I’m half Moroccan and half French and I have been wearing hijab since 18th April 2010. It was one of the most important decisions of my life. A piece of cloth does not define a person but I strongly believe that appearances do have some say, if not much, about a person. I’m very independent. It is one of my most obvious traits.  So when I started to think about wearing hijab, I didn’t wish to be influenced by anyone that is why I did not tell anything to my family or friends. It came as a huge surprise to them when I first wore it and luckily I was positively surprised by their reaction and that of neighbors. On my first day as a hijabi, I went to visit a friend.  I met only French and non-Muslims on my way (Subhan’Allah (Praise be to Allah)) who smiled and greeted me in their usual lovely style. Hijab really changed my life but as a person, I was just the same. Men (Muslims and non-Muslims) started looking at me differently. They weren’t shy but they gave me much more respect.

The most important aspect of hijab is that it continuously reminds me of who I am and what I want to be! Being a Muslim in the 21st Century and that too, in France is very challenging. You’ve got to be really strong. Despite all, hijab is my identity, my strength, and my pride. When life gets hard and destiny sends me far away from my family and my friends, my hijab gives me self-confidence and reminds me of my principles and convictions. It reminds me that Allah is always watching over me with love and trust. It reminds me of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and his exemplary behavior. The best feeling of wearing hijab is when you don’t notice it as something awkward and neither do others.  So I love it when people act normally instead of making a big deal out of it because after all,  I’m just like any other woman. I don’t think or pretend to be better than others because of my hijab. I’m just trying to be a better version of me with every passing day. My hijab is a big part of my personality but it is only between me and my Creator and I am only accountable to Him.

I ask Allah for the guidance of the whole Ummah  and humankind.

The post It changed my life but I am still me appeared first on World Hijab Day.

There was a point in my life when I thought no one loved me so I started hating myself without realization. I couldn’t understand what was wrong with me. I heard people, whom I thought were my friends, saying bad things regarding me which I had never done. Then I decided that to move on, I had to leave certain people. That is when I decided to wear the Hijab. I always had a strong wish to wear it.

Whenever I saw Hijabi girls, I would say to myself that Masha Allah! I will be like them and please Allah too. I believed such are the people who remind us of Allah so I dreamed to be like them.

Most of us think that being born Muslims, our affection for the Lord is already great which is wrong. The more you learn about this beautiful religion, the more you love Allah.  So I gradually learned to love Him. I started questioning myself that if I really loved Allah then why am I not doing what He wishes of me?  Why do I still love this Duniya (worldly affairs) even knowing that the only reality is Akhirah (Hereafter)?  I understood that Allah removed some people from my life because they wouldn’t help in building my relationship with Him and now after all that time, I totally get it that He DOES love me! Everything I thought I had lost forever was replaced by something way better by His Mercy.

I stopped making excuses like “I am young”, “I still have time”, “yeah, someday?” I knew that wearing Hijab in France is quite difficult but Alhamdulillah, I firmly decided to do what He wanted because after going through so much, I realized that Allah always knows what is best for us. I had to attend university that year but couldn’t do so because of an issue with my passport and took a break instead.  Besides, schoolwork was a real “problem” for me. I took it as an indication, a sign from Allah that this is the right time to take the big step. So I finally wore the Hijab and it felt like a proof of the fact that Allah always decides what is best for us! He is indeed the best planner!

I understand that people may look at us quite differently but in the end, who cares about the people? Our true friends will love and accept us just the way we are and help us getting closer to Allah.

Sisters, always remember to  be proud of your Hijab.

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I’ve decided to wear hijab about 10 months ago. I must say, it was a difficult step to take. As days passed by, the more I was feeling something in my Deen (religion) was missing. It was INCOMPLETE. The more knowledge I acquired about Islam, more I  gravitated towards the idea of Hijab. In my heart, my reasoning  was pure for the sake of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala.

Primarily, I wore it every Friday and kept it on throughout the day even after Jumuah (Friday) prayers. That was my beginning.  Suddenly, one morning, I woke up telling myself, ‘today is The Day’, Subahan’Allah, ‘you go out with it and you will never remove it, In’Sha’Allah (God willing).’

I have never felt so proud in my entire life to be a Muslim woman. It’s an amazing feeling to wake up every day and to please Allah by our actions and character.  When adapting to hijab, the day to day attitude starts to shift slowly. I have more patience and I am more at peace. Even if covering our body and hair is only for the sake of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala, we also have to show people that we are better people, with actions. It’s Dawah (conveying the message of Islam), I will say.

Some of my family and friends didn’t really approve of my hijab. They have the following objections; ‘Deen is in your heart, you don’t need to wear hijab.  How would you get married if you wear hijab now? You will remove it soon.’ However, after some explanations on WHY I did it, people who truly loved and cared for me for who I am, started to understand the real reasons.

Today, I don’t ever see myself without my hijab. It became part of me, my identity. Hijab is the beauty of all muslim women in the world. This is strength and an honor to have been guided and to wear it every day, Alhumdulilah. I wish that for all my sisters.

If I were to give an advice to the sisters, it would be, step by step change your wardrobes, organize your clothing and the intention to wear your hijab, make up your mind once and for all, JUST DO IT. All for the sake of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala. And always remember to keep the smile. You can’t imagine how many sisters you will influence. May Allah guide us all to the right path, Ameen.

May Allah forgive us our minor and major sins.  May Allah bless you all. I love you all, my dear sisters for the sake of Allah.

The post “Religion is in the heart, not in hijab” appeared first on World Hijab Day.

Exactly one year ago, I shared with you my story on how being a Hijabi student in France was like on WorldHijabDay.com.

Today, 365 and a few more days later, I have understood many things and wanted to share them with you.

I understood that people don’t actually hate Hijab. They just don’t understand its meaning and purpose. And it is our role to show them how much we appreciate its significance. So that, they may also choose to see it the same by first being ourselves and embracing it. Our Hijab is part of us. Being covered doesn’t limit us. In fact, it opens up a whole new world. A world in which we know we’re being judged on our intellect, ambition, strength, and how clever we are.

Sometimes, people are curious. I am sure every single Hijabi out there has already been asked: why she wears it?  If she has been forced? If she can just remove it during the summer, etc.? Understand that these are genuine questions people may truly want to know the answers to. We have to educate ourselves, and therefore be ready to face any kind of remarks – even it being rude, or discriminatory – with politeness. Because a Hijabi is a lady. And ladies don’t start fights, they finish them with kindness.

Embracing your Hijab implies you to embrace your femininity. Don’t be scared of taking care of yourself. If anyone, whether being a man or a woman, explain that Hijab doesn’t oppress women. In fact, it oppresses men that can’t see us! Now, that’s clever!

While reading my precedent contribution to WHD, I noticed I talked about how difficult it was to find an internship, or a workplace in France which allows you to wear your headscarf. Although, I had to go through several problems during my last internship due to my headscarf, I made my position clear from the beginning and always stayed firm.

In fact, even if I may, still, face some difficulties. I embraced them as part of my success. I actually had the opportunity to evolve in two different French medias, and hopefully by the Will of God, this is only the start.

If I may give some advice to young Hijabis, (and non Hijabis) who are facing problems linked to their faith, it would be to your benefit if you choose not to be excluded from society. You are part of it. You are contributing to the development of your country, wherever your country may be. If you live in the West, don’t let anyone treat you as if you are a foreigner because you’re NOT.

In order to be able to face those difficulties, I beg you ladies to avoid communitarianism (a system of social organization based on small self-governing communities), this exists , even inside of Muslim communities, which unfortunately is way too separated, lately. Don’t be scared of claiming your rights, you deserve them. Only if you love and respect yourself, and the others will love and respect you.

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When I found out about the World Hijab Day a few weeks ago, I immediately wanted to be part of it.

As you might know, the situation about the Hijab in France is really a delicate subject.  Hijabis in France have hard time getting a job or get educated. At times, no job at all.  Therefore, lots of Muslim women have no choice but to not wear the hijab because they need to earn money to live or just to go to school.

The law restricts the hijab and can punish you for wearing it. They say it’s because the hijab is against the Republic. I personally think that Republic  gives us freedom and the freedom is to have choice, but with this law there is no choice for Muslim French citizens who contribute to the economics of the country. There is no freedom for Muslim women. It’s very sad and heartbreaking.

Because of that, Muslim people are held back and non-Muslim can’t understand what is the hijab and why women wear it. I think the situation is just misunderstanding and non-Muslims are just afraid of the unknown and that’s natural. As French Muslims, we need to show them that hijab is a choice, a freedom, a blessing, and does not cause any harm.

I told my friends about World Hijab day and asked them to spread the word to my non-Muslim friends. February 1^st is an opportunity to show them that I am the same person whether I wear hijab or not.

I think educating people about hijab can create more positive outcomes. It starts with communicating with our neighbors in France.  I believe World Hijab Day opens up a great pathway to get to know our neighbors, insha’Allah (God-willing).

The post An open letter from a French Hijabi appeared first on World Hijab Day.

I have been asked to share my story. I am Fatma, an 18 years old girl living in France. Therefore, I apologize in advance for the eventual English mistakes lol.
I always wanted to wear Hijab. My father is a great man, he is the greatest. He didn’t want me to wear it only because all my cousins were wearing it. He always told me to think about the true meaning of Hijab, and then wear it.

I have been blessed with the decision of wearing it at the age of 16. My mom is a revert, she doesn’t wear it. My sister doesn’t neither. They always supported me though.

Here in France, Hijabis conditions is very particular. We can’t wear it in schools, and finding a job is almost impossible. In fact, many women have to remove it in order to earn money, or even to be present in their children’s school life. I remember when I still was in school, my  heart broke once a day : when I had to show my hair. I felt naked.

I now study journalism in Paris. I am the only Hijabi of my university. To have the same results as the others, I have to work two, three, four more times than them : finding internships with Hijab, or even asking people for an interview. Everything becomes more difficult. People don’t see you like a simple journalist student. They see you like THE Hijabi journalist student, you know. I have been told Islam would influence me in my articles. Well, it’s who I am. Islam is a part of me. It would be the same if I was Christian, Jewish or atheist. Everyone has an influence.
But Alhamdulillah (praise be to Allah), this only makes me stronger. I don’t feel different at all, even if I probably am, or at least people probably see me in a different way.
I feel French. A Muslim French, obviously, but still French though.

Many people tell me “Why don’t you go study in London? You will have much more opportunities there.”
My dream has always been to present the news. I basically have 1% of chance to succeed here. Yet I won’t give up. I used to think I would travel to UK eventually. But now I changed my mind. I don’t need to feel like I have to leave this country. This is MY country too. I WILL succeed here. Things have to change.

I want to thank the staff of World Hijab Day for all they do to spread awareness. A message to all girls out there, either Hijabi or not? Don’t put yourself limits. Be proud of who you are. Be strong, be confident, smile and keep your head up. Love yourself and the world will love you. We cover what’s ON our heads, not what’s IN our heads.

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