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My Salah Mat began with a simple moment at home.
Kamal Ali, My Salah Mat's founder, was praying with his young son when he noticed that his son was struggling with sujood. His hands, knees, toes, forehead and nose were not in the correct position, and like many young children, he found it hard to understand from words alone.
After the prayer, Kamal tried to explain what to do. But the problem stayed in his mind. His son did not only need to be told, but he needed to see it. Still in the same evening, Kamal began thinking about a prayer mat that could show children exactly where to place their feet, hands, knees, head and nose. At first, it was not meant to be electronic or interactive. It was simply going to be a printed prayer mat with clear visual guidance.
But when the first prototype arrived, another thought came to him. If the positions were already marked, why could they not respond when touched? Why could a child not press a point and hear what to say or what to do next?
The question really stayed with him and that was the moment the idea became much bigger.
From Printed Mat to Interactive Learning Tool
Kamal’s background in product design and teaching shaped the way he looked at the problem. In schools, children use different tools to support different types of learning. Some children learn by seeing, some by listening, some others by doing.
Salah is one of the pillars of Islam. It is something Muslims are taught to perform five times a day, yet many families still struggle to know how to teach it clearly at home. Kamal wanted to create something that helped children grow up feeling familiar with prayer, not afraid of it.
The mat developed from a simple visual guide into a full learning journey. It began with body positions, then grew to include wudu, the adhan, facing the Qiblah, making intention, saying the takbeer, reciting Surah Al-Fatihah, moving through ruku and sujood, sitting for tashahhud, sending salawat and making du’a.
The idea was not to replace parents, teachers or the masjid. It was to give families a helpful support tool. A child could stand on the mat, listen, press, follow, repeat and slowly build confidence.
After around two years of development, the first My Salah Mat product launched in 2018. The response was immediate. Almost half of the first shipment had sold before it even arrived. Then in 2019, the product went viral across WhatsApp and social media, especially in the Middle East. Thousands of mats sold within 24 hour
What began as one father trying to help his son became the world’s first Interactive Prayer Mat for children, used by families in more than 40 countries.
A Product Built for Children, Reverts and Families Worldwide
As My Salah Mat grew, families began asking for an adult version. At first, the product had been created for children, but Kamal started thinking about new Muslims who take shahadah and then face the huge task of learning how to pray.
Many reverts are welcomed with love, but afterwards they may be given books, links and information that can feel overwhelming. Kamal wanted to create something that could help a new Muslim begin learning Salah from the day they entered Islam.
That led to the Adult Interactive Prayer Mat. It gave reverts, adult beginners and returning Muslims a private way to learn step by step, without shame or judgement. It also showed that the need was bigger than Kamal first realised. Some born Muslims also wanted support, especially if they had never learned Salah properly or felt embarrassed to ask.
The journey has not been easy. After My Salah Mat went viral, fake versions began appearing online. Some copied the design, icons, layout, packaging, photographs and even the brand name. This created problems for customers who thought they had bought the original product, only to receive something cheaper, unreliable or poorly made.
For Kamal, protecting the original invention became part of protecting the trust of families. My Salah Mat invested in patents, trade marks, registered designs, safety checks, Islamic content review, translations, product development and customer support. The patent was filed in 2017 and granted in 2022, after five years of persistence.
But the heart of the story has never changed.
The original idea was not built for fame. It was built to help one child learn sujood. Since then, My Salah Mat believes its prayer mats have supported more than 100,000 people around the world in learning or continuing their Salah.
For Kamal, that is the real success. Every child who learns to pray, every revert who gains confidence, every adult who returns to Salah and every family that brings prayer into the home becomes part of the purpose behind the invention.
My Salah Mat is more than a product. It is a learning tool, a family support, and insha’Allah, a form of Sadaqah Jariyah that continues to benefit people long after the first idea was drawn.
FAQ
Who invented the Interactive Prayer Mat?
The Interactive Prayer Mat was invented by Kamal Ali, founder of My Salah Mat, after he saw his young son struggling with sujood during Salah.
When was My Salah Mat launched?
The first My Salah Mat product had a soft launch in February 2018, and My Salah Mat was officially registered as a company on 15 March 2018.
Is the My Salah Mat Interactive Prayer Mat patented?
Yes, the patent application was filed in 2017 and granted in the UK in 2022.
Who is the Adult Interactive Prayer Mat for?
The Adult Interactive Prayer Mat was created for reverts, adult beginners and returning Muslims who want to learn Salah privately and step by step.
Why should customers buy the original My Salah Mat?
The original My Salah Mat includes safety testing, reviewed Islamic content, quality control, proper audio, translations, customer support and the original design created to help people learn Salah with confidence.
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