To Our Future Mini-Me(s)

                                                            By: Habiba Ghanem

For those of you who don’t know me, you should know that I LOVE babies. For those of you who do know me, you may have been around for one of my “I want a baby” episodes. One of my latest episodes was in a study room in the library when I was telling Jojo (Lojain) and My Shorty (Yomna Asaad), that Kourtney Kardashian was having a baby…again… she is so lucky (-_-).I get excited about babies just like Brooke does (I am also a HUGE One Tree Hill fan).  My best friend, Mayooya (Maya) and I talk about how we are going to be taking our kids to the park and how our kids are going to be great friends. I can’t wait to one day inshAllah be someone’s mommy. I can’t wait to be able to eat whatever I feel like eating and use the excuse I am eating for two. I can’t wait for my tummy to get real big and to feel a baby kick, not just any baby but MY baby. I also can’t wait to be able to look in to my child’s eyes and forget all the problems in the world. I think about the future and like any parent in the world I want my kids to be the greatest kids. I want to instill Islamic values within my kids and I want my family to be a great addition to our Umma.  

If I ever have a baby girl I would have to inform her about hijab, so that when the time is right she takes the step of wearing hijab. I think about how I would inform her and what I would tell her. I also think about how I was brought up and what I know.

I remember when I was younger, during car rides my mom would talk to my sister and me about hijab. She would tell us that there comes a time when a girl is supposed to wear hijab. At a young age I knew that one day I was going to wear hijab, not just because I had to but because I wanted to. I feel like it is important to explain to a child why they should do something, it shouldn’t just be an order.

“A girl is a precious jewel,” my mom would say. Many of us have heard that. Many of us know that when you have something so precious, you would want to protect and preserve its beauty. In Islam a woman is very special. A woman is ordered to cover herself, in order for her to be judged on her actions and words. She uses her personality and mind rather than her appearance to be judged. Hijab gives a girl confidence because she knows that she is being judged for her character. A hijabi exemplifies Islam, and she will be rewarded for every time she is seen with her hijab.

There is going to be a time when shaytan will start playing with the girl’s head, and she is going to start wanting people, especially guys to notice her. Therefore, girls and guys should know that with hijab a girl guards her beauty for that one special guy, her husband. Explain to the girl, that when a guy takes interest in a girl it should be because of as mentioned before, her values and personality not just her beauty. Remind her that she is beautiful on the inside and out.

In my opinion, explain to your baby girl(s), why Allah has ordered Muslim girls to wear hijab. Enlighten her with the reasons that she has to take care of her beauty. Let the iman (faith) enter her heart. Most important of all, let her make her decision on her own, but with your help, guidance, and support. Hijab is not the only Islamic values that parents should be concerned about. There are other values such as Salat (Prayer) that should be taught at a young age. Also, things should not be done for just appearance it is important to have good intentions and understanding as well.

To my future, much better mini- me(s) and to my future family, I hope to be the best mommy that I can be. I hope to be able to teach you the right values, and inshAllah you are going to be awesome kids. Hopefully you won’t drive me too crazy. I like calm babies who don’t cry or scream, so please let’s not have any tantrums.

To all you future mommies and daddies reading this, you are going to be awesome parents. Teach your kids right, and guide them so that they can make the right decisions.

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