Top 15 Gifts to Give to an Indian Muslim Girl in 2020 and Tips on How to Choose a Gift for Her

What is the occasion for which you are giving her a gift? The kind of present you buy will be determined by whether it is her birthday, or a more formal event like an engagement or wedding. Gifts given for Eid will also be entirely different.

For birthdays and other casual gift giving occasions you can buy presents that you would give any girl or friend; these can small treats and everyday items that she can use daily, such as a bag, jewellery, a coffee mug, etc. Formal occasions like her engagement require etiquette suitable to those occasions. Religious festivals like Eid require more care and thought as you want to give her things that are more suited to the occasion, traditional gift items that keep her religious sentiments in mind. Just like certain items are suited to giving during Diwali or Christmas, similar rules apply here as well.

All things aside, at the end of the day she is just another girl who enjoys doing girly things! It is important to keep her religious restrictions in mind and buy things she will be able to use but she enjoys dressing up, makeup, jewellery and other pretty things like any other girl. So unless it is a formal event, look for things that girls like and buy your gift based on her interests, hobbies, related to her work, things she can use in college, or would like to have.

Some girls hold their faith dearer than others so if she is a deeply religious girl, nothing will please her more than gifts she can use when she prays or which appeal to her spiritual side. Think of it as anything that she is passionate about - some girls are obsessed with fitness, others devote all their energy to their work, a few pour their heart into artistic pursuits such as photography, and some have a deep connection with spirituality. If she is one of those girls, she will be thrilled to receive something related to it and be pleased you understand and care for her feelings.

Girls tend to be quite vocal about their likes and interests. If she is a wife or girlfriend she may drop open hints about things she wants. Even if that is not the case, girls are more open than men about things they like, would like to have, if they saw something interesting. It is also likely she isn't telling you about her interests so you get her a gift, they simply like to share, be it their thoughts, emotions, or their love. So pay a little attention and you may not have to do any great amount of searching or thinking to get her a gift she will cherish.

Jewellery is a hot favourite amongst girls, no matter how many trinkets they have, they are always pleased to have a few more. That doesn’t mean any shiny bauble will do. A girl has tastes! Keep an eye out for what kind she favours - be it earrings, rings, pendants, or accessories to be worn on the arm. Does she only wear small studs, or she is fond of bigger earrings? Coloured stones, rhinestones or intricate metallic designs; shiny gold and silver or oxidized metal? The selection is huge when you list it like this but if you pay a little attention to what she wears, the answers will be very simple.

We suggest these traditional, green, jhumki style, polki earrings by Rama Creations. They are beautiful to look at, lightweight yet with an intricate design and of a good quality. Made with a copper alloy coated to give a yellow gold finish, with imitation pearls and polki, and semi precious stones (onyx), they are perfect for days she wants to dress up. She can pair them with western style clothes for an interesting look, or wear with traditional outfits with which they match perfectly. They are also ideal for special occasions to add a touch of glamour. Buy them for Rs.799 on Amazon

Muslims avoid perfumes with alcohol because alcohol is forbidden in Islam but if your thoughts are starting to veer towards ittar then stop! There is nothing wrong with ittar but there are many more options for perfumes that do not contain alcohol. Girls love wearing fragrances but look for modern and fresh scents that will appeal to her sensibilities. As wonderful as traditional perfumes like ittars are, they do not inspire a lot of enthusiasm among the young who view them as something the older generations use.

Try the specially formulated perfume that features jasmine. This is pure perfume is one that she will love to wear. Not only is it free of alcohol, the perfrume brings to life the eternal fragrance of mogra! Priced at Rs.160 for a 10 ml bottle on Flipkart, it is the perfect way to appeal to her.

Adorning herself with makeup is high on the list of priorities of every girl. Buying her makeup though can be slightly tricky unless you know her well and are aware of the brands she uses. Contrary to what men would think, girls don’t use any and every kind of makeup. They have individual preferences such as focussing on their eyes, or preferring to use lipstick or having their own unique approach to makeup. Even within these categories there are several brands and kind of makeup available. Buying makeup she doesn’t end up using would be a shame, and since they come with use by dates, after a while it will have to be thrown away. Buy her something she can use to apply her makeup. Brushes are wonderful gifts as they have an endless range of application.

This set of 12 makeup brushes by Urban Decay comes with a storage case. Made of acrylic fiber, these brushes are silky soft to the touch and make application a breeze. They are well made and the tightly packed bristles do not shed. The 12 brushes cover every kind of makeup application and are even suitable for professional use. Buy the set for Rs.195 on Amazon.

A shoulder bag or sling bag is extremely useful as girls like to carry a number of things with them. A purse is also an important part of their style statement. A lightweight bag that is suitable for daily use is a very practical gift for a Muslim girl. When buying bags for a Muslim girl, especially those with leather components, make sure no part has been crafted with pig skin. Since pork and beef are taboo for large sections of Indians, such material is not commonly found in our markets, but when you are buying a gift for someone it is best to check and make sure. A good option would be to avoid leather altogether since there is such a wide availability of very good products made with synthetic material.

This solid blue shoulder bag by DressBerry is a very nice bag for daily use. It is lightweight, made of PU (polyurethane), fairly sturdy, and comes with a main compartment with an inner pocket. It has two handles in brown that compliment the blue nicely. Buy is for Rs.1.078 on Myntra.

Every girl should have a collection of a few but beautiful silk dupattas that can be paired with a number of outfits. Dupattas are very versatile as they can be worn with ethnic outfits, draped around the neck like a scarf, and used for protection from the sun and wind when she goes out.

We recommend this AKS beige dupatta in silk with a khari print. The silk material gives it a lovely sheen which makes it ideal to be used on special occasions as well, and the subtle yet beautiful khari print gives it an elegant and rich look. Made with synthetic silk, it has the rich look of silk yet is easy to maintain as it is machine washable. She can wrap it around her neck like a scarf, use it as a head covering if she wishes, and pair it with her salwar kameez as well. Buy it for Rs.549 on Myntra.

This premium looking smartwatch from Timex is not only a stylish addition to her wardrobe but will also help her lead a more healthy life. Featuring a rectangular dial, the smartwatch offers three interchangeable straps - one mesh, one leather and one silicone, so she can remain in style regardless. This latest version of the watch combines a great selection of features - activity tracking, heart rate monitor, call function, GPS tracking and pedometer are just a few of them. Buy it for Rs. 4995 on Myntra.

Girls like to decorate their homes and their rooms with beautiful art, and for a spiritually inclined Muslim girl, a piece of Islamic art will be a truly valuable gift, something she will cherish always. It can be an engraving, a wall art, candlestick or a plate. Such gifts are suitable for all occasions as a piece of art with prayers and blessings are always welcome at an important celebration. We recommend this Ayatul Kursi Islamic canvas painting by Yaya Cafe. It measures 12” x 12”, suitable for hanging on most walls, and very auspicious for an occasion like Eid. The square shaped frame is made of mdf and has a canvas wrap; it comes assembled and is ready to hang. Buy it on Amazon for Rs.1,199.

Tasbih, Islamic prayer beads, are an important aspect of any Muslim’s worship and one can never have too many. These are among the religious gifts exchanged during auspicious religious occasions, such as by people returning from Hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage. That alone should explain the significance these beads hold for a follower so giving a beautiful set of beads will make a Muslim girl’s day. She will value it for the rest of her life.

Seeing as such a gift has the potential to serve her for years to come, look for unique tasbih; they are available in a variety of material such as plastic, glass, semi precious stones, even pearls. This tasbih made of natural turquoise caught our eye for its sheer beauty. So pretty it is that the 99 bead tasbih can even be worn as a necklace. Made in Turkey, it has 8mm round turquoise beads, gold plated imame and chain tassel with tiny Ottoman coin charms. Buy it on Etsy for Rs.1,250.

Alternatively, these personalized gemstone prayer beads can be a fantastic choice. You can choose from a wide range of gemstones available at the store - from red ruby to jade, and also add her name onto the tassel. Buy it on Etsy for around Rs. 2,300

A religious Muslim girl would have few things that she values more than her copy of the holy book; even a girl who doesn’t recite from it very often would have a copy of the Quran. It is a must in every Muslim household, so giving her a beautiful box to keep it in would be a treasured gift. This gift is suitable for any kind of occasion, be it a religious event, or a wedding. Items with such importance religious significance should be bought with care, as the receiver holds them in high regard and will use it for years. She may like this handmade wooden box by Lavender Craft which also serves as stand. Made with Indian oakwood, it is covered with a thick aluminium sheet bearing beautiful religious design in colourful meenakari. The inside is lined with red fabric to provide a safe storage space for the holy book. The lid is fitted with a collapsible stand on which she can place it while reading from it. Highly rated on Amazon, buy it for Rs.1,125.

A portable Quran speaker is not only an invaluable gift for a Muslim girl, it combines faith with the cool convenience of technology. A religious girl likes to recite or read from the Quran everyday if not as often as she can. A portable speaker allows her to listen to her favourite verses even when she is travelling or when it is impractical to carry the holy book with her. This WEI Remote Control Portable Quran MP3 Player is a Bluetooth speaker with high quality recitations in 35 voices with translations in 30 languages including English and Urdu. It includes a FM radio, voice recording, mp3 player and a remote control for fast surah selection. Weighing only 318 gms, it is lightweight and she can carry it wherever she goes. Buy it for Rs.3,799 on Amazon.

Even those with limited exposure and awareness about the Islamic way of life are aware of or have seen the prayer mat used by them. She will probably have at least one of these already but she will always welcome a new one, and if it is as pretty as this one by Qenza she will likely have a new favourite. And what could be better that her spreading it out five times a day for her daily prayers and remembering you each time; she will send a little blessing your way every time she does!

These high quality Quenza mats are on the steeper side at Rs.4,700. What makes them special is not just the unusual designs that separates them from the typical mats found locally, but the story behind each design. This one decorated with a pomegranate plant design is inspired by a verse in Surah Al-An'am, named after the last Muslim Empire in Europe. It comes with a carry bag, a natural finish beech wood hanger and an inspiration card which bears the verse and the story behind the mat. Buy it on their site

Featuring original cubic zirconia stones this metal alloy pendant with 5 layers of micro sterling silver plating is a wonderful gift for the spiritual girl who likes keep her faith close to her heart. The pendant is modest yet subtly stylish so your girlfriend can wear it with ease on a day-to-day basis. Available on Amazon for Rs. 247

Know a badass girl who likes to throw the occasional, or frequent, sass especially when she encounters traditional and conformist views? The girl who is a rebel at heart will love a cool T-shirt like this. The hand printed t-shirt bears a common social concern ‘log kya kahenge’ with a girl thinking ‘who cares’, another common reaction among the young at heart. There are several other similarly themed t-shirts available, such as one showing a to-do list filled with ‘smash the patriarchy’. Buy it at Etsy for Rs.1,600 from Sahers Studio.

Muslim girls cannot wear normal nail polish because it seals a part of the body, and to be able to pray namaz or partake in a religious ceremony, the ritual washing, ‘wazu’ requires that water touch certain parts of the body, including the finger and toe nails. Halal nail polish is made to be breathable, meaning the varnish is permeable to air and water. Buy her this nail polish so she can complete her ritual cleansing and fulfill her religious obligations yet be as fashionable and trendy as she wants.

The brand Iba Halal Care has an entire range of specially formulated Halal Nail Polish. Made with a unique breathable formula, it improves the permeability of air and water, which not only makes it halal, but also contributes to overall nail health. The products are enriched with argan oil that make nails stronger and healthier. Available in a range of light and dark colours in matte and with high gloss. This glorious maroon is available on Amazon for Rs.299.

This brightly coloured laptop bag will be a cheery companion in her daily routine. This laptop bag from Chumbak adds a pop of colour and optimism with its floral design and Everything Is Going To Be Okay message. Made of PU, the bag is compatible with 15-inch laptops and features two compartments inside - one for the laptop and another one for accessories. On the outer side as well there's a zipper pocket which can hold small items. The bag comes with two handles - one sling and one handle giving her flexibility in carrying it. Buy it for Rs. 2,295 on Flipkart.

Alcohol is strictly forbidden in Islam and even girls who aren't very religious will refrain from consuming it. Wine and other alcohol is completely out of the question but this extends to all products, be they for eating or drinking, or any kind of products meant for personal use, such as perfumes. She will not even consume items which have been processed with alcohol, such as chocolate filled with liquor, or cakes with alcohol or liquor used as ingredients.

Halal things are those which have been deemed fit for consumption by Muslims based on the tenets of Islam. Alcohol is one thing that is strictly prohobited, pork is another. Check labels on food items to make sure they do not contain either of these. Even items meant for personal use should not contain these. Many manufacturers use a halal sign on their products to show they have been certified as fit for consumption by Muslims; when in doubt look for this certification.

Pigs are considered unclean animals and the prohibition extends to its skin and fat as well. Products made with any part of a pig is not only unsuitable to gift to a Muslim girl, it will also deeply offend her. No matter how nice the gift if it has any part from this animal, do not gift it to her.

Dogs are another animal generally considered unclean by Muslims although many do keep them as pets. However, when it comes to gifts its best to avoid anything that could even remotely offend her, so steer clear of animal figurines, or gifts containing images of dogs. Even if she is fond of animals, her family may consider it inappropriate, especially if you intend the gift for a formal occasion.

Avoid giving her things depicting the human figure in the nude, either a full figure or even parts of the human body. So images, figurines, artwork and sculptures depicting the human form should be avoided.