“Strength and growth only come from continuous effort and struggle” said famous self-help author, Napoleon Hill.

Growing up as a Pakistani-American Muslim, seeing women relatives wearing hijab, I vividly remember knowing I would do the same. However, in the eighth grade, I began questioning my decision. I wondered if I wanted to be any more different than I had already seemed. As a brown girl with an unusual name who didn’t eat bacon like everyone else, people already knew I practiced a specific faith.

I reluctantly started wearing a headscarf without being cognizant of its significance. After a lot of research on the primary objective of the Islamic concept of “hijab” (covering), I felt as if I had ascertained its essence. The concept of “hijab” is prevalent amongst both Muslim men and women to maintain their modesty. Islam enjoins men to lower their gaze and for women to wear the hijab. It is a sign of chastity and meant to safeguard us as much as possible. It visually marks us as Muslim women, so that we may be openly recognized as such, thus, we stand out.

As a young woman, I refuse to be judged by my physical attributes and beauty. A person’s worth and intellectual ability should not be judged by society’s beauty standards. Instead, a person’s worth should be measured by their mindset and actions. I have come to learn over time that my hijab serves as a source of protection, rather than becoming a barrier in my day-to-day activities.

My research confirmed this was the right path for me. I began to want to wear the headscarf because it was part of my identity as a Muslim woman and distinguished me from others. Therefore, as I started ninth grade, I wore the hijab over my head confidently, ready to start this new chapter in my life. Not only did I never feel judged by anyone, I felt more empowered.

While I proudly wear the hijab today, I am glad I had those earlier doubts, which I was successfully able to overcome. That uncertainty gave me the opportunity to find the true essence of the hijab. The day I began having full faith in my decision was a turning point in my life. This phase in my life taught me that having faith in myself will always be enough for me to stay motivated and accomplish anything I set my sights on. While I was determined to wear the hijab, I simply needed the reassurance to remind myself that I am doing this for myself, and not for the approval of others, including my own family members.

The hijab will continue to define me, my character, and my values. I will always continue to grow with it. My faith puts great emphasis on seeking education and serving humanity. I strive to pursue those goals diligently, with the objective that one day I can serve humanity to the best of my knowledge and abilities.

Now, every time I put it on and step out, I feel protected and safe. It strengthens my faith and connects me firmly to its roots and values. I am confident in and proud of the identity I have made for myself and I embrace being different. I am proud to be a Pakistani-American Muslim woman.

About the Author:

Tooba Malik is currently a senior in high school in the USA. She is looking forward to attending college next fall. She enjoys community service and sharing her experiences as a young adult. She loves traveling, baking/cooking, and visiting new trails near her.

The post Strength and Growth in My Hijab appeared first on World Hijab Day.

Here are five individuals who wore their hijabs like crowns, while inspiring all people, worldwide! These women show that their hijab did not deter them from following their dreams, thereby tackling down the stereotypical veiled woman behind bars. On the contrary, these five women have proven that their hijab kept them grounded, confident in embracing their own individual identities. Please note that these women are not listed in any particular order of significance; they are all equally significant and inspiring.

Tahera Rahman is the first full-time hijabi newscaster in the USA. Having graduated with a journalism degree from Loyola University in Chicago, she is currently a TV reporter for the KXAN News, an affiliate of NBC, in Austen, Texas. Rahman tells Loyola Magazine that she became the first Muslim woman to wear hijab on broadcast TV by never accepting “No” for an answer. After many rejections, Rahman had initially worked as a producer for WHBF-TV, the CBS affiliate, hoping that working behind-the-scenes would help her gain the experience necessary to make it in front of the camera. And she made it! When Rahman was offered her current position, she was in tears. She tells Loyola Magazine that she is grateful to her mother for encouraging her to continue applying for newscaster positions and she is to Allah, for everything. She is happily married to Sports MMJ, Reporter and Anchor, Adam Rossow and they are expecting their first-born.

Kubra Dagli is a worldwide renowned Turkish taekwondo champion in the proomsae category (freestyle). Sports runs in her blood: her father is a boxing coach and her uncle was her taekwondo coach when she was 13-years-old. Winner of the gold medal in the over-18 section in Peru in 2016, a winner of gold or silver medal at every national championship, she also won five gold medals, coming second only to South Korea. Turkey has established itself as a new force in the world of taekwondo, according to TRT World. Dagli wrote on her social media regarding the media coverage that she received: “They don’t speak of my success, but of my headscarf. I don’t want this. Our success should be discussed.” Did she ever receive prejudice because of her headscarf during competition? Once, when she was coerced to wear a bandana instead of a hijab in 2013.

Nadiya Jamir Hussain is a famous British chef, having won the sixth season of “The Great British Bake Off,” which rocketed her career toward numerous TV-appearances and about 25 book publications, including both fiction and cook books! She is happily married and a mother of two sons, and one daughter. Nadiya was a shy girl growing up and suffered panic attacks during her adulthood, but with the support of her loving husband, she pulled through. After winning “The Great British Bake Off,” Nadiya decided never again to tell herself, “I can’t do it!” As for hijab, Nadiya shared in the media that she has worn the hijab since she was 14-years-old “…not specifically because I came from a religious family, in fact I came from quite the opposite, it was something I found myself. It’s a sign of being a Muslim and practicing Islam. A sign of modesty. Hair is seen as something beautiful, you preserve that for specific people.”

Silma Ihram is known as the founder of Muslim education in Sydney, Australia. Born Anne Frances Beaumont, she found Islam in 1976 during her visit to Indonesia. In 1987, Ihram founded a primary school for 105 Muslims. As a Principal, she wanted to emphasize that Muslims can also be proud Australians. She fought hard to preserve the school against Islamophobic and racial attacks. There is even a documentary about her struggles entitled, “Silma’s School,” which was released in 2006. Noor Al Houda Islamic College was eventually taken over by the Australian International Academy from Melbourne, giving her time to focus on family and other projects. In fact, she became an active political leader, becoming one of first two Muslim female candidates running for the safe Labor seat of Auburn in the 2007 State Election. Moreover, Ihram founded The Australian Muslim Women’s Association in 2011. Not to mention, she is a published author. Winner of many accolades for contributions to the Muslim community, Ihram is married and is a mother of six. Her ambitions include eventually opening up an interfaith college.

Dr. Hawa Abdi (1947-2020), a.k.a. “Mama Hawa” to Somalis worldwide, was a humanitarian activist during times of war and famine. She grew up on a farm in Mogadishu, where she lived a simple and beautiful life until the government collapsed in 1988 and strangers came knocking on her door. Suffering from the consequences of the collapse, these people had come to her seeking refuge and a strong believer in hospitality, Dr. Hawa Abdi opened up her door. She watched children hold guns and many die due to both war and famine. Her community grew to 90,000 residents in a span of 20 years. She even built the Dr. Hawa Abdi General Hospital, providing 400 beds. Dr. Hawa Abdi’s humanitarian efforts to provide healthcare, education, sanitation and healthcare to thousands of displaced individuals earned her the nomination of the Nobel Peace Prize among other accolades. She leaves behind two children: Deqo and Amina. Her third child, Ahmed, passed away in a tragic car accident in 2005.

All five of these women have faced many battles in their lives, whether internally and/or externally. One thing was for sure: they boldly and proudly wore the hijab and their faith played a big role in their lives.

About the Author:

Rumki Chowdhury is Editor of World Hijab Day Organization. Moreover, she has her own editing services. She is an award-winning published author and poet. She has an MA in English Literature from Queen Mary University of London, a BA in English Writing from William Paterson University of New Jersey and an English Subject Teaching Degree from Gävle Högskolan in Stockholm, Sweden. She speaks Bengali and Swedish fluently! She has years of experience in the media and publishing worlds. Rumki lives with her husband and their three daughters.

Instagram and Facebook @rumkitheauthor

Twitter @rumkichowdhury

www.rumki.com

The post Five Inspirational Hijabi Personalities appeared first on World Hijab Day.

Sisters around the World,

Here I stand, an #UnapologeticHijabi

I started wearing the hijab in January, 2022 and cannot be more proud of myself for it. I did it for Allah and Allah alone. I was born Muslim سبحان الله but it took me 30 years to realize what wearing hijab means. It also took me being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer to push me in the right direction and I truly believe Allah showered me with infinite mercy by making me sick. I call it my miracle.

I attempted to wear hijab twice before, once after my parents took me for Hajj الحمدالله at the young age of 17 in 2008. The second time I tried to wear hijab was during my university years, eight years later during medical school in 2016. I was going through a hard time, mentally, dealing with anxiety and thought it would help me overcome my issues. Of course, those were all the wrong reasons for my wearing the hijab which is why it didn’t last. What I didn’t realize was that wearing hijab means changing everything about one’s self, one’s personality, one’s personal fashion sense and an increase in modesty both inside and outside. So, I was not ready for the hijab yet.

As mentioned earlier, being diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer is the push I needed to wear hijab with complete conviction. I underwent all the treatment necessary including chemotherapy, surgery and radiation after my initial diagnosis in 2020 at 29-years-old. I naively thought I was done with cancer and going back to living my life. I made plans, however Allah made better plans for me.

I thought about continuing my registration to move to the UK and continuing my career as a doctor. My faith had increased after diagnosis, however now that I think of it, I may have lost my faith, lost my connection with my Lord if I had moved. Because being around my family was also the driving force to help secure my connection to Allah. The brain tumor has returned and caused my first seizure. My incredible doctor fought for a last ditch chemotherapy, but The All-Protector has been my savior, working through my medical team and family. It has been a difficult journey, however, The Most Merciful has blessed me with the faith and strength to overcome those difficulties. Becoming a Hijabi is what I truly believe helped solidify and strengthen my iman (faith in Arabic): “And indeed, when Allah loves a people He subjects them to trials,” Tirmidhi 2396.

All in all, I have been blessed to come from and grow up in three different countries that allow hijabis to live freely: South Africa, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. There, the hijab has been attributed to being a cultural symbol. Regardless, culture has zero role in the religious symbol that the hijab presents. Encouraging Muslim women’s rights and religious freedom can provide the confidence that young Muslim girls need, to please their Creator rather than to please the created.

Hijabs have been getting a bad name for too long, people think it is oppressive and use it as a means to push their own agendas for Islamophobia and Hijabophobia. My hijab is my strength. My hijab is my dignity. It is my identity. It is me. I am a proud Muslimah and a proud hijabi.

Love,

Noshin

About the Author:

Noshin Saloojee is a Medical Doctor who graduated from Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland-Medical University in Bahrain. She joined the General Medical Council in the UK however gave up her registration as she has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer to her brain. She has been living in Saudi Arabia for the past 25 years except for the years she studied in Bahrain and the first 6 years of her life. She is a proud South African. Her parents still live in the Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia where she resides with them now for treatment, however her dear sister and family live in South Africa.

Instagram @pinkribbonmountains

Twitter @nosh09

Blog https://3rdculturedoc.wordpress.com

The post Letter from an #UnapologeticHijabi appeared first on World Hijab Day.

As a medical doctor, working in the Holy city of Makkah, it was ironically more difficult to get a chance to perform Hajj. The only consolation was the fact that Umrah was literally like a walk in the park.

Imagine spending two years as a bona fide resident of the city, but not getting a chance to observe Hajj! The main reason being that we had to take turns, as healthcare professionals play a vital role in the successful hosting of pilgrims.

By the third year, I was certain that nothing was going to stop me, إِنْ شَاءَ ٱللَّٰهُ (God willing in Arabic).

Well, two things almost stopped me:

Firstly, I was seven-months pregnant by the beginning of Dhul-Hijjah.

لْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ, other than the fatigue, which was manageable, I spent 40 hours per week (plus 24-48 call hours) working at the hospital.

Secondly, while preparing the hajj rota, my boss asked me to choose between working and not working during Hajj. Without any hesitation, I declared that I would be going for Hajj.

“But you can work and save the money to buy things for your baby,” she urged.

Truly, the hajj bonus was a great temptation! If you work for the first 15 days of Dhul-Hijjah, 12 hours/day back-to-back, and stay on continuous standby in case of any disaster, your reward will be a whooping 150% bonus on top of Dhul-Hijjah salary! Mouth-watering, right?

Not to sound rude, I told my boss to give me time to think about it and discuss it with my husband. Of course, I had my mind made up and my husband was already aware of this. Actually, we would have performed Hajj together, but he could not that year. Besides, a woman is not required to be accompanied by a mahram if she lives in Makkah, but it’s advisable for her to move with a group. Even residents are required to have a Hajj permit to move freely around certain areas of Makkah during this time.

لْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ, my career and pregnancy were blessings in themselves, but hajj is a reward comparable to that of fighting on a battlefield.

I asked myself, “What if I don’t make it ‘til next year? What if I leave Makkah and coming back becomes a big hassle?”

After exchanging hugs and kisses with my children and handing them over to the nanny, I assumed the state of ihram and left home just after maghrib prayer on the 8th night of Dhul-Hijjah 1439. A driver dropped me at the Hajj agency’s office in Aziziyyah, where we moved to Mina in batches.

I made the intention for “hajjul ifrad,” the easiest of the three types of Hajj. Then, I started chanting the talbiyah:

Labbayka Allāhumma labbayk. Labbayk lā shareeka laka labbayk. Inna al-ḥamda, wa n‘imata, Laka wal mulk. Lā shareeka lak: “Here I am, O’ Allah, here I am, here I am. You have no partner, here I am. Verily all praise and blessings are Yours, and all sovereignty. You have no partner.”

Our group arrived at Mina that evening and I settled in the bed space that had been assigned to me. More than 20 other ladies and some children occupied that same tent. It was crowded, but cozy. Later that night, two ladies arrived from Riyadh and occupied the beds on my right. They were accompanied by their elder brother.

These Syrian sisters became my helpers for the entire Hajj period. They felt so sorry for me because I was pregnant and all by myself. I, on the other hand, felt it was just the perfect recipe for a soulful dialogue with my Lord. I had no regrets leaving everything behind – my home, my family and the juicy Hajj bonus. At that point, I was only interested in standing alone as a worshiper amidst hundreds of thousands of other worshippers. The solitude reminded me of the “Day of Judgment,” when it will be every human and jinn for themself, سبحان الله.

The first day of hajj (8th day of Dhul-Hijjah) is known as the day of “At-Tarwiyah.” In the olden days, pilgrims used to collect water in preparation for the journey ahead. But, life is much easier now. We had plenty of food and cold drinks to keep us nourished and hydrated. We also spent the day praising Allah and asking for His Mercy.

My Syrian sisters helped me get my meals from the dining area. I didn’t have to join the queue to use the bathroom. They would ask me to sit in the room until the crowd had cleared. When it was time to move to Arafah after fajr on the 9th, they walked with me, hand-in-hand. They held the umbrella above my head as the scorching sun melted the clouds. They slowed down for me, and stopped when I needed to rest. They asked me at intervals, if I was able to walk with my legs or if they should get me a wheelchair لْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ.

Stay tuned for Dr. Khadijah’s pilgrimage story continued in next week’s post.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dr. Khadijah Tijani is a Nigerian medical doctor, a creative blogger and a published author. She grew up in Ibadan, Oyo State and graduated from the College of Medicine at the University of Ibadan in 2009. After five years of practice in Nigeria, she relocated to Saudi Arabia where she worked as a resident physician in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Known as “Doctor KT,” Tijani is a women’s health advocate and a prolific health blogger for her own blog, www.askdoctorkt.com. She also runs an online platform, known as “Breastfeeding Support Lounge,” where she supports mothers towards achieving their breastfeeding goals. Tijani is the published author of “Wholesome Motherhood,” “Nature’s Superfood,” and “The Stampede: Tales of Love, Trials and Faith.”

Twitter @askdoctorkt

Instagram @askdoctorkt

The post PERFORMING HAJJ WHILE A DOCTOR IN MAKKAH appeared first on World Hijab Day.

One day, we chatted with our cousins about how amazing our other cousin, Anjoo, was for wearing the hijab and niqab. How brave of her! One cousin said, “We’re talking about how good she is, why can’t we strive to be like her?”  This made me think deeper about the hijab.

My baba always said that if I wanted something to become a habit, I needed to do it consecutively for 40 days and if I missed a day, I needed to restart for another 40 days until it became a daily routine. So, I wanted to wear the hijab, but I knew I had to ensure I was praying 5 times a day before I put my hijab on permanently.  Moreover, I started tallying… day, 1, day 2, day 3… I tallied up to day 23 and the dreaded time of the month arrived (my period had started). I knew this was going to be a test because having a break from prayer for seven days could have possibly meant my needing to restart the 5 daily prayers routine for another 40 days.  However, I prayed directly after my period was over so praying five times a day had officially become a habit!  

Now I had to fulfil the promise I made to myself and to Allah, and put on the hijab, full-time. My fifth sister’s (I have 7, say mash’Allah) wedding was approaching and I desperately wanted to show off my hair and wear a sari for the first time, but I didn’t. In the summer of year 11, I stayed at my 2ndsister’s house to help with babysitting.  I finished praying and came down the stairs; her brother-in-law said, “Oh, are you wearing it full-time now?” and I replied “Yes.”  And the rest was history!

17-year-old me made the decision to permanently wear the hijab and at college/sixth form, I met one of the greatest men in my life.  One that I did not think would make such an impact on me and my future.  His name was Shaykh Aliyy Fichet; he was a French teacher at the sixth form I was studying at.  He used to do the after-school Islamic studies classes for a very small group of people and I decided to join.  There, I learned the obligations of the hijab, in front of whom I should wear it for ex. men that are not related to me.  This was about to bring a storm to my very traditional Bengali family!  

We grew up with extended family living together where cousins and uncles are like brothers, and there, my 5th sister, my non-identical twin and I were wearing hijab in front of cousins that practically raised us.  17-year-old Hafizah, her twin and her sister were now outcasts, no one took it as a positive, many got offended as we would run and put towels or anything we could find on our heads when a non-mahram would enter the room.  Bizarre, I know, but we were young!  There was a lot of hostility and broken relationships because of this and I would cry on the bus regularly, heart-broken. We persevered and here we are, 18 years on with our nieces wearing hijab, living with extended family, sleeping with hijab in case someone walked in. We did it! It wasn’t easy but we did it!

Did it get easier when I got married? No! I moved to Wiltshire, a predominantly-white area, there were fears around me getting a job as no one had seen a hijabi before.  Judgmental looks, can I speak English? Did I just arrive from a foreign country?   The jaws dropped when I would speak fluent English with a Birmingham accent, (they say I have a Birmingham twang when I get angry).  In school, I spent months mentioning “In my degree, I grew up in…” to fight or prevent any potential stereotypical comments or looks. However, with persistence, I got my job, got my promotion and did not take my hijab off or change the way I dressed to fit in. My eldest daughter is 12 now, is it going to be easier for her, probably not,  but we endure and insh’Allah, we will triumph in maintaining our Muslim identities in the face of hostility.    

About the Author

Hafizah Choudhury was born and raised in Birmingham, UK. She is married with two beautiful daughters and another baby is on the way, due January 2023, insh’Allah.  She is a secondary school science teacher in Calne, Wiltshire, UK.  In her spare time, Hafizah tutors science, including Chemistry A level as she has a passion for teaching and learning Islamic studies.  She really enjoys singing and was part of a nasheed band back in Birmingham and is looking to start a nasheed band in Wiltshire. Connect with her on Instagram @hufayzah

The post My Journey Toward Hijab and Challenges As a Result appeared first on World Hijab Day.

The image of the hijabi Muslim woman created by the West after 9/11 has been consistent: she is constantly depicted as oppressed, submissive to men, forced to cover up and unable to make her own decisions. Even in many Muslim countries, still under the cultural influence of colonization, women wearing the hijab or headscarf are often discriminated against, ridiculed and they are unable to find job opportunities.

How is it possible that hundreds of years of Islamic history were so easily forgotten, even in those lands where Islam was born? Islam changed history forever by bringing new values for the whole of humanity. Allah SWT explicitly stated in the Quran that men and women are equal. Islam forbade female infanticide, instructed Muslims to educate daughters as well as sons, insisted that women have the right to choose their husbands and gave women the right to divorce. In the Quran, both women and men are advised to lower their gaze.

If we just look at the years of the Islamic revelation, we see endless examples of women who weren’t afraid of defying the patriarchal laws of Quraysh. I’m not talking only about the wives of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم. In fact, more than 1200 women were listed as companions of the Prophet صلىالله عليه وسلم, or sahabiyyat.

The first believer of Islam was a woman, Khadijah. The first martyr of Islam was also a woman, Sumayyah. In addition, oneof the first Muslim women to participate in battles wasNusaybah, who fought in the Battle of Uhud to defend ourProphet صلى الله عليه وسلم. Let’s not forget Asma, the daughter ofAbu Bakrعليه السلام, who secretly organized the escape ofProphet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم from Mecca to Medinaduring Muslim persecution. Let’s remember Aisha, one of the “Mothers of the Believers,” who led an entire army against Ali, the fourth caliph! Moreover, she was a true jurist, a faqiha, as she transmitted hundreds of hadith (Islamic teachings or sayings of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم). 

In the Quran, we are given further examples of strong and piouswomen including Bilquis, the queen of Saba, (Queen of Sheebain English), who was a wise political leader. Then, there’sMaryam, mother of Jesus عليه وسلم, who has an entire chapter ofthe Quran named after her. In addition, there are many otherinspirational women from our Islamic history, mentioned in theQuran, including Asiya, the adopted mother of Moses  عليه وسلم , and Sarah and Hajar, the wives of Abraham عليه وسلم.

Evidently, these Muslim women from Islamic history, were brave and wanted to, alongside the men, contribute to the new Muslim society. I look at them as universal examples of female identity: courage, humility, determination, strength, and perseverance.

Yet, the hijab continues to be considered by certain societies as an example of oppression.  Take the most recent hijab ban in Karnataka, India, as one example where hijabi women have lost their right to education. Even in Europe, as a whole, any employer can legally fire an employee if she refuses to take off her hijab when asked to do so! Therefore, the hijab does not, in any way, prevent women from pursuing their dreams, but such laws forbidding women to wear the hijab, do! Our Islamic history is a testament to that.

Reminder: May is “International Muslim History Month.” Take this opportunity to learn more about Muslim men and women from the Golden Age up until now, who have shaped humanity as we know it.

About the Author

Lucia Rallo is a Kindergarten teacher at Maarif School USA. She holds an MA in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Venice. She also speaks four different languages fluently and studied many more. She is passionate about female-related topics in Islam. She loves traveling, reading, writing, arts and crafts, modest fashion and having fun with her children, too. She currently lives in New Jersey with her husband and three children. You can find her on Instagram @lucia_aurelia

The post Change the Depiction of Hijabi Women appeared first on World Hijab Day.

One day, I was on my way home from the middle school I attended when I was harassed by a group of girls. This was after 9/11 and it was unexpected as I attended a middle school in Hamtramck, Michigan, with about an 80 percent Muslim student population. So, I thought I blended in until that dreaded day and suddenly, I found myself on the guard.

Still, my shock and understanding of what was happening came about gradually. I had yet to fully grasp what had happened and what was happening all around me. For example, I heard news about elderly men being attacked on their way to the masjid.

When I turned 15, I had applied for an admin job in Taylor, Michigan that was owned by two Muslim doctors. The one who took my interview said, “You will have to remove your scarf if you want to work here.” I politely said, “Okay,” and left. When I got into the car, I felt the pangs of hurt that even our ummah couldn’t stand up for Muslim women. I didn’t take that job.

By 2006, while attending Wayne State College and participating in various organizations including the Muslim Students’ Association and halaqas (Arabic for “Islamic studies”), I took the time to reflect. I was also going through my first identity crisis at the time and wanted to further understand my purpose as a human being, as a Muslimah, all the while pursuing my dreams of becoming a journalist. Therefore, through my MSA circle, I learned how to be unapologetically Muslim in all areas of my life. We prayed together in library corners and empty classrooms; we volunteered at various charities and attended lectures. At internships I had, I asked for accommodations to pray, oftentimes explaining why it was important to me and gaining the opportunity to practice my religion. I remember sitting in an editorial meeting where I overheard a reporter talking, in disdain, about Muslims passing out Qurans. Later on, as we ate together, that same reporter asked me questions about Islam and Muslims.

Those experiences helped me discover the beauty behind hijab, behind being visibly Muslim.

Sometimes, it got exhausting, feeling like I was the only one or that I was being asked because I was being judged. However, I grew to accept that people are just curious. And as a journalist, I also ask a lot of questions.

In 2012, I began working for CAIR Michigan, where I learned first-hand about the harassment, hate incidents, bias, Muslims being put on watchlists and Muslims being harassed by the FBI. That job took what I had already experienced and showed me the extent of it. That knowledge equipped me with the tools, language and understanding of what was at stake when we didn’t speak up. A decade later, I am seeing women and men all over the world, via various notable occupations, from Media all the way to the Olympics, being unapologetically Muslim.

Two decades after 9/11, as a journalist, when I interview people, some get shocked, surprised, but oftentimes happy, to see someone like me on the other side of the screen or microphone. In many ways, we are all only beginning to heal from the aftermath of one of the greatest tragedies that ever happened.

About author 

Nargis Hakim Rahman is an award-winning Bangladeshi American Muslim journalist and writer. She is a graduate of Wayne State University with a BA in Journalism and a Psychology Minor. She grew up in Michigan, Detroit, USA, where she is passionate about community journalism. Nargis hopes to give American Muslims and minorities a voice in the press. In fact, she is a reporter and producer for WDET 101.9 FM. Moreover, her written work has appeared in various media including The Huffington Post, NPR, YES Magazine!, Haute Hijab, Tostada Magazine, Eater, Model D, Detroiter Magazine, The Muslim Observer, Brown Girl Magazine and Metro Detroit Mommy.

Website: https://nargisthewriter.com/

Twitter, Instagram, Facebook: @nargisthewriter

The post “Unapologetically,” Visibly Muslim appeared first on World Hijab Day.

I always struggled with the idea of hijab and although nearly all the females in my family had started wearing it from a fairly young age, my parents never had any expectations of me embracing it before I was truly ready to do so. My late 20’s and 30’s saw me progress in my career as a teacher and eventually, take on a role in the private sector where not only was I the only Asian female, but also the only Muslim. Despite being on a personal journey to reconnect with my faith at that time in my life, I still didn’t have the inner strength to wear the hijab in a very non-Muslim and at times, ignorant environment. So, I decided to change my environment.

In 2012, I was offered a teaching job in Abu Dhabi. I thought being immersed in an Islamic environment would give me the much-needed nudge to go ahead and start wearing hijab. But again, my nafs (Arabic for “soul”) was blocking me from making that change. A year later, my marriage was being arranged. I still remember my fiancé coming to the door of my flat after Friday prayers to Skype with my family. I had just performed my zuhr prayers when the doorbell rang. Not wanting him to wait outside, I quickly let him in, whilst still wearing my hijab, then proceeded to remove it and fix my hair; after all, I wanted him to see me at my best and my hair was my best feature!

After the Skype chat, I was walking him out when he very casually said, “You looked pretty with the hijab.” I was stunned. I had always thought my hair and having a full face of makeup was what made me attractive. I wasn’t about to give that up! My (modern independent woman) knee-jerk reaction was to tell him right there and then that not even my father had forced me to wear the hijab so I hoped he wasn’t getting any funny ideas about telling me what to do; but, I stopped myself.

I still remember consciously and deliberately pausing and reflecting on my intentions and desire to wear hijab. After being in Abu Dhabi for a year, it still hadn’t happened. I realized it was about me and when I truly felt ready for it. It had never been about the environment.  And was it really a bad thing if the man I was planning on spending the rest of my life with, was the catalyst for my making that change in my life? Surely, as spouses, we should help and guide each other to be better Muslims?

The following week, again during my scheduled family Skype session, hijab came up in conversation. This time, however, I was talking to my expert veteran hijabi sisters and mentioned how I was meeting some of my future in-laws for the first time on Eid, which was a few days away and had decided I was going to wear the hijab. But, to my despair, I didn’t have the faintest idea how to wear it properly and it was really stressing me out. My fiancé, although he spoke English well, would always comment that he found it hard to catch what I was saying when I would be speaking at a hundred miles an hour to friends and family in my strong Northern, Lancashire accent. However, on this occasion, he had picked up enough to take action.

To my surprise, in the days leading up to Eid, my fiancé had taken it upon himself to watch hours of hijab tutorials on YouTube and sent me the best links. He had gifted me with under caps, pins, clips and hijabs! He then, very patiently listened to me talk about how to position, reposition, position, pull, straighten, tuck, flip over, pin, pleat, straighten, position, reposition, and all the other little tweaks that go into setting your hijab just right!

Eid was a blessed affair and marked the day I started my hijab journey. After the Eid break, when I was back at work and during morning assembly, my principal made an announcement in Arabic. Hundreds of students’ and staff members’ eyes turned in my direction. The girls clapped, smiled and cheered as they proceeded to perform the traditional ululation to show their happiness that I had chosen to wear the hijab. The whole day, teachers and students, young and old, stopped by my class to bless me, hug me and showered me with so many traditional kisses! It was truly overwhelming!

Eight years on, my husband is still my hijab helper and checker, and ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ‎, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

About author 

Samina H-Bakhsh is a UK based teacher with over 18 years’ of experience, including having taught in the UAE and Brunei. An avid reader and writer, Samina is set to release her hijab-themed children’s picture book in early 2022.  Her creativity also includes recently becoming a Guinness World Record henna artist, based on speed and is currently in the process of setting up henna workshops. Connect with Samina on Instagram @thehennateacher

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I was travelling from the UK to Nigeria with a layover in Paris, France, that year. As a “Black” Muslim woman who wears the niqab, I was highly apprehensive to say the least. I remember making a post on my Facebook wall a few days before my departure, asking if anyone had felt just as apprehensive as I, considering the strict Muslim bans in France, including that of the niqab. It was reassuring to know that their international airports made exceptions.

I don’t usually travel without my husband and/or children but, unfortunately, I had to go solo due to the circumstances at the time. To be honest, I, low-key, enjoyed the “me-time” in the sky. Travelling together with the kids is always a big hassle. My loquacious 6-year-old son doesn’t stop fighting with his 2-year-old brother, and I have to keep an eye on their 10-year-old sister to make sure she doesn’t watch unwholesome content on in-flight entertainment.

As I was travelling on a low budget, a business or first class ticket was totally out of the question. Even the economy class was expensive at the time because it was the peak of the summer holidays. However unpleasant I had expected my travel to be, it got worse before it got better.

D-day came when the flight was fully booked with not a single person wearing the hijab except I. I couldn’t even find any “Muslim-ish” guy around. Unperturbed by the glances from people of different colours and perhaps, different faiths or non-faiths, I moved straight to the window seat I had secured earlier. I fastened my seat belt and faced the window in readiness to see a clear view of the skies, سبحان الله.

However, I missed my husband. If I could have hired someone to stay with the kids for that period, I would have loved my husband to travel with me. Besides, that’s the sunnah. So, there I was, wishing that the person coming to sit next to me would either be my husband or a female.

A few seconds later, a tall, dark man, without uttering a word, plopped right down next to me. I wasn’t sure why he kept mute, but I am no fan of small talk either. So I kept quiet, too. He fastened his seat belt as instructed, blocked his ears with the headphones provided and tucked his neck in a travel pillow. We took off smoothly and the air hostesses started serving our meals.

I was served before my neighbour and as I was already famished, I started eating immediately. The hostess, a middle-aged, “white” lady, came back to serve the man beside me, but something unexpected happened.

The air hostess politely asked the man to follow her to an empty seat, elsewhere, so that I could feel free to eat my food. The man smiled at me for the first time and followed the lady.

I thanked him for being considerate and thanked the lady for being kind. I finished my food and stretched my legs across the two seats to have a nice sleep, because the man never came back!

We often hear stories of hijabis who were treated badly in public spaces. We get furious and take to social media to rant about it. However, it is refreshing to know that there are still people in the world who understand our preferences and treat us with the right dose of respect, or even a little more!

About author 

Khadijah Tijani is a Nigerian medical doctor, a creative blogger and a published author. She grew up in Ibadan, Oyo State and graduated from the College of Medicine at the University of Ibadan in 2009. After five years of practice in Nigeria, she relocated to Saudi Arabia where she worked as a resident physician in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Known as “Doctor KT,” Tijani is a women’s health advocate and a prolific health blogger for her own blog, www.askdoctorkt.com. She also runs an online platform, known as “Breastfeeding Support Lounge,” where she supports mothers towards achieving their breastfeeding goals. Tijani is the published author of “Wholesome Motherhood,” “Nature’s Superfood,” and “The Stampede: Tales of Love, Trials and Faith.”

Twitter @askdoctorkt

Instagram @askdoctorkt

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After a decade of planning to take this step, three months ago, I very spontaneously took the leap! It seemed like I was always waiting for a milestone to occur and used it as an excuse to delay taking this step. It started with “let me finish high school and do it when I have a fresh start,” and said the same thing again in university, and then I had to have my hair out for my wedding, and then I said I will wait until I am a mother.

At the end of 2019, I said I can’t wait anymore! I wrote down three target “first day” dates to make myself feel more accountable and said New Years will be the latest I can push this. And with a bit of fear and nervousness (which was so short lived) – I did it! I am blessed to have a husband and family who support my decision. I acknowledge that many people don’t have this freedom of choice. My husband treated me to a little hijab shopping spree, and  is constantly taking my photos and filling me with compliments.

When choosing to marry Ahmad, I had to make sure this was something he’d support eventually. It was definitely something we were on the same page about. And the most exciting news – my best friend and mother began her hijab journey to support me during this transition – which I am so beyond proud of!

My biggest hesitation throughout my life was sadly, that it would impact my ability to build a career. But I am grateful to be working apart of an organization who actually stand by their values of diversity and inclusion, making me feel so comfortable walking in with an entirely different and unapologetic identity. KPMG has a culture that I can’t say my previous employers had, where they encourage you to bring your whole self to work and nothing but; truly championing an inclusive workforce.

After such a short period of time, hijab has become a part of me. Truthfully, I was mentally prepared for much more struggles and triumphs, but I was wrong. The only difficult part about it was starting. I feel the most comfortable and confident than I’ve ever felt.

Before putting on the hijab, people wondered why my Muslim last name didn’t match my appearance. Now, I can proudly be a flag bearer of my faith, causing no confusion that I AM MUSLIM.

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