Excerpted from: Aḥkām wa Masā’il – In the Light of Qur’an and Sunnah by Shaykh Mubashar Ahmad Rabbānī
Is it permissible to instruct a young (non-pubescent) girl to observe ḥijāb and pray while wearing a head covering (khimār) or outer garment (chādor)?
It is incumbent upon Muslim parents to teach their daughters the etiquettes of Islam from an early age. To protect them from trials and societal corruption, they should be nurtured with noble character and virtuous manners, so that as they grow older, it becomes easy for them to adopt and uphold Islamic teachings.
While it is true that ḥijāb is not obligatory upon a non-pubescent girl, and her prayer is valid without a khimār (headscarf) or large outer garment, the following ḥadīth applies only to adult (pubescent) women:
لَا يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ صَلَاةَ حَائِضٍ إِلَّا بِخِمَارٍ
“Allah does not accept the prayer of a menstruating (i.e., adult) woman unless she wears a khimār (head covering).”
[Abū Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Bāb al-Mar’ah Tuṣallī bi Ghayr Khimār – Ḥadīth 641]
[Musnad Aḥmad: 6/150, Ḥadīth 25682; Ibn Ḥibbān: 1711]
Despite the fact that the ḥijāb is not yet obligatory for them, it is permissible and encouraged to train young girls to pray while wearing a khimār or chādor, so that modesty and proper conduct become a habit.
This early training will help protect them from the temptations and evils of adulthood and instill a lifelong commitment to Islamic decorum.
✔ Non-pubescent girls are not obligated to wear the ḥijāb during prayer.
✔ Their prayer is valid even without a head covering.
✔ However, to instill proper Islamic values, it is commendable and encouraged to teach them to observe ḥijāb and pray modestly, as part of their Islamic upbringing.
❖ Question:
Is it permissible to instruct a young (non-pubescent) girl to observe ḥijāb and pray while wearing a head covering (khimār) or outer garment (chādor)?
❖ Answer:
It is incumbent upon Muslim parents to teach their daughters the etiquettes of Islam from an early age. To protect them from trials and societal corruption, they should be nurtured with noble character and virtuous manners, so that as they grow older, it becomes easy for them to adopt and uphold Islamic teachings.
While it is true that ḥijāb is not obligatory upon a non-pubescent girl, and her prayer is valid without a khimār (headscarf) or large outer garment, the following ḥadīth applies only to adult (pubescent) women:
✦ Ḥadīth:
لَا يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ صَلَاةَ حَائِضٍ إِلَّا بِخِمَارٍ
“Allah does not accept the prayer of a menstruating (i.e., adult) woman unless she wears a khimār (head covering).”
[Abū Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Bāb al-Mar’ah Tuṣallī bi Ghayr Khimār – Ḥadīth 641]
[Musnad Aḥmad: 6/150, Ḥadīth 25682; Ibn Ḥibbān: 1711]
✦ Educational Benefit:
Despite the fact that the ḥijāb is not yet obligatory for them, it is permissible and encouraged to train young girls to pray while wearing a khimār or chādor, so that modesty and proper conduct become a habit.
This early training will help protect them from the temptations and evils of adulthood and instill a lifelong commitment to Islamic decorum.
Conclusion:
✔ Non-pubescent girls are not obligated to wear the ḥijāb during prayer.
✔ Their prayer is valid even without a head covering.
✔ However, to instill proper Islamic values, it is commendable and encouraged to teach them to observe ḥijāb and pray modestly, as part of their Islamic upbringing.
References:
- Abū Dāwūd: 641
- Musnad Aḥmad: 6/150 – Ḥadīth 25682
- Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān: 1711
