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My Salah Mat began with a moment many Muslim parents may recognise. Kamal Ali, a former design technology teacher and product designer, watched his young son Hamzah struggling to follow the movements of Salah. He searched for something that could help only to realise that there is very limited tools that could do so. Kamal initiated to design a tool himself, which led to the creation of the Interactive Prayer Mat by My Salah Mat.
Through a long process to secure patent, it took up to 4 years since the filling date for My Salah Mat to be granted the patent for the world’s first interactive prayer mat. It has since reached families in more than 40 countries and grown into a wider Islamic learning brand for children, adults and reverts.
For Kamal, the story is not only about business. It is about fatherhood, faith, teaching, invention and legacy.
A Teacher, Designer and Welsh Muslim Founder
Kamal Ali was born in Bangladesh and moved to the UK as a baby. After a short time in London, his family settled in Wales when he was eight years old, where he now calls home. He studied there, trained there, taught there and built his creative career there.
Before My Salah Mat, Kamal was a design technology teacher. He also achieved a first-class honours degree and a master’s in product design from Bath Spa University. That background shaped the way he works: research the problem, sketch ideas, test, improve and create something useful.
His teaching experience became central to My Salah Mat. Kamal explains that teaching means breaking knowledge down into simple stages. A child learns one step, practises it, then builds on it. That same approach shaped the interactive prayer mat, helping children learn about wudu, adhan, prayer positions and recitations in a clear way.
Before My Salah Mat, Kamal also founded Hajj Safe, creating anti-theft products for pilgrims travelling for Hajj and Umrah. For him, both businesses connect back to faith, service and supporting the Muslim community.
From One Child's Struggle to a Global Brand
The first inspiration came from Hamzah learning to pray and struggling with sujood. In short, Kamal wanted a way to guide him through the prayer positions, so he began developing a mat that could show where the hands, feet, knees and head should go.
After preparing the product, Kamal launched the website and social media pages. The response was immediate. Parents understood the idea because many had been looking for a simple way to help their children learn Salah at home.
*product shown in the picture is the old version of the Kids Interactive Prayer Mat.
The brand grew quickly, especially after going viral online. Kamal describes one of his proudest achievements as receiving the YouTube Silver Play Button after passing 100,000 subscribers (which currently has reached over 914,000 subscribers). My Salah Mat has also been shortlisted for the St David Awards, Islam Channel Awards, Small Business Federation awards and Business Wales Global Business of the Year.
The company has also been featured by BBC, ITV and Wales Online. Another important moment came when the UK Intellectual Property Office visited the My Salah Mat office to produce a case study on intellectual property and counterfeit products. For Kamal, this mattered because it showed that others were beginning to understand the challenges faced by original Muslim inventors. The visit led to a featured article on the GOV website: "What happens when your product goes viral? Lessons from My Salah Mat".
Today, My Salah Mat includes learning tools connected to Salah, Quran learning, the Prophets and the 99 Names of Allah. Kamal hopes the brand becomes a form of Sadaqah Jariyah, continuing to benefit families long after him.
His message to families is simple: support the mission, share the products, leave honest reviews and help inspire others to learn how to pray. For Kamal, there is no embarrassment in beginning. The most important thing is to take the first step.
FAQ
Who is Kamal Ali?
Founder of My Salah Mat and Hajj Safe, and a Welsh Muslim inventor, former teacher and product designer.
What inspired My Salah Mat?
Kamal saw his son struggling to learn the movements of Salah, and initiated a design which later became the world's interactive prayer mat.
Where is My Salah Mat based?
My Salah Mat is based in Newport, Wales, United Kingdom.
Has My Salah Mat received recognition?
Yes, including award shortlists and features by BBC, ITV and Wales Online.
What is Kamal Ali’s long-term vision?
To build a legacy brand that helps children, adults and reverts connect with Islamic learning.
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