Is It Permissible to Hold a Celebration for a Girl When She Wears Hijab?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul Sami‘ al-Yaqti

Question

Is it permissible to hold a celebration on the occasion of a girl wearing the hijab?

Answer

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master Muhammad and upon his family and companions.

Short Answer

There is no objection to holding a simple celebration on the occasion of a girl wearing the hijab, especially if the purpose is to encourage the girl and her friends to observe the hijab, draw attention to it, invite others to adopt it, and promote it among Muslim girls, especially in these times when temptations and allurements have increased.

However, it is essential to be extremely cautious not to engage in anything contrary to Islamic principles, such as mixing of genders, extravagance, wastefulness, unlawful types of photography, broadcasting on social media that may attract the attention of men, or seeking attention and reputation (often unintentionally), increasing viewership, and other similar concerns. Allah knows best.

Long Answer

Allah (Most High) says: “O Prophet! Ask your wives, daughters, and believing women to draw their cloaks over their bodies. In this way, it is more likely that they will be recognized (as virtuous) and not be harassed. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [Quran, 33:59]

This noble verse establishes the obligation and legitimacy of the hijab, with great wisdom and benefits, including the protection of a woman’s dignity and modesty, safeguarding her from harm, assisting men in lowering their gaze and guarding against temptation or unlawful desires, preserving the morals and general conduct of the Muslim community, and more.

The term “hijab” here refers to clothing that covers the entire body and adornment of a woman, except for the face and hands, which is a matter of scholarly difference.

Obligation

Regarding the girl herself, it becomes obligatory for her to observe the hijab when she reaches the age of moral responsibility, signified by signs such as the onset of menstruation or other indications.

This is based on the narration of ‘Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), who said, “Asma’, the daughter of Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with them), entered upon the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) wearing thin clothing. The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) turned his attention from her. He said: ‘O Asma’, when a woman reaches the age of menstruation, it does not suit her that she displays her parts of the body except this and this, and he pointed to his face and hands.” [Abu Dawud]

As for the girl’s guardian, it is necessary upon them to train her in the hijab, habituate her to it, encourage her towards it, and instill its importance in her mind from the age of discernment. Subsequently, when she approaches the age of puberty, the obligation of wearing the hijab becomes incumbent upon her, similar to other religious obligations like prayer and fasting.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Command your children to pray when they are seven years old, discipline them for it (prayer) when they are ten, and arrange their beds (to sleep) separately.” [Ibid.]

Encouragement

Encouragement and training can take various forms depending on the circumstances:

• Linking the hijab with worship and the love of Allah;
• Offering praise and positive words of encouragement to the girl;
• Providing material rewards and incentives, such as purchasing new clothing suitable for wearing the hijab, among other methods;
• Holding a celebration for the occasion of wearing the hijab as an official starting point. After this, the girl should commit to wearing the hijab permanently in preparation for the obligatory stage of wearing it.

Holding a Celebration

One of the significant forms of encouragement is holding a celebration on the occasion of a girl wearing the hijab. This celebration can serve as a formal starting point, marking the end of the training period and the girl’s commitment to wearing the hijab permanently in preparation for the obligatory stage. Invitations can be extended to her friends and peers, as well as their mothers, to draw their attention to the hijab and encourage them to adopt it.

However, it is crucial to ensure that there are no violations of Islamic principles during the celebration, as mentioned earlier. These include avoiding the mixing of unrelated men and women, extravagance, wastefulness, unlawful types of photography, live broadcasting that may be seen by unrelated men, and anything that may lead to showing off, seeking a reputation, hurting the feelings of the less fortunate, and similar issues. Allah knows best.

Summary

In conclusion, we thank you, as the guardian of the girl, for your commitment to this important aspect of Islamic practice and your responsibility towards your daughters or sisters regarding the matter of the hijab. We ask Allah to guide them and grant them steadfastness, along with all Muslim girls.

Secondly, if you see a legitimate benefit in holding a celebration on the occasion of a girl wearing the hijab, there is no objection to it. This is especially true if the aim is to encourage her and her friends to adopt the hijab, draw attention to it, invite others to embrace it, and promote it among Muslim girls. However, it is essential to exercise caution and ensure that the celebration adheres to Islamic principles and does not involve any violations, as previously mentioned.

Allah knows best.
Shaykh Abdul Sami‘ al-Yaqti

Shaykh Abdul Sami‘ al-Yaqti is a Syrian scholar born in Aleppo in 1977. He obtained his degree in Shari‘a from the Shari‘a Faculty of Damascus University, a Diploma in Educational Qualification from the Faculty of Education at Aleppo University, and a Diploma in Shari‘a and a Master’s in Shari‘a from the Faculty of Sharia, and Law at Omdurman University in Sudan. He is currently writing his doctoral thesis.

He studied under esteemed scholars such as Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri, Shaykh Mustafa al-Turkmani, and Shaykh Dr. Nur al-Din Itr, among others. Shaykh al-Yakti has worked in teaching and cultural guidance in orphanages and high schools in Aleppo. He served as an Imam, Khatib, and reciter at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi and as a certified trainer for Khatibs in Abu Dhabi’s Khatib Qualification Program.

He is involved in developing and teaching a youth education program at Seekers Arabic for Islamic Sciences.

Among Shaykh al-Yaqti’s significant works are “Imam al-Haramayn al-Juwayni: Bayna Ilm al-Kalam Wa Usul al-Fiqh” and the program “The Messenger of Allah Among Us (Allah bless him and give him peace).”