People ask me why do I wear Hijab, my simple answer is – one I want people to see my true beauty rather than focusing on false diminishing worldly beauty. Two – I don’t believe in showoff but prefer being a pearl hidden in a shell, lying deep down beneath the ocean. Three – hijaab is my identity, I can wear jazzy clothes but I chose to live a simple life for it showcases my religion/belief.

Assumptions: People look at me with an amaze in their eyes ( good/bad/strange/old fashioned/alien from other planet/oppressed/yeah terrorist too). No, apart from the first point mentioned none of them are correct. I love being fashionable and I’m very much aliened with the current fashion trends. No, I’m not oppressed and no one enforced hijab on me, but I chose it cause I love it. Do not know about alien from other planet but would like to be considered as an angel. (Joking)

Experiences: I have observed the security team checking my bag twice for me just wearing the hijaab, but I have always observed patience with them thinking one day they will realize and will treat me normally. If compared before and after Hijaab, I have seen flirty men don’t stare at me anymore, many changed their perspective. I have noticed respect in many stares and everyone demands respect.

God: Beyond being everything said, it’s a sign of my submission to my Master/Lord. I’m in love with my creator for thy has created the good, the bad and then guided His creation to protect themselves and others from the evil start – the start could be a single gaze. No this is not an introvert thought but a deep subject to explore. I have experienced and would say hijab is a shield that covers from lustful gaze:

“O Prophet! Say to your wives, your daughters, and the women of the believers that: they should let down upon themselves their jalabib.” [Quran 33:59]

“…and not display their beauty except what is apparent, and they should place their khumur over their bosoms…” [Quran 23:31]

Hijab is necessary not just restricted to clothing but one should observe hijab in the way you communicate, choice of words, and observe hijab in your actions.

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I’ve been wearing hijab for almost 8 years. My Hijab is beautiful part of me. Material covering my hair should not make me seem withdrawn or creepy. If you ask me, I think it makes me more open to answering questions and hearing comments. I think it makes me different. I think it makes me strong. Being covered doesn’t limit us.You see we are not controlled by fashion. Only thing that we want is God’s pleasure. We are given only respect, and never treated bad.  Greetings from Bosnia and Herzegovina for all covered and non-covered sisters, and all of you who are being part of this event.

I am a Muslim woman
Feel free to ask me why
When I walk,
I walk with dignity
When I speak
I do not lie

I am a Muslim woman
Not all of me you’ll see
But what you should appreciate
Is that the choice I make is free

I’m not plagued with depression
I’m neither cheated nor abused
I don’t envy other women
And I’m certainly not confused

Note, I speak perfect English
Et un petit peu de Francais aussi
I’m majoring in Linguistics
So you need not speak slowly

I run my own small business
Every cent I earn is mine
I drive my Chevy to school & work
And no, that’s not a crime!

You often stare as I walk by
You don’t understand my veil
But peace and power I have found
As I am equal to any male!

I am a Muslim woman
So please don’t pity me
For God has guided me to truth
And now I’m finally free!

by Jenn Zaghloul

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I work as an assisstant chaplain at the University of Roehampton and a female muslim student invited me to take part in the World Hijab Day. It was a particularly out-and-about day for me, so definitely an interesting experience – the morning in Devon, then a coach back to London, a trip into central to meet a friend and now on to evening service at Church.

Some reactions: My friend didn’t act any differently, other than remarking that I had a pretty interesting job! My boyfriend actually said he thought it was quite pretty. I got my bag searched at the V&A museum for the first time ever (I’ve been there about ten times since moving to London). I chatted to a student on the bus who didn’t comment at all.

I think I felt more as if people are staring at me than actually were, and I definitely felt like I stick out because I’m white and a smoker – both of which are fairly unusual among women who wear the hijab! I definitely found it both warm and comfortable today though!

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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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My father is Lebanese and my Mother is half Spanish and half Philipina. I was not raised in a strict environment and no one forced me to wear hijab. I have always planned to wear hijab but somehow insisted on putting it off for later thinking that I have enough time since I am young. I started wearing Hijab on the 15th of March 2014, a day after a car accident which I survived miraculously from. For the first time in my life, I found peace knowing that no matter how many people plan on hurting me and no matter what situation I am going through, I always have God on my side to protect me. I finally found peace in pleasing my Lord.

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I have always been very open minded and tolerant of the beliefs of others. My daughter did not participate in world hijab day, but she did ask me about it. It was an honor to explain to her that many religions call for women to cover their heads, and that today I’m wearing a hijab to support the women who choose to wear them daily and are judged unfairly because of it.

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