trying to explain a niqab to my daughter

[carriebft]

at the children's museum today my daughter saw a few women wearing a full dress and face covering. She said she was 'scared' and asked "what is it?" (now I am completely mortified since she said this as loud as possible)


I have limited knowledge of these things, but I knew it was called a niqab (at least the head part was- is there a specific word for the full dress together?) so I told her that and that it was a woman dressed just like she is dressed with clothes she likes.

She ran off to play at that point but I would like to talk to her more about it. She is almost four and is kinda starting to learn about cultural and religious differences from her own. Any tips?

[umsami]

See if your library has the book, "Muslim Child" by Rukhsana Khan (?sp). In it, there's a story about the "Black Ghost" which is somebody's Mom in Niqab.

Niqab can be scary for those who aren't used to see it. It even freaks out my Muslim kids a bit.

You could start with a typical hijab... and (if Christian) compare it to Nun's...or how folks used to dress and cover their hair in Biblical times. Can also go through history and talk about how many women covered their hair...even in the US... up until not too long ago. Wearing hats outside, etc.

Then just say that some women don't feel that people outside their family should see their faces, so they cover them as well. You could let her play with some playsilks...and make a pretend hijab and niqab...and see what it's like.

HTH.

[carriebft]

excellent ideas! I am headed to our library for story hour tomorrow and I will see if I can pick it up. I see I can get it used on Amazon for pretty cheap if I can't find it there. thanks!! also love the play silk idea; I got her a bunch of those in her stocking this year so we can try it out

[smeisnotapirate]

I just wanted to say, umsami, that you're a very wise mama. We're really priviledged to have you on this board.

[umsami]

Originally Posted by smeisnotapirate

I just wanted to say, umsami, that you're a very wise mama. We're really priviledged to have you on this board.

Thanks smeisnotapirate

[mamaverdi]

Originally Posted by carriebft

(now I am completely mortified since she said this as loud as possible)

The first time my son saw a woman in niqab, he thought she was a Jedi and tried to have a light saber battle with her. Talk about mortified.

Then my dh had to try to explain to her dh what had happened. The family was from the UAE and was only vaguely familiar with Star Wars. :

The gentleman was so kind to my son though and offered for him to come and see (see would lift her veil) that his wife was just a woman wearing clothes, like other women, just that her clothes hid her face, but she not a Jedi.

My son was so disappointed she wasn't a Jedi that he declined the gentleman's offer.

[talk de jour]

Originally Posted by umsami

See if your library has the book, "Muslim Child" by Rukhsana Khan (?sp). In it, there's a story about the "Black Ghost" which is somebody's Mom in Niqab.

Niqab can be scary for those who aren't used to see it. It even freaks out my Muslim kids a bit.

You could start with a typical hijab... and (if Christian) compare it to Nun's...or how folks used to dress and cover their hair in Biblical times. Can also go through history and talk about how many women covered their hair...even in the US... up until not too long ago. Wearing hats outside, etc.

Then just say that some women don't feel that people outside their family should see their faces, so they cover them as well. You could let her play with some playsilks...and make a pretend hijab and niqab...and see what it's like.

HTH.

I'm gonna store this one in the mental bank.

[talk de jour]

Originally Posted by mamaverdi

The first time my son saw a woman in niqab, he thought she was a Jedi and tried to have a light saber battle with her. Talk about mortified.

Then my dh had to try to explain to her dh what had happened. The family was from the UAE and was only vaguely familiar with Star Wars. :

The gentleman was so kind to my son though and offered for him to come and see (see would lift her veil) that his wife was just a woman wearing clothes, like other women, just that her clothes hid her face, but she not a Jedi.

My son was so disappointed she wasn't a Jedi that he declined the gentleman's offer.

[Liquesce]

Originally Posted by mamaverdi

The first time my son saw a woman in niqab, he thought she was a Jedi and tried to have a light saber battle with her.

Of course I'd totally have saber-battled with him, but that's just me.

[mamaverdi]

He would have loved that.

[smeisnotapirate]

m'v, : What a cute story. And how gracious of that family, too.

[DahliaRW]

Originally Posted by mamaverdi

The first time my son saw a woman in niqab, he thought she was a Jedi and tried to have a light saber battle with her. Talk about mortified.

Then my dh had to try to explain to her dh what had happened. The family was from the UAE and was only vaguely familiar with Star Wars. :

The gentleman was so kind to my son though and offered for him to come and see (see would lift her veil) that his wife was just a woman wearing clothes, like other women, just that her clothes hid her face, but she not a Jedi.

My son was so disappointed she wasn't a Jedi that he declined the gentleman's offer.

That is totally something my son would do! He once saw a man in a speedo and loudly asked why he was swimming in his underwear!


We have a lot of discussions with my ds1 about modesty, what our family considers appropriate clothing, etc. And we explained that different families have different bleliefs about modesty. Some think less clothes is ok, some wear more clothes than us, etc. I would think in this case, if your dd has any concept of what modesty is, you could discuss how certain religions/peoples/family feel that covering their face is a modesty issue, etc.

[AutumnSunshine]

Originally Posted by mamaverdi

The first time my son saw a woman in niqab, he thought she was a Jedi and tried to have a light saber battle with her. Talk about mortified.

Then my dh had to try to explain to her dh what had happened. The family was from the UAE and was only vaguely familiar with Star Wars. :

The gentleman was so kind to my son though and offered for him to come and see (see would lift her veil) that his wife was just a woman wearing clothes, like other women, just that her clothes hid her face, but she not a Jedi.

My son was so disappointed she wasn't a Jedi that he declined the gentleman's offer.

This has got to be the coolest story I've ever heard! I wore niqab for a year almost 10 years ago, and on one occasion two boys who looked like they were about 6 years old asked me if I was a ninja! I had a friend whose daughter also wore niqab but she liked to wear all white-- white dress, white hijab and white niqab and a little girl said to her mother in the grocery store upon seeing her "Look, mommy! An angel!"

[mamaverdi]

Originally Posted by UmmZaynab

"Look, mommy! An angel!"

How sweet.

[Tuesday]

Originally Posted by mamaverdi

How sweet.

Yeah - that is a really cute story, isn't it. :-) Kids are so sweet.

[SaraFR]

Originally Posted by mamaverdi

The first time my son saw a woman in niqab, he thought she was a Jedi and tried to have a light saber battle with her. Talk about mortified.

Then my dh had to try to explain to her dh what had happened. The family was from the UAE and was only vaguely familiar with Star Wars. :

The gentleman was so kind to my son though and offered for him to come and see (see would lift her veil) that his wife was just a woman wearing clothes, like other women, just that her clothes hid her face, but she not a Jedi.

My son was so disappointed she wasn't a Jedi that he declined the gentleman's offer.

Ok, that is really cute.

[MuslimMama]

I used to wear niqab...

once I was walking in the mall COMPLETELY covered...
a teenege boy walked by and said "That chic is HOT!" LOLL!!!
my husband and I thought that was the best reaction ever! couldnt stop laughing!

[umsami]

MuslimMama, that is hilarious!

[mamabadger]

Originally Posted by MuslimMama

I used to wear niqab...

once I was walking in the mall COMPLETELY covered...
a teenege boy walked by and said "That chic is HOT!" LOLL!!!
my husband and I thought that was the best reaction ever! couldnt stop laughing!

I must understand the niqab even less than I thought. Wouldn't a comment like that be considered very offensive to a woman who covers her face in public etc?

[MuslimMama]

Well, he could not see anything... it was sarcastic obviously, we took it lightly. When you are dressed in niqab, you learn not to take yourself too seriously!!