I was born in a mixed-religious family (my father is Jewish and my mom is a Christian). I was a Christian in the eyes of the Jews and a Jew in the eyes of the Christians…So I decided not to label myself and just started to tell people that I believed in God and I didn’t need a religion to prove it. Back in high school, I had to do a research on the topic of women in Islam, though at that moment the only image I had was of a woman getting beaten up by her husband thanks to my neighbor who used to do that. I later found out that I was wrong, women do have rights in Islam, perhaps a lot more than in any other religion and that there are bad men everywhere regardless of their faith.

4 months later, I woke up one day wondering what would happen if I became a Muslim. So I decided to go to a mosque. When I was there, I heard the most beautiful thing I had ever heard in my life. I asked the Imam’s wife what that was and she told me it was her husband reciting the Quran. That day, I came back home as a Muslim, Alhamdulillah. I thought converting was the hardest part, but it wasn’t.

I tried to follow Islam correctly, but no matter how covered I was or how much I studied, it seemed it wasn’t enough for some people. After a year, I got tired and took off my hijab. I started to walk away from my faith. Somehow the hijab was a constant reminder of who I was now and kept me closer to my faith. I tried to wear it again but my parents won over this and I failed.

Last year I met this wonderful guy who was so religious, generous, and wise…I felt I had to try harder. I thought that if he could do it then I could do it too. I started to pray and study again. And most importantly, I now feel the same way as I did when I first listened to the Quran. He is now my husband, and I could never thank him enough for being so supportive and for making a better Muslim. Alhamdulillah (All praise to Allah) for him and for many other things. Thank you for reading this. May Allah SWT (All-Praised and Exalted) bless you.

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I don’t wear hijab. I practice hijab. My hijab reflects in my attire, behavior, and speech. It’s important to practice hijab, rather than make it a part of everyday apparel. It’s common to simply think of a headscarf when a woman states that she wears hijab. The reality is, men and women are under Islamic measure to practice hijab- which translates to “modesty.” It’s belittling to the beauty and grace of Islam to refer to hijab as only the head covering for women. Hijab, for men and women alike, is a blessing from our Creator. He has ordained the most effective way to protect ourselves from the haraam (forbidden things) that this dunya  (world) holds.

Appreciation of the context of hijab in its entirety will bring back the full beauty hijab gives to Muslim women and men. Alhamdulilah, I began to understand the concept of hijab about a year ago. InshaAllah, I hope to stay strong in my imaan (faith) and pray for nothing but sincere piety and faith for my brothers and sisters in deen (religion of Islam) around the globe.

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I have struggled with hijab for years all through high school. After attempting to wear it a few times and being unsuccessful, as I never really understood the concept and principles of hijab in Islam besides that it “makes” you a Muslim woman.

However, 2014 was a life changing year for me after moving from an island where Muslims were in abundance and Islam not having any impact in my life, to a country where atheism was like a fashion statement. Allah swt (All-Praised and The Exalted), The Turner of Hearts, changed mine. It felt like an emotional roller coaster ride, where I was questioning everything in my life, everything that was taking place in the world, and constantly thinking about death and what I had prepared to show my Lord. I was forced to reflect on my life and was extremely hurt at my lack of conscientiousness as a Muslim woman.

I was all of a sudden conscious about Salaat (Islamic Prayer) and Quran. Although I grew up as a Muslim, I felt like a brand new person, a revert. I started implementing the teachings of Islam in my life, but I still felt something empty in my heart. When I was indoors, I would wear my hijab and take it off before going out. It would sadden me a lot. The night before the Day of Ashura (10th day of the islamic month of Muharram having great religious and historical significance), I felt this incomparable joy and anxiety and I knew that the visions of myself wearing hijab were a sign from Allah. That was my encouragement. Such a significant day, that Friday, I put my hijab on and started my day vowing to myself to never take it off.

Although I have had prejudice remarks made towards me, and also noticed that some people who were in my life had changed due to this lifestyle alteration. I believed that when you change and do something purely for the sake of love for The Creator then the negatives naturally exit your life, so let it go.

I am finally at peace with my heart and soul, and constantly trying to be a better person. It is a reminder to myself, what I represent and keeps me in check of my words and actions every second of the day, and for that I am thankful. It is my identity and I feel an overwhelming happiness that hundreds of strangers pass me by without acknowledgement and Muslims now identify me as their sister with a greeting.

My hijab is a mercy and favour from Allah that He has called me back from a long journey astray. May Allah guide all the women of WHD (World Hijab Day) with such inspiring stories and those that need strength to start their spiritual adventure being a hijabi Muslimah and may we all meet one day in Heaven! In sha Allah (God-Willingly).

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