What should I do if they complain our food takes too long to make? 

Parenting Perspective 

When a child complains that traditional food takes too long to prepare, their frustration is usually about the delay itself, not a criticism of the dish. This moment offers a valuable opportunity to teach perspective and the virtue of patience. The goal is not to dismiss their feelings but to gently reframe their understanding of time, effort, and value in the context of nourishment and family life. 

Acknowledge the Feeling, Reframe the Time 

The first step is always to validate their feelings with empathy. A simple acknowledgement like, ‘I know waiting feels very difficult, especially when you are hungry,’ shows that you understand their perspective. Once they feel heard, you can connect the cooking time to its inherent value. 

Explain the difference between rushed food and real food. You could say, ‘This meal takes a little longer because it is made with fresh ingredients that need time to release their flavours. We cook slowly so that it tastes better and gives our bodies the best energy’. When children are given the ‘why’ behind the wait, they are more likely to appreciate the ‘how’. This shifts their focus from the inconvenience of waiting to the benefits of a carefully prepared meal. 

Turn Waiting Time into Connection Time 

The minutes spent waiting for a dish to cook do not have to be empty. Transform these moments into opportunities for connection and participation by assigning your child meaningful micro-tasks. 

Ask them to wash herbs, stir a sauce for a minute, or take on the important role of setting the table beautifully. When children are actively involved, they stop seeing the process as a delay and start seeing it as an act of creation they are part of. You can make it playful by saying, ‘While this simmers, you are in charge of the official taste test for the salt’. This small contribution gives them a sense of purpose and turns passive waiting into active, bonding time. 

Spiritual Insight 

In Islam, time is one of Allah’s most precious gifts, and patience (sabr) is a cornerstone of a believer’s character. When a child complains about the time it takes to cook, it becomes a teachable moment to instill these profound Islamic virtues. The kitchen can be a classroom for understanding that effort, time, and excellence are all acts of worship. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Asr (103), Verses 1–3: 

‘By time. Indeed, mankind is in loss, except for those who believe and do righteous deeds and advise each other to truth and advise each other to patience…’ 

This powerful surah swears by time itself, highlighting its immense value. It teaches us that patience is not a passive act of waiting, but a form of righteousness that saves us from loss. Explain to your child that when they wait respectfully for a meal prepared with love, they are practising the virtue of sabr for the sake of Allah Almighty. Every extra minute spent cooking with care is a form of ihsan (excellence), a righteous deed that infuses the food with blessing.  

It is recorded in Mishkaat Al Masaabih, Hadith 30, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘If anyone loves for God’s sake, hates for God’s sake, gives for God’s sake and withholds for God’s sake, he will have perfected faith.’ 

This hadith teaches us the principle of itqan, which is the act of perfecting one’s work with excellence and sincerity. Cooking slowly and attentively is a living example of this teaching. It demonstrates that true quality requires time and cannot be rushed. Teach your child that perfecting small deeds, even in the preparation of a family meal, is an act of devotion that is beloved to Allah. By learning to appreciate meals that take longer to make, they are internalising the Islamic values of effort, patience, and excellence over the modern world’s demand for instant gratification. They will come to see that time spent with intention is never wasted; rather, it is time blessed by Allah Almighty.