How can parents recognise if a child’s loss of interest in salah or Islamic routines is linked to online exposure? 

Parenting Perspective 

It can be worrying for parents when a child’s interest in prayer, Quran recitation, or other Islamic routines begins to wane. While it is normal for a child’s enthusiasm to have its natural dips, a sudden or persistent disinterest might signal that they are being exposed to online influences that distract them from or even undermine their faith. It is important for parents to observe these changes carefully, looking for a connection to their child’s online habits rather than immediately assuming it is an act of rebellion. 

Look for Shifts Connected to Device Use 

If your child is normally enthusiastic about salah and family worship, but you notice a consistent pattern of them delaying or avoiding it immediately after being online, this may suggest that their digital exposure is negatively affecting their spiritual motivation. 

Spot New Justifications or Attitudes 

A child who suddenly starts dismissing prayer as ‘boring,’ repeating anti-religious arguments they have likely heard from online influencers, or consistently prioritising a game or video over prayer time may be echoing external voices that are downplaying the importance of faith. 

Watch for a Subtle Withdrawal 

Pay attention to a loss of warmth towards other small, daily routines. A child who no longer wants to say du’a before meals, who avoids attending family dhikr, or who disengages from Islamic discussions may be experiencing a quiet internal conflict that has been shaped by the content they are consuming online. 

Observe Their Emotional State 

If a child’s online exposure is feeding feelings of guilt over something they have seen, or creating doubt in their heart, they may begin to avoid salah as a way of escaping feelings of hypocrisy or spiritual discomfort. In these cases, addressing the root cause with compassion is far more important than simply trying to enforce compliance. 

By linking these behavioural changes to your child’s online use and remaining attentive to their needs, you can distinguish between natural spiritual fluctuations and deeper influences that require your gentle redirection. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches that a person’s faith (iman) can naturally rise and fall. In this context, parents are entrusted with the profound duty of nurturing their children’s spiritual hearts. Any online influences that appear to be weakening a child’s connection to salah must be countered with wisdom, patience, and love. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Taaha (20), Verses 132: 

‘ And command your family to prayer and bestowed fast thereupon, We (Allah Almighty) do not ask you for any provisions, it is We (Allah Almighty) Who provide for you; and the best outcome is for those who have attained piety.’ 

This verse is a direct command to parents, reminding them that they must actively and consistently guide their children in the matter of prayer, and that they should do so with steadfastness. 

It is recorded in Sunan Nisai, Hadith 466, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘The first matter that the slave will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgement is the prayer. If it is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound, and if it is corrupt, then the rest of his deeds will be corrupt.’ 

This teaching establishes salah as the absolute foundation of a believer’s faith. Protecting a child’s prayer is therefore one of the most important ways of protecting their heart. 

By connecting their child’s online exposure to their spiritual shifts, parents can lovingly help to restore a sense of balance. They can show their children that faith is not a burden that has to compete with the digital world, but is in fact the ultimate source of peace and protection from its potential harms.