moreover before bedtime.
Insert some of the rules of the prayer in Islam that they should follow based on their favorite character in the story. Indeed it is more fun to do, and children will easily be understanding the importance of a prayer in Islam.
It makes them easily learn the prayer such as mentioned in the Quran surah Thaha verses 25-28 below which you can make it Dua for hardship in Islam.
قَالَ رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِيْ صَدْرِيْ ۙ – ٢٥ وَيَسِّرْ لِيْٓ اَمْرِيْ ۙ – ٢٦ وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِّنْ لِّسَانِيْ ۙ – ٢٧ يَفْقَهُوْا قَوْلِيْ ۖ – ٢٨ وَاجْعَلْ لِّيْ وَزِيْرًا مِّنْ اَهْلِيْ ۙ – ٢٩
“He (Moses) said, “O my Lord, expand my chest, and make my affairs easy for me, and remove the stiffness from my tongue, so that they may understand my words,” (QS 20:25-28)
4. Involve the Child
Involving your child to take a prayer while you at it will give them a real experience of their prayer. They will easily absorb the way the prayer should do step by step without hesitating as they copy your movement.
Involve your child to take a prayer is one of the ways how to teach your child to pray. It will make them easily understand the importance of prayer, which is not only a routine to do but a duty for Muslims.
Indeed Allah is knowing what are trying to do to teach your child in a good way. Such is mentioned in the Quran surah An-Nur verse 64 below.
اَلَآ اِنَّ لِلّٰهِ مَا فِى السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِۗ قَدْ يَعْلَمُ مَآ اَنْتُمْ عَلَيْهِۗ وَيَوْمَ يُرْجَعُوْنَ اِلَيْهِ فَيُنَبِّئُهُمْ بِمَا عَمِلُوْاۗ وَاللّٰهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيْمٌ ࣖ – ٦٤
“Know, verily to Allah belongs what is in the heavens and in the earth. He knows your current state. And (knowing also) the day (when they) will be returned to Him, then He will explain to them what they did. And Allah is Knower of all things.” (QS 24:64)
5. Make it Consistent Following Dua
Making it consistent is one of the ways how to teach your child to pray in Islam. As your child do it consistently, they will remember every step by step easily. It remains on their behavior to take a prayer daily as their mandatory duty towards Allah.
Making it consistent will easily get your children used to it. More importantly, if you make some Duas through it, such as mentioned in the Quran surah Ibrahim verse 40 below.
رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِيْ مُقِيْمَ الصَّلٰوةِ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِيْۖ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاۤءِ – ٤٠
“O my Lord, make me and my children and grandchildren those who keep praying, O our Lord, please accept my prayer.” (QS 14:40)
So, there are some easy ways how to teach your child to pray in Islam. Most of them come based on the Quran, so it is valid to apply daily. May Allah give His blessing upon you to take care trying to teach your child to have a prayer.