What is the ruling on wearing short clothing for young girls?
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The questioner: His EminenceThe Shaykh : What is the ruling on wearing short clothing for young girls?
The Shaykh : Naturally, youth has specific ages; therefore, I do not think it is permissible to be lenient in allowing a girl who has not reached the age of seven to wear what does not cover her 'awrah (the part of the body that must be covered), provided that this clothing is from the attire of disbelievers or disbelieving women. This is because introducing the styles of disbelievers and disbelieving women into the homes of Muslims leads to normalization and habituation of these children... to incline their emotions, as they grow and age, toward appreciating these things. They become accustomed to them, and then it becomes difficult to guide them and return them to the good manner. If the girl has not reached the age of seven, there is nothing wrong with short clothing under this condition. However, if she reaches the age of seven, which is the age at which her guardian, whether male or female, husband or wife, must order her to pray, there is no doubt that at that time, ordering her to pray necessitates ordering her to observe all the requirements of prayer, including its conditions and pillars. This is because the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Abi Dawud 495Hasan Sahih (Al-Albani), does not mean that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said in this hadith: Sunan Abi Dawud 495Hasan Sahih (Al-Albani) that they are ordered to pray however it suits them, meaning if they were amateurs by virtue of being young and not accountable. No; when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered the guardian of the child, whether male or female, to order them to pray in such a hadith, that was only to accustom them to this prayer. So that when they grow up and reach the age of accountability, they will be prepared—as they say today—"automatically" to pray in themselves, without pressure and without command, but rather as a response from within themselves; because it has become part of their life. If the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered the father and mother to order their daughter, who has now reached the age of seven, to pray, that means he is ordering her to learn wudu' (the ablution for prayer) and ordering her to cover her 'awrah (the part of the body that must be covered). Therefore, she must have long clothing and a khimar (the head covering) from the age of seven until her prayer is lawful; otherwise, no one can say she is ordered to pray while she is naked, because she is not accountable. Her guardian has been obligated to order her to perform the lawful prayer, and the lawful prayer is not lawful unless its conditions, pillars, and at least its obligatory acts are present.
This is sufficient.
The Shaykh : Naturally, youth has specific ages; therefore, I do not think it is permissible to be lenient in allowing a girl who has not reached the age of seven to wear what does not cover her 'awrah (the part of the body that must be covered), provided that this clothing is from the attire of disbelievers or disbelieving women. This is because introducing the styles of disbelievers and disbelieving women into the homes of Muslims leads to normalization and habituation of these children... to incline their emotions, as they grow and age, toward appreciating these things. They become accustomed to them, and then it becomes difficult to guide them and return them to the good manner. If the girl has not reached the age of seven, there is nothing wrong with short clothing under this condition. However, if she reaches the age of seven, which is the age at which her guardian, whether male or female, husband or wife, must order her to pray, there is no doubt that at that time, ordering her to pray necessitates ordering her to observe all the requirements of prayer, including its conditions and pillars. This is because the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Command your children to pray when they become seven years old, and beat them for it (prayer) when they become ten years old; and arrange their beds (to sleep) separately.
مروا أولادكم بالصلاة وهم أبناء سبع ، واضربوهم عليها وهم أبناء عشر ، وفرِّقوا بينهم في المضاجعCommand your children to pray when they become seven
مروهم بالصلاة وهم أبناء سبعThis is sufficient.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.