How can my child handle faith-based schedule differences kindly? 

Parenting Perspective 

In a diverse classroom or friendship group, your child may begin to notice that some of their friends may leave early for prayer, may fast during the month of Ramadan, or may take their holidays on different days. At first, these differences can feel confusing or even inconvenient for them, especially when their playdates or their group projects fall on days that one of their friends cannot join in with. Helping your child to respond to these situations in a kind and understanding way can help them to build their emotional intelligence and a true and sincere sense of inclusivity. 

Teaching Respect Through a Sense of Awareness 

You can begin by saying, ‘People follow many different faiths, and that can sometimes mean that they have different times for their rest, for their prayer, or for their celebrations. We do not all do things in the same way, and that is okay.’ This helps to set a tone that communicates that any faith-based differences are a normal and natural part of life, not something that is strange. You can also explain that our kindness in these situations is not just about allowing for our differences, but about actively honouring them. 

Coaching Them in the Art of Thoughtful Flexibility 

You can encourage your child to plan their activities with a sense of inclusiveness in mind. If a friend is not able to attend something due to a religious observance, you can guide your child to try to adjust their plans or to suggest some alternatives. 

• ‘That is okay. Let us play tomorrow instead.’ 

• ‘You will be fasting on that day? We can hang out together after sunset instead!’ 

These simple statements show a sense of sensitivity rather than one of disappointment. If your child is the one who is feeling left out because a friend is not able to join them, it is important to validate their feelings first, and then to gently help them to reframe the situation. 

Helping Them to Communicate Without Applying Pressure 

Children can sometimes unintentionally make these faith-based differences feel uncomfortable by saying things like, ‘Why can you not just come?’, or ‘Just skip it this one time!’ You can explain to them that such words, even when they are said in a friendly way, can sound dismissive of the other person’s faith. It is better to teach your child to replace these kinds of comments with more understanding ones, such as, ‘I get it. I will see you next time then.’ This can help them to build empathy and a genuine sense of respect. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches believers to recognise and to respect the diversity of the times, of the practices, and of the rhythms that different communities may follow. The act of understanding another person’s schedule for their worship or for their rest with a sense of empathy is a reflection of rahmah, the compassion that forms the very heart of our faith. 

The Quranic Teaching on Respecting Diversity in Worship 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Kahf (18), Verse 29: 

‘And say (O Prophet Muhammad ﷺ): “The (infinite and absolute) truth is from your Sustainer, then whoever desires, they may become believers, and whoever desires, they can (recklessly) reject (the truth)”…’ 

This verse underscores the importance of having a sense of freedom and of respect in all matters of faith. It teaches us that our differences in belief are not threats to our own faith, but are in fact tests of our own patience and of our kindness. When your child is able to give other people the time and the space that they need for their own worship or for their own religious observances, they are living by this beautiful Quranic ethic of a peaceful coexistence. 

The Prophetic Example of Thoughtful Accommodation 

It is recorded in Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 6125, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Make things easy for people and do not make them difficult; bring them glad tidings and do not drive them away.’ 

This hadith captures the Prophet’s ﷺ timeless wisdom on the subject of kindness, to make things easier for other people, not harder. When your child is able to reschedule a playdate or to avoid insisting that a friend should join them during their own time of prayer or of fasting, they are echoing this beautiful prophetic sense of grace. 

Guiding your child to handle these faith-based schedule differences in a kind way can teach them that a true and lasting friendship must be able to honour both our shared time and our sacred time. They can learn that our compassion for others is not about a sense of sameness, but one of a deep and sincere care for them. 

Your own steady encouragement can help them to see that a sense of flexibility is not a burden, but a blessing. It is a quiet act of respect that can make other people feel both safe and valued in our company. 

As they grow, they will be able to carry this awareness with them far beyond their playdates and their classrooms, becoming the kind of people who, like the Prophet ﷺ, are able to make things easy for others, to speak with a sense of gentleness, and to understand that our faith and our friendships are best able to flourish when they are rooted in a sense of patience, of empathy, and of a profound respect for others.