So I was at a Pakistani store today when a niqabi came in with her two young daughters, one of whom looked not older than 4 years old. It’s quite hot today and this poor little girl was clearly struggling with her hijab, trying to loosen it around the neck, pushing it away from her face. As the Pakistani community grows in my area, there seems to be an increase in niqaabies, and it’s rare that their daughters are not wearing a glittery hijab.
Do you think it’s appropriate for little girls, aged 5-12 to wear hijab? In the west, most Islamic schools require girls to wear hijab starting from KG. Many Pakistanis force hijab on their daughters, some from a very early age. If you believe hijab is a choice then do you think a 5 year old is capable of making that choice? If you believe Islam requires all women regardless of age, to be shrouded from head to toe then what do you think about little girls in niqab?
It is often also the case of little girls just imitating their mothers who also happen to be hijabis, just like you often see young girls wanting to dress up like their mothers, put make up on and trot around in high heels. I have seen young girls wearing exactly the same skirt style as their mothers. Although, childern are children, but they do come with the tendency to copy adults.
I would not get so judgemental on that and launch any negative campaign.
My girls (8 and 11) wear hijab during Qur’an lessons, namaaz and when they go to the Masjid. They look adorable and are extremely comfortable. We’ve talked about wearing hijab all the time but none of us are ready. I guess the ones who do it are OK with it. As for “forcing” hijab on little girls, well, I suppose it works in families where women traditionally wear hijabs so for them it’s common practice. Yes we do see some “rebels” and that’s up to them to deal with. But if I don’t wear it, I really am not in a position to force it upon my daughters nor make a judgement on those who wear it.
As for little girls in niqab, I haven’t seen much of it myself but the cases I’ve heard of were that they wanted to do it because they saw their mothers (and her friends) wearing it. So again, I don’t see a problem with that either.
No, I don’t think little girls should be wearing a hijab unless they are in a religious setting. I believe hijab is a choice, and a 4 year old is not religiously knowledgeable enough to make that choice. Islamically little kids don’t even have to offer namaz, so to see a 4 year old wearing a hijab is quite confusing.
wearing hijaab at an early age is a training process. niqaab no but hijaab is ok…this way when the mandatory donning of Hijaab time arrives, she will be ready for it.
As long as they turn out to be half decent human beings who are compassionate towards their parents and family and loving towards everyone else I don’t think it matters if they’re niqabi or not. When they grow up they can make that choice for themselves but if the parents want to raise them like that then its upto them. If we start dictating parents how to raise their own families the system becomes totalitarian.
It seems you are the only one that has an issue with this.
Most people dont pay too much mind to what others are wearing.
As Jolie mentioned kids love immitating their parents. I cant imagine a muslim family forcing their young children to don a hijab full time.
Building on what Ethan said, the kids may have been on their way or returning to an Islamic gathering. Or just immitating their mother.
With regards to Islamic schools in the west, their teachings are heavily centred on Islam. They offer prayers and recite Quran on a daily basis. I dont see anything bad about that either.
Also, kkf, Ive never known that hijabs were mandatory in Islam. Is this true? I only knew about modesty.
And yes TT it is judgemental when the first thing comes to your mind is that these kids were forced by their parents to wear hijab on a hot day. Not any of the countless other possibilities.
