Paradise Under Your Feet — Page 145
Appendix 1: Establishing Salat Through the Ages 145 if there are no boys, a girl who knows the entire Salat can be encouraged to lead the Salat at home with her mother and other siblings. During the weekdays, at least, offer Fajr, Maghrib and Isha in congregation. During school days, the children may have to combine Zuhr and Asr prayers after school when the days are short. However, at the weekends, make a point of offering all the Salat at the appointed times. Salat through the Middle School Years By the time the children attend middle school, they will know and understand Salat completely, and offering Salat will have become a habit. Parents will need to remind them of their duties and simply encourage them to perform their daily Salat regularly. If parents have set a good example, children are bound to follow. In the same way as was mentioned for the elementary years, children of ages 11-13 should be made the Imam for the different Salat. From the age of seven, wake your children up on time for Fajr prayer so that a lifelong habit can be created. Some children have no problem getting up in the mornings while others do not find it very easy at all to wake up. If a routine is established whereby the children are encouraged to get to bed early, they will be able to wake up on time for Fajr. If a child happens to miss offering Fajr at the appointed time, he/she should still be asked to make up the Salat whenever he/she wakes up. Have solid expectations and establish the rule that we do not leave the house unless the Salat has been performed. In some states, middle school children are let out of school before elementary students. This means that the middle school students get