Parenting Perspective 

When a child confides, ‘I believe in Allah, but I do not feel close to Him,’ they are voicing one of the deepest of human struggles: the gap between intellectual belief and heartfelt connection. Many parents may panic, worrying that this signals a weakness in faith, but in truth, it is an opening for a beautiful conversation. Your child is not rejecting Allah Almighty; they are expressing a longing for closeness. Responding with warmth rather than alarm will make them feel safe in that search. 

First and foremost, validate their honesty. Saying something as simple as, ‘Thank you for sharing that with me. It is a feeling many people have at times,’ immediately normalises their experience and reduces the shame that might otherwise silence them. 

Help Them Explore the Feeling of Distance 

Sometimes what a child describes as ‘not feeling close’ is actually a symptom of distraction, stress, or emotional heaviness. Gently encourage them to explore what might be creating this sense of distance. Is it because their prayers have become rushed and robotic? Is it a feeling of disappointment over an unanswered dua? By giving words to the feeling, it becomes less of a vague fog and more of a specific challenge that can be addressed with clarity and purpose. 

Model a Personal Connection 

Children learn what a relationship with Allah looks like by watching you. If they see you making personal dua in moments of both relief and struggle, or hear you speak of Allah’s mercy in everyday matters, they learn that closeness is not an abstract concept but a lived reality. Be honest about your own spiritual journey, sharing that even adults sometimes feel distant but continue to turn back to Him with hope. 

Encourage Small, Heartfelt Acts 

Instead of urging them to perform long rituals, invite them to try one small act with full presence. This could be whispering a personal dua from the heart before sleep, or truly reflecting on a single verse of the Quran. Intimacy with Allah Almighty often begins with these tiny, sincere steps, not grand, mechanical efforts. A beautiful way to start is by suggesting they keep a small ‘gratitude journal’ to note one blessing each day, gently shifting their focus from His perceived absence to His constant presence. 

Spiritual Insight 

The noble Quran and the teachings of the Prophet ﷺ reassure us that a close relationship with Allah Almighty is not reserved for saints or scholars; it is an open invitation to every single person who turns to Him. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Qaaf (50), Verse 16: 

‘And indeed, We (Allah Almighty) have created mankind, and so We have full knowledge of all the (thoughts he) murmurs within himself; and We (Allah Almighty) are closer to him than his jugular vein.’ 

This profound verse can dissolve the fear of distance. It teaches us that Allah’s closeness is an absolute reality, whether we are able to ‘feel’ it in a particular moment or not. The spiritual journey, therefore, is not about creating a connection that does not exist, but about awakening our awareness to the connection that is already there. 

It is recorded in Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 7405, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Allah says: I am as My servant thinks of Me, and I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me to himself, I remember him to Myself; and if he remembers Me in an assembly, I remember him in a better assembly.’ 

In this hadith qudsi, we learn that closeness is nurtured through two key actions: sincere remembrance (dhikr) and holding a positive expectation of Allah’s mercy (husn al-dhann). When a child learns that Allah Almighty responds to even the faintest whisper of remembrance, they can begin to internalise the beautiful truth that they are never truly alone. 

By affirming their honesty, guiding them towards small, personal acts of devotion, and rooting their perspective in the Quran and Sunnah, you teach your child that feeling distant is not a sign of failure but an invitation to draw nearer. With patience and trust, that feeling of distance can be transformed into a journey of discovery, where they learn that Allah Almighty was near all along, waiting lovingly for their heart to notice.