I didn’t wear a hijab until I was in my early twenties, after I found out it was fard:
And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms (An-Nur 24:31)
So, when my then four year old daughter expressed interest in wearing a hijab to school, I was pleasantly surprised! Since then, I have had many people ask me how my daughter proudly wears her hijab to a public school, and my answer is simple: because she wants to wear one! That’s right- I have never forced her to wear a hijab to school, it has always been her decision.
Although I have never directly told my daughter to wear a hijab to school, there may have been some actions I have taken that have influenced her decision about wearing a hijab to school.
Be a ROLE MODEL:
As soon as my daughter approached me about wearing a hijab, I had to remind her that wearing a hijab at such a young age is not obligatory, for it is only fard once a female reaches puberty. However, my daughter still insisted in wearing the hijab because her “mommy wears one.” That’s when I realized that my daughter noticed me wearing a hijab every time I left the home, and therefore, she mentally noted that mom wears a hijab when out in public, and wanted to imitate me in that manner.
Start EARLY:
The first time my daughter wore a hijab was during her first visit to a mosque when she was about 2 years old; the next time was when it was during Eid prayer, and finally she started wearing one to her Quran classes every week. By the time she reached school age, my daughter was already used to wearing a hijab, and sometimes, she even forgot she still had one on after her Quran classes!
Take your daughter SHOPPING:
Even if your daughter doesn’t wear a hijab on a daily basis, your daughter’s first hijab will be special. Your daughter’s first hijab may be for Quran class, or for when she visits the mosque; whatever the occasion, make sure her first hijab is special! To make the process memorable, take your daughter shopping for her very first hijab. Shopping can be done online or in store- have your daughter look at the selection and allow her to choose which hijab she likes best. A part of the reason why my daughter likes to wear the hijab is because she can match her hijabs with her outfits and she even has hijabs with some embellishments on them for special occasions like Eid.
Consider MATERIAL:
My main concern when my daughter told me she wanted to wear a hijab to school was comfort. I didn’t want her to feel too hot in a hijab, so that’s why I made sure I bought her breathable fabrics such as cotton- the last thing you want for your daughter is to be uncomfortable.
DON’T pressurize:
Nothing discourages a child from doing anything than unnecessary pressure. As I had stated previously, it is NOT obligatory (fard) for a female to wear a hijab before puberty. My daughter doesn’t wear a hijab every time she leaves the house, for instance when we go for a walk or to a playground on the weekends, she does not wear a hijab, and I don’t expect her too. I also refrain from comparing her to other children, because I know she is her own person. Every child will be ready at their own time, as parents it’s our job to support and love our children at every stage.
Maintaining a POSITIVE ATTITUDE towards the Hijab:
When I wear the hijab myself, I wear it with pride; in fact, I feel empowered every time I wear one. I was never forced into wearing a hijab, and started practicing hijab once I studied the meaning of it, and that’s where my love for hijab began. I have always educated my daughter about what hijab means to me from since she was a toddler. If you have a positive attitude towards hijab and see it as empowerment, chances are that those around you will too!
What are some ways to inculcate the love of hijab in our children? Please share your thoughts about this article in the comments section below. 🙂
Sumaira Zaheer holds a degree in Strategic Organization from the University of Alberta, and is the blessed mother of three active children and a blogger at www.themuslimahmommy.com where she blogs about her personal experiences, gives tips and advice on womanhood, pregnancy, parenthood, and family life. Sumaira is also a writer for Productive Muslim and has written for several other online publications. You can find Sumaira on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter where she tries to connect with other Muslimah’s from around the world!
34 replies on “Developing a Love For Hijab Amongst Children”
Assalaamu Alaikum, Sumaira!
That was an such an inciteful beautifully written post! I’m totally with you on wearing my hijab. We are having some incidents of violence and idiocy and I hear some sisters say they are going to take off their hijabs, so no one will know they are a muslim . . .in hopes that no one will harm them. I totally understand. But for myself, I could not imagine not wearing it. 1. I would feel completely naked and that would be a horrible feeling out in public! And 2. I want people to know I am a Muslim, even in difficult times. Mabye even more so in times like these. I’m proud and beyond happy to be a muslim. Alhamdulillah! I fear only Allah (SWT). I tie my camel and hold tight to the rope of Allah. (SWT) May Allah keep all of our Muslim sisters’safe! Ameen.
MashaAllah….. ur writing just touched my heart. I belong to society where there is freedom for hijaab but least encouraged.
I share the same feeling as you.may Allah guide amus all
Ameen! Jazak’Allah khair for reading and commenting sister!
Walaikum Assalam wa rahmatullah sister,
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed reading this post, Alhamdulillah! I absolutely agree with you, difficult times should not mean that we have to run away from our beautiful religion (i.e taking off the hijab), if anything, difficult times should bring us closer to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala. Ameen to your du’a and jazak’Allah khair for reading and commenting 🙂
I will be checking on the follow ups of this article/blog in shaa Allah as it interests me. I found here what i had been looking for. And i have checked on the downloadable part and it is exactly what i have been looking for! In shaa Allah this would propel me into learning my prayers in arabic. Alhamdulillah for this! May Allah continue to bless you with wisdom and knowledge as you guide and inspire us and your family in your worthy deed for the sake of Allah. Allahu akbar!
Alhamdulillah sister, I’m glad you found what you were searching for! May Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala make it easy for you and reward you for your efforts, Ameen!
I like your article it really educating
Jazak’Allah khair for reading and commenting!
It is indeed an inciteful article. I pray that may almighty Allah helps all muslimah across the globe to be able to practise the DEEN as it should be practised. Amin!.
Ameen! Jazak’Allah khair for reading, I’m happy to hear your found this article to be insightful- Alhamdulillah!
Assalamu alaikom
Bahera ALjayatweh 9jan 2016
First of all I would like to thank you sumaira for the wonderful article nice to read about this important issue we face now even on islamic country may Allah pless and gaid u to Rt path
Walaikum Assalam wa rahmatullah,
Ameen! Jazak’Allah khair for reading! I pray that Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala makes it easy for all females to practice Islam!
V.good article
Allah gives barakah you & ur family. Ameen
Jazak’Allah khair sister, Ameen to your du’a- I pray the same and more for you and for your family!
Jazak’Allah khair sister, Ameen to your du’a- I pray the same and more for you and for your family!
MashaAllah it’s an interesting article thanx so much sister, ,,may Allah Almighty pay you ,,,,, Amyin
Jazak’Allah khair for reading and commenting, and Ameen to your du’a!
I loved it, it was beautiful! In fact I was also never forced into wearing a hijab, as I wanted to wear it on my own- my mom doesn’t wear it but none of my other family members ever pressured me into doing so, I did it on my own. Well not without the help of a friend though. I always saw her wearing a hijab to school with her sister, and I loved seeing it on them it looked beautiful to me, and sometimes they would tell me to try wearing it and see how I liked it, they always encouraged me to do so. So one day I gave it a try, and to this day I’m still really really happy that I’ve decided to continue wearing it forever 🙂
Subhan’Allah sister, what a beautiful story! May Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala bless your friend and her sister immensely, Ameen! People come into your life for a reason, and these two were a huge blessing for you! May you also be rewarded for your sincere intentions and efforts 🙂
When you know the hekma of it , Swt .
Masha Allah! I do not have daughters yet but its insightful on what to do when and how. Jazakallahu khayran dear sister. May allah grant us the peace in our hearts that islam depicits as it would help to follow the dos and don’t as stated in the quran and hadith. Salam alaykum
Wa anti fa jazak’Allah khayra sister, and Ameen to your du’a! Jazak’Allah khair for reading and commenting! Walaikum Assalam
Good sharing, my daughter start wearing hijab when she start school. And she told don’t want to wear gawn anymore because Allah will angry and we will burn if we do not wear hijab and cover our aurah. This touch my heartm.
I am a revert. Chose and accepted to wear hijab on 25Dec2015 I know that I will be facing a lot of difficulties from my friends and families. But I chose Allah S.W.T above all. I don’t mind people judging what I believe in. I fear more about the day of judgment.
May Allah swt forgive all our sins.
AA, I totally agree with you. Kids learn from their sorroundings. I take my kids to Africa every few years. I notice they come back with high self-esteem and a new perspective on life. My daughter started wearing hijab on her own dispite the fact that I wasn’t. I think it was because of her experience in Africa. She told me she knows she is different and she is okay with it.
salam dear Sumaira,
mashallah very well written 100% agree with you the love for hijab starts at a young age and as mothers we are their role models and we have to make them love Allah and obey Him and think of His pleasure alone it does not matter what the others think. My 10 year old has started wearing it too please make dua that Allah give her istiqamah to carry on wearing it amen. I would like to add one more thing and that is when ever your little princess comes in front of you kiss her and praise her that she looks beautiful mashallah and ask her daddy to do the same. we should show our happiness and pride towards their hijab. May Allah bless you sister and May Allah make all the daughters of this ummah to wear hijab with pride amen.
Maasha Allah! Am highly motivated and impressed by this piece.I have two daughters,2 &4 respectively. They wear the hijab when ever I wear mine. May Allah see every Muslimah grow as true muslimahs n may He keep blessing sister ameera for the good works she is doings
I wore hijab as soon as I became a moslem in 1996. When I had children, 3 girls, I put hijab on my girl as early as possible…now they are young adults and they have feelings “seem naked without it” even if they are only a step away from our doors. Alhamdulillah
Thanks jazak Allah for such an awesome article Miss
MashAllah beautifully written…..
Masya Allah. What an inspiring article. We the parents are mirror to our childrens. So it is important for us to show a positive ways infront of them since young.
Alhamdulilah! Jazakallahu khairan
Really nice
Such a beautiful article jazzak allah Khair ?