On my last early morning in Prince Edward Island, I visited a beach that was completely empty. I looked in every direction and there was not a person in sight.

No people around meant I could take my hijab off. So I did. The Atlantic Ocean breeze blew through my hair.

I didn’t know I would, but I cried big, hot tears. Because it felt wonderful. I was spending time with the ocean and some birds, none of whom looked at me or cared that I was there. And I wondered, “Is this how it feels to not wear hijab?”

I walked, and walked, with my orange hijab balled up in my fist. I looked into the vast body of water, and at the sky, and at my feet, and everything in between. I thanked God for bringing me here, to a place I have wanted to visit since I was a child.

And then it was time to go. I looked at my hijab and then in the direction of the parking lot. From far away I could see tiny figures and I knew a few people were starting to arrive.

I could’ve walked to my car without my hijab. No one here knows me. I could’ve pretended I was someone else for a moment. I could’ve felt the breeze for a bit longer.

But I didn’t. I said goodbye to the sticky salt wind, and I put my hijab on. My hijab blew in the wind, but it didn’t feel the same. Then I walked back to my car, re-entering the world as a Muslim woman.

A woman who is looked at, judged, and always held to a higher level of scrutiny. A woman who just wants to live her life, but is seen as a flag bearer for this faith. A woman who is imperfect, but has to hold up an image of perfection so as to honour others like her. And it’s so, so tiring. No man can understand this heaviness.

But as I walked back, I said to Allah: I do this for You and no one else. And though it’s hard, I will hold onto it. Tightly. Fiercely. With vigour and patience.

There is no other path I would choose, because He chose this for me. And I love and obey Him.

In Jannah, I’ll feel this breeze in my hair again. Cool and gentle and kind, carrying a scent that is better than that of a thousand oceans.

I will wait for that day. I think I can be patient for a while longer.

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I started wearing hijab since I converted to Islam almost 3 months ago, Alhamdulillah (All Praise is due to Allah)! I am living in a non-Muslim country. My conversion to Islam came with a huge social challenge. Everybody looked awkwardly at me when I would go out wearing my hijab. They laughed but I kept going and tried to be stronger. I used to cry, asking Allah (swt) (All-Praised and The Exalted) to keep me on the right path and not even let me think about taking it off.  My hijab is my freedom to be who I want and who I really am. My hijab, even if it’s a piece of material, for me, is my personality, my beauty, and my shyness. My hijab is a part of me. I love my hijab!

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 By Nada Ismaili (Casablanca, Morocco)

My point of view about the veil is quite simple. In my country Morocco, most women and girls wear the veil which is also called Islamic Hijab. Some time ago I was not sure that my religion, Islam, requires a girl to wear the hijab. So I researched about the Islamic covering and once I was convinced, I decided to wear it myself. I consider myself lucky to be born in a culture that allows conventional religious covering with ease because the multicultural societies are becoming more and more straitening towards hijab. I think that this stereotyping has to end and that is why I support the world hijab day.

A veiled girl is certainly not a terrorist.  There are various reasons behind one’s choice to wear it, one of which is that it is an obligation in our religion. Islamic hijab in itself is a whole independent domain of fashion and feminine beauty. I hope that everyone around the globe understands, accepts, and views hijab as a show of religious and cultural diversity.

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As an outspoken feminist, I really had strong opinions about wearing a hijab. I felt like it was oppressive. I felt like women lost their identity when wearing a hijab. I was clearly wrong. I truly was ill educated in this matter until a very special person explained the beauty behind the hijab recently.

I learned that wearing a hijab does give you an identity. It gives you a voice. It demands that people respect you for your mind and not your body. I feel free and strong today as I wear this. As women, we choose to wear the hijab and I am so inspired by all of you ladies. Sending tons of love and light to each one of you.

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I have grown up in an area where they weren’t many Muslims at all, from what I can remember from my childhood. The only Muslim family in the primary school I went to was my family. I started wearing Hijab (head scarf more precisely) at the age of 9. At first the children around me were curious as to why I wore a Hijab but never criticised it. By the time I was 11, the bulling kicked in. The other children around me started making small comments such as “Why are you wearing a curtain net?” When I started high school, the bullying got worse. Other pupils started tugging on my Hijab while laughing and made comments such as “You’re not allowed to wear hoodies in school” and “I know why you wear that.  You’re hiding a bomb underneath it.” Nevertheless, I stayed strong and still carried on wearing the Hijab.

By the time I had reached the age of 15, the bullying had stopped but I still felt as if I was excluded because I wore a Hijab. I thought that maybe if I didn’t wear it, I would have more friends etc. But I was wrong.  Wearing a Hijab doesn’t make people turn away from you.  It’s their understanding of the Hijab that makes them turn away from you. When I moved to a different school, I made many friends quickly because the school was more diverse. The pupils there had grown up with more Hijabis in their school life. They understood the meaning of Hijab.

Having said this, the students that studied with me in my first year of University had different views. They thought that the Hijab was a symbol of oppression and tried to convince my that I would be happier if I let my hair loose. I understand it wasn’t their fault on what they believe.  It was due to lack of education about the true meaning of Hijab.

I believe World Hijab Day to be a fantastic event as it allows people to understand the true meaning of Hijab worldwide. Worldwide awareness is essential when people lack education in subjects like this. People worldwide are encouraged to understand that Hijab is not a symbol of oppression but in fact a symbol of freedom. For me, Hijab is my freedom as it protects my modesty and prevents evil eyes from looking my way. It is a symbol of class, honour and dignity.

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I’m a Mormon who participated in World Hijab Day 2/1/2014. Upon putting the hijab on, I felt secure, protected & worth something more than being an object to a man. The Mormon & Muslim faith have similar standards in modesty & morality. So when I donned the hijab, it didn’t bother me at all. In fact, I am now a “Mormon, Non-Muslim Hijabi”! I wear this head covering whenever I am out in public without my husband to keep strange men from looking at me. When I take pictures, I choose to veil myself! It’s been a month since WHD but I’m still wearing the hijab. Hijab isn’t just for Muslims but for all women of different faiths! Jews, Catholics, Amish, etc…Thank You for this awareness! I’ve received much support from family & friends. Please feel free to follow me on Instagram to see what my daily life is like! God Bless & best of health to all! http://instagram.com/stephanygoodwin11

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“It all started during a family holiday to Italy. After stepping out of St Peters’ Basicila, I somewhat heard a whisper “how lucky I am to be a Muslim.” I thought it was weird. A few days later, I was walking alone at Lake Lugano around Maghrib(sunset  prayer  time) and suddenly I had the thought how beautiful Allah’s creations are. And then, I realized how blessed I am to be able to experience the beauty of His creations and how ungrateful I have been. A day after I returned home in Singapore, I pulled a scarf and wrapped it around my head and went to my mother’s house. My parents were pleasantly surprised.

However, my husband was not. He is a convert and his knowledge is limited. He associated the hijab with an Arabic tradition of oppressing women. It was not an easy beginning, and my resolute was tested. I prayed to Allah that my hijab is for my creator, whom I have neglected for so long. If I have to choose between my marriage and my faith, I choose my faith.

Allah is the greatest, most forgiving, most loving. My initial struggles were met with a much stronger marriage today. My husband respected my hijab and so are his non-Muslim family and friends. Alhamdullilah.”

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