At what age should a girl start wearing hijab?

The puberty rule

In Islam, religious obligations start at puberty. The Prophet ﷺ said that Allah does not accept the prayer of a woman who has reached puberty unless she wears a head covering (Sunan Abi Dawud 641). In the hadith about the face and hands, he spoke of "when a woman reaches the age of menstruation" (Sunan Abi Dawud 4104). So the starting point is puberty, not a fixed birthday. For most girls today, that's somewhere between 10 and 14.

Before puberty

There's no obligation, so there's no sin if a young girl doesn't cover. Some families let girls wear a scarf when they want to, especially for prayer, Quran class or Eid. That can build a positive association. What scholars and educators warn against is pushing small children into full hijab before they understand it, which can create resentment later.

Preparing gently

• Talk about hijab as worship and identity, not as a rule to avoid trouble.
• Let her choose scarves and styles she likes.
• Start with prayer times and the mosque.
• Encourage modest clothing generally, so the step to hijab is small.
• Let her see role models she admires: older cousins, friends, athletes.

School and peers

Starting hijab in a Western school can be a big step. Talk with her about how to answer questions, and contact the school if she faces bullying. Schools in the US and UK generally must accommodate religious dress, while French public schools ban it. See Can I wear hijab to a job interview? for how the law protects religious dress more widely.

If you're a convert parent, your daughter may be the first in the family to wear hijab, and your own example will matter most. The Quran calls Islam a religion without hardship (Quran 22:78).