INTRODUCTION
Being a Muslim is not merely about identifying with the Islamic faith, but also about how values of faith are internalized and manifested in daily life. Faith serves as a primary foundation for building a Muslim's personality. Therefore, nurturing faith must begin at an early age through religious education, the habituation of worship, and the cultivation of good moral values.
One form of faith development in children is building discipline in performing the five daily prayers. Prayer is not only an obligation in Islamic teachings but also a character-building tool that teaches responsibility, order, and awareness in fulfilling one's duties to Allah SWT.
Erawati and Zulfamanna (2025) explain that worship training can be achieved through the habit of performing congregational prayers and voluntary acts of worship. Meanwhile, moral development can be strengthened through role modeling, positive communication, and the habituation of good behavior in daily life.
In this process, parents play a crucial role as a child's first educators. The family environment is the initial place where a child learns about religious teachings, worship procedures, and the values of faith. Khosiin (2021) and Ulwan (2012) emphasize the importance of the parental role in nurturing a child's soul and character.
Beyond the family environment, schools also bear responsibility for building worship habits. Teachers do not merely convey religious education material theoretically but also serve as role models through their daily attitudes and behaviors. Consistent role modeling can help children understand the importance of performing worship with full responsibility.
Nevertheless, fostering discipline in the five daily prayers for children is not always easy. Various obstacles can arise, such as a child's lack of awareness regarding worship obligations, a tendency to procrastinate, the influence of social circles, and the limited time parents have to provide guidance.
In some conditions, children perform prayers only after receiving orders or reprimands from adults. Such habits indicate that the performance of worship still relies on external supervision and has not yet fully grown from personal awareness.
This issue is also related to role modeling within the family. Children tend to imitate the behavior of those closest to them. If parents have not demonstrated discipline in maintaining prayer times, children may find it difficult to understand the importance of performing worship on time.
Therefore, an approach is needed that does not rely solely on commands but also provides an engaging learning experience, is appropriate for the child's development, and supports the formation of independent worship habits.
The development of digital technology opens opportunities to provide religious education support media that are closer to a child's daily life. One concept that can be developed is Imani Watch, a digital adhan wristwatch designed as a prayer time reminder and a tool to support worship habituation for elementary school (SD/MI) students.
Through the use of this device, it is hoped that children can begin to recognize prayer times, manage their daily activities, and gradually build discipline in performing worship.
DISCUSSION
Imani Watch as a Technological Innovation in Worship Education
The development of digital technology provides various conveniences in human life, including in the field of education. Technology is not only utilized as a means of communication and entertainment but can also be developed into learning media that supports character formation and the strengthening of religious values.
In the context of Islamic education, the use of technology should be directed toward activities that benefit a child's spiritual development. One application is the use of digital devices to help children recognize and remember the times for the five daily prayers.
Imani Watch arrives as an innovative digital adhan wristwatch concept designed specifically for elementary-aged children. This device is expected to serve as a support tool to reduce a child's dependence on verbal reminders from parents or teachers.
In terms of appearance, the Imani Watch is designed with the characteristics of children in mind. Its design prioritizes a comfortable fit, an attractive color combination, and simple operation so that it is easily understood by elementary-aged users.
Key features offered include time settings based on the user's location, local prayer schedule adjustments, and five-time adhan alarm reminders. The reminder sound is designed to be easily recognized by children, helping them know when it is time to perform worship.
The presence of these features is expected to support the formation of a more structured routine. When the alarm sounds, the child is reminded to pause their activities, prepare themselves with wudu, and then perform the prayer on time.
However, the purpose of using the Imani Watch is not to replace the role of parents or teachers in religious education. This device only functions as an aid to support the process of worship habituation.
The success of building discipline still requires education, role modeling, and guidance provided on an ongoing basis.
Instilling Prayer Discipline from an Early Age
Habituating prayer from an early age is an important part of Islamic religious education. Children need to be introduced to the obligation of worship gradually so they can understand the meaning of prayer and make it a part of their daily lives.
In a hadith narrated by Abu Dawud number 495, there is guidance regarding the importance of accustoming children to perform prayers from the age of seven. The hadith shows that prayer education requires a guidance process that begins in childhood.
This habituation is not sufficiently achieved through the delivery of commands. Children also need to obtain explanations regarding the purpose and benefits of worship so that an understanding that underlies their behavior can grow.
In this regard, the Imani Watch can be utilized as a support tool to introduce the regularity of worship times.
Reminders provided on a schedule can help children recognize prayer times and build a habit of prioritizing worship obligations. Through consistent repetition, children are expected to become increasingly accustomed to managing their daily activities without neglecting prayer times.
For example, when a child is playing or studying and the Imani Watch alarm sounds, parents can invite them to understand that the time for prayer has arrived. The child is then directed to finish or pause their activity, perform wudu, and perform the prayer.
Simple activities performed repeatedly can become part of the process of building self-discipline.
Nevertheless, discipline should not be measured solely by a child's ability to respond to an alarm. What is more important is how the child gradually understands that prayer is an obligation that must be performed based on awareness and faith.
Thus, the use of technology needs to be balanced with an educational approach that helps children understand the spiritual value behind the performance of worship.
Mechanism for Using Imani Watch in Worship Habituation
The use of the Imani Watch needs to be adjusted according to the device's instructions and settings so that the available features can be utilized optimally.
At the initial stage, parents help the child set the time and determine the location according to the local prayer schedule. This setting is important so that the reminder alarm can function at the appropriate time.
After the settings are complete, the child can use the Imani Watch in their daily activities as a reminder of worship times.
When the alarm sounds, the child is directed to recognize that the prayer time has arrived. Subsequently, the child is guided to pause their activity, prepare themselves with wudu, and perform the prayer.
This process should be carried out gradually, taking into account the child's age, understanding, and ability.
At the initial stage of use, the child may still require direct guidance from parents. However, through consistent habituation, this dependence is expected to decrease so that the child is able to respond to reminders and prepare themselves for worship more independently.
The use of the Imani Watch also needs to be directed so that it does not become merely an accessory or an interesting digital device to wear.
Parents need to provide an explanation that the primary function of the device is to help build the habit of performing prayers on time.
With an appropriate approach, the Imani Watch can become a learning medium that connects the use of technology with education on responsibility and discipline.
The Role of Parents and Teachers in Supporting Children
Although the Imani Watch offers convenience as a prayer time reminder, the role of parents and teachers remains the primary element in the success of a child's worship education.
Khosiin (2021) emphasizes the importance of role modeling in character education. Children do not only learn values through explanations but also through the behavior demonstrated by those around them.
Therefore, when the Imani Watch alarm sounds, parents should not only tell the child to perform the prayer but also set an example by maintaining their own prayer times.
Such role modeling can help children understand that prayer is an obligation performed by all family members, not just a rule directed at the child.
In the school environment, teachers can also provide reinforcement through worship habituation activities, such as performing congregational prayers, teaching wudu procedures, and delivering material on the importance of maintaining prayer times.
After the child performs worship, parents and teachers can provide appreciation for the effort made. Appreciation does not have to be in the form of gifts but can be given through praise, attention, and positive communication.
Children can also be invited to discuss the experience they felt after performing the prayer. Through such communication, educators can determine the extent to which the child's understanding and awareness are beginning to develop.
If a child forgets or ignores the reminder, the approach used should remain educational. Parents do not need to immediately show anger but can remind them again with kind language and help the child understand the importance of responsibility in worship.
Guidance filled with affection is expected to create a comfortable religious education atmosphere that does not lead to the perception that prayer is a burden.
In addition, the development of the child's habits needs to be observed and evaluated periodically. Evaluation can be done by observing the child's response to reminders, the punctuality of prayer performance, and changes in their level of independence.
Through cooperation between the family and the school, the use of the Imani Watch is expected to support the process of forming religious character in a more directed manner.
Limitations of the Imani Watch as a Worship Habituation Medium
Although it has potential as a support medium for religious education, the Imani Watch also has limitations that need to be considered.
As a digital device, its primary function is to provide information and reminders regarding prayer times. This watch cannot guarantee that a child will immediately perform wudu, perform the prayer, or understand the recitations and meaning of the worship being performed.
The alarm sound is also not necessarily always responded to with the expected action. Children may ignore the reminder when they are playing, studying, or doing other activities they consider more interesting.
This indicates that technology cannot work independently in forming religious awareness.
Furthermore, discipline that relies solely on an alarm has the potential to become a mechanical habit if it is not accompanied by an understanding of the values and purpose of worship.
Therefore, the use of the Imani Watch needs to be combined with religious learning, consistent habituation, positive communication, and role modeling from the child's closest environment.
It should also be understood that the benefits of the Imani Watch in improving prayer discipline are still a potential that needs to be studied further through direct application and evaluation.
Observation of changes in a child's behavior is necessary to determine the extent to which the use of the device can support the formation of more disciplined and independent prayer habits.
Thus, the Imani Watch should be positioned as a support medium, not as the sole solution in a child's worship education.
CONCLUSION
The Imani Watch is a digital technology innovation concept designed to help foster discipline in the five daily prayers for elementary school (SD/MI) students.
Through prayer time reminder features adjusted to the user's location, this device is expected to help children recognize worship times, manage daily activities, and build the habit of performing prayers more regularly.
However, the success of worship habituation cannot rely solely on the use of digital devices. Role modeling, guidance, and religious education provided by parents and teachers remain important factors in the process of forming a child's religious character.
The main goal of using the Imani Watch is not merely to make children perform prayers every time the alarm sounds, but to help foster the awareness that prayer is an obligation that must be carried out with full responsibility.
Through consistent guidance, an approach filled with affection, and an understanding of the importance of worship, children are expected to be able to develop the habit of performing prayers in a disciplined and independent manner.
Therefore, the utilization of the Imani Watch needs to be placed as part of a comprehensive religious education approach. The combination of technology, habituation, and role modeling is expected to make a positive contribution to forming religious character and strengthening faith values from an early age.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Abu Dawud, S. ibn al-Asy‘ats. (n.d.). Sunan Abi Dawud (Hadith No. 495, Book of Prayer). Sunnah.com. https://sunnah.com/abudawud:495
Erawati, & Zulfamanna. (2025). The role of parents in increasing children's obedience to Allah through the discipline of fardhu prayer in Kurao Pagang Village. [Publication data incomplete].
Ulwan, A. N. (2012). Encyclopedia of noble character education volume 4: A guide to educating children according to Islamic methods (A. Maulana, Trans.). Lentera Abadi.
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