By Safiah Hassan
Like many, I always waited for an “aha” moment before wearing the scarf. Until I realized that the moment I had been waiting for was simply the realization that I didn’t need one. So, despite living in a small Kentucky town and being the only Muslim in my school at the time, I began wearing the hijab on a seemingly random day at the start of 10th grade. Although it led me to stand out among those in my area, I got used to it, and that experience shaped me into the unapologetic person I am today. Alhamdulillah.
Today, my life looks quite different. It’s no secret that I love modest fashion and wearing the scarf is a large part of that. However, I want to stress that above everything, our priority is to wear the hijab because it is an obligation from Allah. Politics, fashion, etc.—all these matters have trends, yet if you prioritize wearing the hijab for the sake of Allah and use that as your reason to wear it with confidence, then when these trends change, they won’t cause your feelings toward your hijab to change along with them. Wear your hijab for the sake of God alone and it will act as your shield and be a blessing for you.
So to those who may feel isolated in their hijab journey as I once did—I get it and you are not alone. And regardless of what is trendy, what others may say to you, or how isolated you may feel, remember that with every hateful comment you can reaffirm your intention and get rewarded for that in shaa’ Allah and NO ONE can take that away from you.✨