Congratulations! You are no longer a little girl, but rather a young lady on the verge of entering secondary school and adulthood!
I’m sure you no longer play the way you did when you were younger and you might want to spend more and more time with friends, shopping for the latest fashion or gadgets and having fun with your peers. After all, this is an exciting time in your life.
However, sometimes you will find that life at school or what is portrayed on social media or even what you see in the society around you, can be very different from your life at home, and that can lead to confusion about what to do. This doesn’t mean growing up should be boring. It means that as a young Muslim girl growing up in a non-Muslim society, there are things you must be aware of to become a good Muslim woman, insha Allah. That’s where the challenge lies for you.
I hope that with this book I can help guide you in the coming years by covering some important topics and moments you will experience. Alongside this book, never forget that your parents and your (Muslim) teachers are your friends and advisors. They love you and already went through what you are going through now. They have life experience you can benefit from, if you open up to them and trust them. Don’t be afraid about what they will say, even if you think that they might not approve of what you are doing or would like to do, or even what you may have already done.
Confiding in them keeps you safe from people whose intentions may intend to bring you harm, even if you are not aware of it.
Maybe you don’t always like what your parents or teachers say, but please remember they want the best for you, just like Allah wants the best for us.
Allah says in the Qur’an:
“(Perhaps) you dislike something which is good for you and you like something which is bad for you. Allah knows and you do not know.” [Surat Al-Baqara 2: 216]
So please take care and always remember my advice as an elder sister who has already livedwhat you are about to experience: Stand still, think and question everything you do in life. May Allah guide you uprightly in the years to come and may He make them easy for you. Ameen.
Wassalamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,
Asma Claassen – author of 'When Little Girls Grow Up' Expert on Education, Tarbiya and Identity at Islam-Wise
