What strategies help maintain calm during mosque or family events? 

Parenting Perspective 

While mosque gatherings and family events are often joyful occasions, they can also be stressful for parents when children become restless or disruptive. The public setting can make parents feel pressured, which may cause frustration to rise quickly. Maintaining a calm atmosphere requires planning ahead, setting clear expectations, and managing your own reactions so that your child learns to respect shared spaces without feeling shamed. 

Prepare Beforehand 

Talk to your child before you leave for the event to set clear and simple expectations. You could say, ‘Today we will be at the mosque, so it is important that we use our quiet voices,’ or ‘During dinner with our family, the rule is to stay seated until everyone is finished.’ For younger children, a brief role-play at home can help them to better understand what is expected. 

Bring Calming Tools 

For long gatherings where children are likely to become bored, it is wise to prepare a few quiet activities to occupy them. This could be a small book, a set of tasbih beads to hold, or a notebook and pen for drawing. Having a few quiet and familiar items on hand can help to reduce restlessness and prevent misbehaviour before it even starts. 

Stay Calm and Consistent 

If your child does act out, it is important to avoid harsh or loud scolding in public. Instead, use a soft cue like a gentle touch on the shoulder, a whispered reminder, or briefly stepping aside with them for a moment. You can reinforce the expectations more fully when you are back home, so the lesson is learned in private. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches that mosques and family gatherings are places of blessing (barakah) and mutual respect. Parents have a responsibility to guide their children with gentleness, so they learn to value these spaces without associating them with fear or public shame. 

Adornment and Moderation in Gatherings 

The Quran reminds us that attending places of worship and social gatherings should be done with a sense of dignity, respect, and moderation in our behaviour. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Aa’raaf (7), Verses 31: 

‘ O children of Adam, take (appropriate) measures to beautify yourself (before you appear) at any place of worship (for Prayer); and eat and drink and do not be extravagant (wasteful), as indeed, He (Allah Almighty) does not like extravagance.‘ 

The Principle of Making Things Easy 

The prophetic tradition teaches that guidance should always be delivered in a way that makes family life and faith feel welcoming and easy, not burdensome or difficult. 

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

‘Make things easy and do not make things difficult. Give glad tidings and do not drive people away.’ 

By handling these events with preparation and patience, you are reflecting the Islamic values of balance and mercy. Your child learns that calm and respectful behaviour is a part of worship and good character, which strengthens both family harmony and their own spiritual growth.