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It
is generally agreed that Muslim girls should start wearing the hijab by
the age of ten or puberty (whichever is earlier), although they should
begin training for it by age seven. But the question arises: Is there a
special way of dressing before that age? As the mother of a three year
old girl, I have faced this question many times and reached the
conclusion that it is very important to dress young girls with the same
levels of dignity and respect to which Muslim women themselves are
accustomed. Treating this issue with the seriousness it deserves will
help ensure that our daughters grow up with confidence and self-respect.
Any
parent of a young girl (Muslim or not) has certainly experienced the
shock of trying to find decent clothes for his or her daughter. On a
recent trip to a popular clothing store in our area, I was stunned to
discover that all of the clothes for little girls are designed to
enhance their female traits (breast, hips, legs, etc.) which are not
even developed, while the styles mimic those of older teenaged girls
(who have also been short-changed by society's molding of them into
miniature women.) Even a lot of the shoes sport high heels! Simply put,
there are no clothes for little girls. So it is not surprising that we
find most girls in the US dressed in styles which do not suit them and
which also contribute to them being harassed by boys and later (as they
grow older) by men.
Though it is widely acknowledged by society
that the early years are the formative years, it is strange that so
little attention is paid to how young girls dress. After all, it is a
well-known fact that many women suffer from low self-esteem and other
problems related to body image. This is not something which suddenly
occurs once a woman reaches maturity: most likely it has been taking
place since girlhood as she learned that sex appeal is synonymous with
popularity. Having attended public school in the US since the age of
four, I have witnessed this phenomena firsthand and can say with
certainty that such roles are learned just as soon as boys and girls
come together in one environment, whether children are capable of
understanding that or not.
Given the respect that Islam demands
for its women, Muslims must take extra care to dress their young
daughters accordingly. While this does not necessarily mean they should
wear hijab before the age of seven (though there is nothing wrong with
that), they should, in my opinion, be dressed modestly in long,
loose-fitting clothes. They should also wear pants under their dresses
because girls at this age play a lot (doing cartwheels, rolling around
on the ground, etc.), and they should have the freedom to do all that
without the embarrassment of having their undergarments exposed.
Considering
the lack of options in our stores, it is often difficult to find modest
clothing for young girls. I have found it helpful to buy larger sizes
and to shop during winter, often the only time when clothes with long
sleeves are available. Other than that, I am trying to learn to sew.
Happily,
my daughter rejects immodest clothing on her own.....I am sure this is
from a girl's natural inclinations and simply needs encouragement from
her family and overall environment.
The respected Shaykh Ibn
‘Uthaymeen (may Allah bless him for his good work) made some comments
about this issue which you may read here.
Hijab:
The Muslim Woman's Dress
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