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Sara, 11, describes making the decision to wear hijab when she started secondary school. Her friend India asks how she felt about this since she joined her secondary school. ‘A bit nervous’. But maybe everyone feels nervous when they start at a new school.
Hijab, veils, are worn by many Muslim women, symbolising modesty and respect for Allah. Many Muslim men dress modestly and traditionally as well. It is, for Sara, a sign of being proud of her Muslim religion. Believing in God and being a good person go together in Islam.
Children are often very interested in the outward symbols of Muslim dress, and the hijab is a prominent sign of identity in Britain today. While good RE should make sure that many other larger questions about Islam are addressed too, pupils take an interest in this. It’s not a good plan to make ‘what women wear’ too strong a focus in this work on Islam, but note that for Sara, religious and personal reasons are explained well, and her own choice in the matter is rather to the fore.