In Islam when girls and boy reaches puberty they becomes an adults. They become accountable for their deeds. Since this article deals with puberty in girls, we will focus on this topic. When a Muslimah reaches puberty she must wear the full Islamic dress and perform all acts of worship which are enjoined on adults.
What is expected of Girls who have NOT reached puberty
All little Muslimahs (Muslimah equals Muslim girl or Muslim woman) should be encouraged to pray by the age of 7 and must be made to pray from the age of 10 if they do not do so by themselves.
However if the little Muslimah has not reached puberty and prayers without a head covering, her prayer will still be valid because the Prophet (peace be upon him) said “Allah does not accept the prayer of a female who has reached the age of puberty except if she is wearing a head covering (khimaar).” (This was recorded by al-Tirmidhi, Ahmad, Abu Dawud and ibn Majah. Sahih aljam’e 2/128) Thus indicated that Allah does accept the prayer of a females who did not use khimaar if she had not reached puberty. However it is better to wear a khimaar.
Signs of Puberty in girls
A girl reaches puberty in Islam when any of the following things happen:-
1. If her pubic hairs grow ( Hairs around her private parts)
2. If she starts to menstruate
3. If she Emits Maniy (this is fluid released from her private parts due to sexual climax)
4. If non of the above happen and she reaches 15 years of age she is regarded as having reached puberty.
If one of these signs of puberty appears in a girl, then she is obliged to do all the obligatory duties and to avoid all haram things. One of the obligatory duties is wearing the hijab.
But the parent or guardian of a girl has her get used to doing the obligatory duties and avoiding haram things before puberty, so that she will grow up with that and it will not be too hard for her to adhere to that after she reaches puberty. This is one of the basic principles of child rearing that are established in the Shariah.
What age do Girls reach puberty and what changes occur
Puberty in Most girls will begin at around 8-14 years of age. With the Average age being 11.
When a girl reaches a certain age her brain releases substances called hormones. These cause changes in her body to prepare her for adult hood. This usually occurs when girls are 8-13 years old.
Some girls start early than others and parents should remind their children that this is nothing to worry about and tell the daughter that she is becoming a young lady now. Whether you start this process at a small age say 8-10 or and older age there is nothing to worry about.
During puberty there is a growth boom. The body is going to grow very fast during puberty and this growth boom will last about 2 to 3 years.
Girls start to grow taller and the body usually gets curvier. They get bigger on their hips and their breasts develop with a little swelling under the nipples.. There will be an increase in body fat and occasionally there may be soreness under the nipples as they enlarge. This is all perfectly normal and nothing to worry about.
Gaining some weight is part of developing into a woman and it is healthy.
There can also be psychological changes which can make a girl to be self conscious, moody and even aggressive.
Usually after 2 to 2.5 years after a girl breasts develop she gets her menstrual period.
A menstrual period usually lasts for 5 to 7 days sometimes a little more.
During a menstrual period a female does not pray nor fasts. She should also not touch the Quran (in Arabic) and she should not enter the Masjid. As soon as her period finishes she must make ghusl and start praying and fasting (i.e the compulsory fasts of Ramadan). Explained in Part two in greater detail.
Some girls will also have dreams of a sexual nature when sleeping which will cause them to release Maniy from their private parts, These dreams are often referred to as wet dreams and a girl or boy who has these dreams should not worry but they should make ghusl before praying, touching the Quran or going to the Masjid.
Girls do not get these dreams as much as boys. Some girls may not even get them at all, which is also normal.
Parents should note that often girls must be told what effects their bodies have on non Mahrem men. A girl may be very developed at a young age and should be taught how to cover her figuire and what effects that has on men and the dangers out there in the world. She must be taught that she has to wear an abyah or jilbab that is very loose that it does not show her figure at all. She must be taught that her head covering (khimaar) must go down below the bottom of her breasts. So that the shape of her breasts are not visible to any non mehrem boys nor men.
Parents should explain to their daughters that non mahrem men and boys may harm them if they can see the size or shape of their breasts, hips, legs, hair etc so they must keep them covered at all times in front of non Mahrem men and when they are outside.
They should tell their daughters that they should lower their gaze (i.e look down) when they see a non mahrem male and that as muslimah we do not do date (i.e no girlfriends or boyfriends).
What is expected of Girls who have reached puberty
If a Muslimah has reached puberty she must do all acts of worship that an adult is required to do. So she must fast in Ramadan and She must also cover her head when she prays and thus must be in full Islamic prayer clothing.. Because the Prophet (peace be upon him) said “Allah does not accept the prayer of a female who has reached the age of puberty except if she is wearing a head covering (khimaar).” (This was recorded by al-Tirmidhi, Ahmad, Abu Dawud and ibn Majah. Sahih aljam’e 2/128)
She must do all her daily prayers unless she is menstruating. She should fast in Ramadan except for the days she is menstrating. If she is menstrating she is exempt from prayers and fasting. She does not have to make up of her missed prayers but she must make up any fasts she had to miss due to menstration.She wear the full Islamic dress when she is outside or in the presence of of NON-MEHREM MALES, She should not shake hands nor hug nor kiss non Mahrem males. She should not mix unnecesserily with non mahrem males.
Mahrems Males are Grandfathers, Father, Brother, fathers brothers and mothers Brothers, your brothers sons or sisters sons and your husband. All other males are non-mehrems.
- Ruling on being Alone with opposite Sex
- Ruling shaking hands with Non-Mehrem mens
- Lowering her Gaze in front of Non-Mehrem men
The Full Islamic dress Code of females is explained in the following article:
Bad friends have a very negative impact on you so choose your friends carefully.
- Which friends to take
- Peer pressure
- Ruling and dangers of Girlfriend and Boyfriend Relationships
- Girlfriend and Boyfriend – Happiness or Heartbreak
- What to do when you have feelings for the opposite sex
Sisters guide will explain various issues in greater detail and how to be the ideal Muslimah