By Tia

I am an Australian convert to Islam. Growing up, I never followed any religion but was always taught to believe in God and to respect different religions. I did attend christian churches occasionally but I never felt contentment when I was there. I was eight years old when I first heard about Islam and for some reason my interest was peaked.

I am totally blind so I had to rely on my father to read books to me and eventually when I was 11, I was able to get a screen reader on my computer so I could research Islam as much as I wanted. I went to high school and didn’t think about islam for many years but in 2010 I had to have both eyes removed. I was so scared.  I started praying and when I pulled through, I knew 100% Allah was with me.

It took me another 3 years before I would take my shahadah (testimony of Islamic faith) but when the day came, I felt like I was complete and the unexplained emptiness I felt suddenly disappeared. My parents didn’t have a problem with me becoming Muslim but they were worried about me wearing the hijab because I already stand out because I use a white cane. I really wanted to wear the hijab but I didn’t want to worry my parents.  So for the first 6 months I wore it only sometimes. I went back to stay with my parents in that time and really missed my hijab. I came back to Brisbane and I knew I was ready to wear it full time. 18 months has passed and my hijab is my life! I feel naked without it.  I feel people are more admirable of me instead of scornful and I feel like I earn the respect of men because of the way I conduct myself and guard my modesty. Insha’Allah we are all guided to the straight path.

Jazak’Allah for reading.

The post An inspirational blind woman’s journey to hijab appeared first on World Hijab Day.

It’s amazing, this piece of cloth on my head.

I put it on in the mornings, before I go out, and then take it off when I come home. I put it on, and I take it off. On and off. On and off.

This piece of cloth on my head, it’s amazing.

Some see it as intimidating. As an object which screams out that I belong to a certain religion; a religion that has a lot of negativity surrounding it. But not to forget, there is positivity too. It’s there.

This piece of cloth on my head, it’s amazing.

It has the power to influence some people’s thoughts of me. Some look at me and immediately form perceptions. She is holy. She is religious. She is strict. She is conservative. She is traditional.

Blah.
Blah.
Blah.

This piece of cloth on my head, it’s amazing.

Some see it and cannot believe my background. What? You studied in an international school? What? You went abroad for university? But then, you have an open mind. But, wait, why?

Why?

This piece of cloth on my head, it’s amazing.

I seem to close my open mind with this piece of cloth on my head. At least, that is what some think. Close-minded, open-minded. On, off.

And then there are those who see it merely as what it is. A piece of cloth of my head.

My friends, my family. Those who truly accept me and love me as I am. Same jokes, same laughter. Not a lot has changed. It is what it is. A cloth.

There are strangers too, outsiders. It’s a cloth. No one pays attention to it. Everyone is busy in their own lives. Wear it or not, it really doesn’t matter.

This piece of cloth on my head, it’s amazing.

One and the same, the person wearing this piece of cloth on their head. On or off. They are one and the same.
It’s just a piece of cloth. And yet, it influences so many things.

This piece of cloth on my head, it’s amazing.

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