What routines can show that faith is part of my happiness? 

Parenting Perspective 

Children are very perceptive and can quickly sense whether the practice of faith feels like a joy or a burden in your life. If they regularly see you approaching acts of worship with a sense of frustration or reluctance, they may begin to associate Islam with a feeling of heaviness. However, if you can build simple routines that consistently link faith with smiles, gratitude, and a sense of peace, they will learn that Islam is something that nourishes happiness, rather than restricting it. The ultimate goal is to model a faith that feels like a source of deep contentment, which then naturally and visibly flows into the life of your family. 

Associate Acts of Worship with Warmth 

You can create a positive emotional connection to worship through small but significant gestures. Try to smile just before you begin your Salah, and consider saying aloud, ‘Alhamdulillah, I feel so peaceful when I take this time to pray.’ This simple routine helps to teach your children that prayer is not only a duty but also a welcome source of comfort and peace. 

Establish Light and Cheerful Gratitude Rituals 

At regular moments in the day, such as at mealtimes or just before bed, you can create a small ritual of gratitude. A simple, cheerful prompt like, ‘Let us quickly say Alhamdulillah for this blessing,’ keeps the moment feeling light. Practising gratitude in these daily routines teaches children that a happy heart is a heart that is thankful to Allah. 

Connect Dhikr with Moments of Joy and Wonder 

You can integrate the remembrance of Allah into your family’s most joyful activities. Saying ‘SubhanAllah’ when you see the stars at night, or ‘Allahu Akbar’ when you are enjoying a beautiful day in nature, is a powerful way to do this. Linking dhikr to these moments of wonder makes remembrance feel like a natural expression of happiness that children will want to copy. 

Make Dua in Moments of Joy, Not Just Hardship 

It is important to show your children that we turn to Allah in times of happiness, not just in times of need. Making a spontaneous dua when you are feeling joyful, for example by saying, ‘Ya Allah, thank you so much for this happy moment of laughter together,’ is a beautiful practice. It shows children that communication with Allah is part of celebrating the good in life. 

Maintain a Positive and Consistent Tone 

Try to be mindful of the way you speak about your religious acts. It is better to avoid sighs of exhaustion before prayer and instead use positive and inviting language, such as, ‘I am so thankful that Allah gives us this time to pause and connect with Him.’ Over time, your children will form a strong association between the practice of faith and a feeling of positivity, not fatigue. 

Through these routines, your child will grow up connecting faith with happiness, learning that true and lasting joy flows directly from a close and loving relationship with Allah. 

Spiritual Insight 

The Quran on Finding Joy in Allah’s Mercy 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Yunus (10), Verses 58: 

‘Say (O Prophet Muhammad ﷺ): “In this the Bounty of Allah (Almighty) and His Mercy, with these (bestowments) they should rejoice, this is better than all their wealth and possessions they can amass”.’ 

This verse beautifully reminds us that true and lasting joy is to be found in the bounty and mercy of Allah, not in the fleeting pleasures of material possessions. Teaching this principle to your children helps them to understand that the happiness that is rooted in faith is of a much higher and more enduring quality. 

Prophetic Wisdom on Prayer as a Source of Comfort 

It is recorded in Sunan Nisai, Hadith 3939, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘My comfort has been provided in prayer.’ 

This profound hadith reveals that Salah was not a burden for the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, but was in fact his primary source of comfort, joy, and relief. When parents can reflect this same spirit in their own daily routines, their children learn that Islam is a path of peace and happiness. This positive association can shape their own relationship with Allah in a beautiful and lasting way.