Step by step

What to do when a child turns seven

A gentle, practical plan for starting salah with your child.

1
Know the Sunnah
The Prophet ﷺ said: teach your children salah when they are seven, and be firm with them about it at ten. Start gently and early.
2
Teach wudu first
Make wudu together in front of them, step by step, until they can do it alone.
3
Learn short surahs
Start with al-Fatihah and the last short surahs. A few minutes a day is enough.
4
Pray together
Let them stand beside you for one prayer a day, then build up to all five.
5
Encourage, do not shame
Use charts, praise and small rewards. Make salah something they look forward to.
6
Start their Qur'an reading
Seven is a good age to learn to read the Qur'an with tajweed from a teacher.

Questions

Common questions

My child is younger than seven. Should I wait?

No need to wait. Let them copy you and learn duas and short surahs early, without pressure.

How do I teach a child to read the Qur'an?

Start with the Arabic letters (Noorani Qaida), then move to reading. A teacher makes a big difference.

Is a child sinful for missing salah?

No. Salah becomes obligatory at puberty. Before that it is training, and the reward is theirs and their parents'.

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