Reference: Fataawa wa Rasaa.il Mukhtaarah – Pages 561-562
Question: A young girl who is about 11 years of age wants to wear the niqaab and cease shaking hands with men, but her mother prevents her from doing so and reprimands her. So what is the legal ruling regarding this act of her mother?
Response: It is not permissible for her mother to do this, rather, it is obligatory upon her to encourage her in this act [of wanting to wear the niqaab] and to be grateful to her for it. There are some young girls who are [only] nine years of age and they have attained puberty; ‘Aa.ishah (radhi-yAllaahu ‘anhaa) was married when she was a young girl of only nine years, and al-Bayhaqee narrates on her (radhi-yAllaahu ‘anhaa) authority that she said:
«When the slave girl reaches nine years [of age] then she is a woman»
And we Praise Allaah for what he has bestowed her daughter with in terms of guidance and the will [to wear the niqaab], and she should assist her upon that.
And Allaah is the Expounder of All Success.
