Prayer — a bond of love before it is an obligation

In the blessed month of Ramadan everyone turns towards worship, yet we sometimes struggle to help our children keep up their prayers.

Through my studies and my work with many children, I came to see how differently they respond to matters of faith, according to their personalities and their family backgrounds. We all want righteous children who keep up their prayers — but how do we get there?

Let me tell you a story. I used to supervise the pupils at school during prayer time, and I would find a striking difference: some children slipped away, while others came eagerly, hurrying to make wudu and setting out their own prayer garment. When I looked into it, I found something essential at the heart of it: the child who comes willingly to prayer has a real relationship with God. He prays out of love for God, and to keep a warm connection with Him. Those who slipped away — even though the whole class walked to the mosque together — were usually missing that sense of companionship. They had never grown used to speaking intimately to God, or to feeling His love for them.

Dear educator: if you are struggling with your children over prayer, make your first priority building their relationship with God and reminding them of His love — holding fast to the prayer: «رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ» — My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer, and from my descendants. Our Lord, and accept my supplication.

Coach / Sawsan Ahmed