When Things Go Wrong… and Then So Right: Behind the Scenes at Spielwarenmesse

By Kamal Ali, Founder of My Salah Mat

Exhibitions are never without their challenges—but this one? This one was full of them. And yet, Alhamdulillah, it reminded me that when you put your trust in Allah, the outcome is always khayr.

We returned to Spielwarenmesse, the world’s largest toy fair held in Nuremberg, to showcase My Salah Mat and our new innovations. But before we could inspire others, we had to overcome a few tests of our own.

Delivery Drama and a Missing Box

We arrived at our stand ready to set up… only to find our parcels hadn’t arrived. No design elements. No lights. No tape. No cutters. Nothing.

Panic? A little.
But then came quick phone calls, a lot of dua, and some serious hustle.

Within 30 minutes, Alhamdulillah, things started falling into place. Parcels arrived. Stand builders stepped in. We got to work.

But just as we found our rhythm, we realised something else was missing—the box with all our tools. No tape, no blades, no essentials.

Still, where there’s a will, there’s a way. With some polite persuasion, kind words, and a little borrowing from fellow exhibitors, we managed to gather what we needed and kept moving forward.

Hotel Mishaps and Hidden Wins

After an 18-hour day, I headed to my hotel—same one I always stay at during the expo.

Or so I thought.

Turns out, I had booked their sister hotel, in a completely different location. And yes, I absolutely considered sleeping on the floor out of sheer exhaustion.

But Allah had better plans. The hotel I ended up in?
4-star. Newly renovated.
Sometimes your mistakes lead you straight to blessings.

Jummah in a New City

On Friday, we found ourselves searching for a proper prayer space. The one at the expo just wasn’t suitable. So we made it a mission to find a mosque.

Ten stops later, and after speed-walking through the streets of Nuremberg, we arrived—just in time for Khutbah.

The masjid was beautiful, the welcome was warm, and the sweet they gave after Salah? 10/10. It reminded me that no matter where we are in the world, there’s always barakah in seeking Allah.

Even more beautiful was the company—brothers from the UK, Qatar, and Réunion Island, all on this path together. The way Allah connects people from across the globe is never a coincidence.

The Reason We Keep Going

By the next morning, despite the chaos and sleeplessness, something incredible was happening. Our stand began to fill. Visitors from all walks of life came by—curious about what we do.

Some were reverts, quietly whispering “thank you” with tears in their eyes.
Others were Muslims who immediately understood the vision, offering salaams and heartfelt duas.

It hit me in those moments—this is so much more than a product.

What we create is a tool. But the intention behind it? It’s to raise children with love for Allah, to support new Muslims, to educate with joy, and to build a legacy of beneficial knowledge that lasts beyond this world.