I am me
This hijab shall always be a part of my identity
whether you like it or would rather rip it off my head
I’ll wear it anyway whenever I want even at night in bed

I have difficulties in life
just as any other person man, daughter, son or wife
My hijab isn’t a problem hon
I got 99 names to call Him upon
It is an opportunity to come closer to Him, my God
It is a way of expressing my love I don’t find that odd
if you been send out on a quest be patient and do your very best
and put your trust in Him whenever you get a test
This is the way I hope to free my soul of ego
I cover up to let the vanity of ‘me’ go

I wear them in all patterns, colors, and fabrics
I wear them in all styles
Whether going out for dinner or sporting at aerobics

If you think I’m being dumb, oppressed and thinking l don’t have confidence
It tells more about your insecurity and your intelligence
I know I’m being smart
I know what to do because I’m following my heart

Happy world hijab day to all you ladies whether you wear it or not
I’m not discriminating because you first should wear it in your heart
Don’t forget it is a lifestyle and attitude
live your own life just as you would
like in times of low and altitude
Wear it classy and chique
Your covering so don’t reveal too much and stay mystique
but don’t forget you are always unique.

Lots of love,

Faylasoufia S.
Sanae Ben Abdelouahab
[Actress in the Theaterplay ‘The Hijabi monologues’ in the Netherlands, it is a play which blows away all the stereotypes aspects of being an Europian born Hijabi (which is very rare for a hijabi to be an actress)]

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Since High school, I’d been wanting to wear Hijab and I kept telling my friends that I will wear it next year, every year. But it never happened. I always felt like I was ready to wear Hijab but reality was contrary to my belief. My friend for ten years, Anis Syakirin, never gave up on me and constantly reminded me of my goal.

In 2013, during the month of fasting, I pondered upon the idea of wearing hijab. I laid out the pros and cons  inside my mind and I kept it to myself. I knew that if I wore hijab, I would have to slightly change myself, particularly my dressing. One morning, after I had Sahur (an early meal that marks the start of the fast) with my family, I tried to sleep but I couldn’t because my mind kept racing around the idea and my heart was beating very fast. The longer I thought of it that morning, the stronger my wish to wear it got. I called Anis and told her everything. To my surprise, she took me to a boutique to buy some headscarves that very day.

I finally tried it on and my parents were totally surprised. Especially my dad because he wanted one of his daughters to wear Hijab and was totally thrilled by what he saw. On that day when I went out wearing it, I felt like people were watching me or I was an alien who didn’t belong here. After I bought a few scarves, Anis chose one out of the stalk for me to wear and I went home with my head covered. It was the very beginning of this wonderful journey.

I was pretty nervous about it a week before Eid (Islamic celebration) so I gave myself time to really accept everything. I didn’t announce it on the social media either as I was still unsure of myself and I didn’t want to be the girl who changed from free hair to hijab and then back to uncovering again. Alhamdulilah (God-Graciously) after I told everyone about it, they were as excited as I was and they were happy for me, including my non-muslim friends.

It’s already been one whole year and I’m happy that I made this decision even though at times it does become hard to make my scarf stay in place because of the material mostly but that’s not a big deal. I wore the Hijab when I was 20 years old and now I’m 22. It’s never to late to wear the Hijab. Do it for yourself and for Allah.

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 I became Muslim in October of 1999 Alhamdulillah. When I converted to Islam, my family didn’t agree with my decision at all. I even provided them with literature about the fundamentals of Islam and what’s required of a Muslim. But that meant nothing to them. Like all Muslim women in western society, I experienced hardships because of idiocy and the severe lack of knowledge of Islam. One predicament was on September 12, 2001. I was driving to school and when I stopped at the traffic light, a man in a truck pulled up beside me and yelled profanities to me and said,”Go back to your own country!” Being an American woman… my instinct at that time was to answer him. So, I did. I said,”This is my country.” As soon as I said that… he threw an apple at me which hit my face and left a huge bruise on my face. I didn’t go to school as planned. I went to my mother’s house because of how upset I was. My mother of course persuaded me to take off my hijab. And so… I did.

I didn’t start wearing it again until September 11, 2012 (the date was purely coincidental by the way). I am happier with my hijab. It is apart of me and who I am. I am a MUSLIM woman and I am proud! Non muslim society believe that muslim women who wear hijab are oppressed. Where in fact, it is those same non muslims who oppress us by trying to force us not to wear hijab. I wear hijab anyway and endure being teased and made fun of by people (including my family) but I wear it to please Allah and Him alone. Alhamdulillah.

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