World Hijab Day Organization surrounds the importance of promoting and protecting the rights of all individuals, including their right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief.

World Hijab Day is an annual event that takes place on February 1st to raise awareness about the hijab and dismantle stereotypes associated with Muslim women who choose to wear it. The event aims to foster personal freedom of religious expression and understanding, promote diversity, and encourage dialogue among people of all faiths and backgrounds. Our surveys of past World Hijab Day participants have shown that two-thirds of the participants had a positive experience that changed their view on the hijab. They also expressed that they became more tolerant toward other nationalities and Islam.  According to recent research, people who learn about Islam and Muslims are not Islamophobic (Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, 2021).

Thus, the mission of World Hijab Day Organization is to dismantle bigotry, discrimination, and prejudice against Muslim women through awareness, education, and empowerment. Independent of any political ideology or economic interest, our vision is to create a world where we’re united through our diversity.  

How did the World Hijab Day Organization begin?

In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, Muslim women who wore a hijab (headscarf), including myself, faced discrimination and harassment (American Civil Liberties Union). One expert found that 69% of women who wore hijab reported at least one incident of discrimination compared to 29% of women who did not wear hijab (Women’s Rights Project, 2008). I have personally faced discrimination for wearing the hijab in New York City which led me to create World Hijab Day. I have shared my story in a recent TEDx talk which can be viewed here. Therefore, I declared World Hijab Day on February 1st, 2013, not realizing that so many sisters would find appreciation in the initiative and joined me in the celebration. It didn’t take long before World Hijab Day became a global phenomenon ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ (Praise be to God). 

World Hijab Day is commemorated by people in over 150 countries and has been recognized by New York State, Michigan State, Oklahoma State, the City of Gainsville, Florida, Newark, New Jersey, and the House of Representatives of the Philippines.

In support of World Hijab Day, New York State Governor, Kathy Hochul, made the following statement:

“Here in New York, we are proud to recognize World Hijab Day, the important occasion that is. Wearing Hijab is a deeply personal and noble decision, one made by millions of faithful Muslim women around the world. Unfortunately, that decision requires a tremendous amount of bravery as well. Too many Muslim women are subjected to daily acts of bigotry, hate, and Islamophobia for doing nothing more than following their faith, including right here in NY. This movement was started by one of those brave New Yorkers, Nazma Khan, who should be a source of pride for every person who lives here. I want to personally thank her for all she has done to confront discrimination against Muslim women.”

How do we celebrate World Hijab Day on February 1st?

The world is full of creatives such as yourselves and we welcome anyone who celebrates the hijab in a positive light for both males and females. 

Wear a scarf: To show solidarity with Muslim hijabi women worldwide, men are encouraged to wear scarves around their necks while women are encouraged to try on headscarves for a day. 

Make a Commitment: Commit to standing up against discrimination towards girls and women who wear the hijab by taking our pledge today! Click here to pledge! 

Send us images: If you are comfortable, send in your photograph to us via our website here with your personal hijab experience which we will publicize on our social media.

Send us an article: You are also welcome to share your stories with us through articles for our blog. Submit article here. 

Organize awareness campaigns/events: The complete guide to how to celebrate World Hijab Day can be found here. We got you covered (catch the pun?) with an entire social media toolkit and letters to your employer and the principal of your school among facilities, highlighting why you believe we should all celebrate World Hijab Day. If you are hosting a World Hijab Day event, please register here to be featured on our website and social media platforms. 

Recognition: Support World Hijab Day in gaining national and international recognition by seeking official proclamations. This effort aims to advance the cause of religious freedom, foster cultural understanding, and strengthen global solidarity. More information, click here.

Support Us: Join us in celebrating World Hijab Day by making a meaningful donation of $10 here today! Your contribution is more than just a financial gift; it empowers us to dismantle bigotry, discrimination, and prejudice against hijab wearing girls and women through awareness, education and empowerment.

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The hardest part about wearing a hijab, for me, is knowing that if I take it off, almost everyone would applaud me for being strong and courageous. No one would see that my willpower and pride had been broken. People would clap when I would actually need them to mourn with me and realize that the causes of that happening need to be eradicated.

I wear this scarf because when I was a child I was socialized to be embarrassed, even ashamed, of my religion and my culture. I was told that to be a Muslim was to be a terrorist and that to be outwardly Muslim was to endorse violence and oppression. I was told that I had more in common with the violent men on tv than with the other children in my second grade class. I understood that I would be unwelcome as long as I wore symbols of my heritage and chose to, in however modern a way, embrace my ancestors. I was told that to manifest my faith in this way, to dress like my mother as many young girls want to do, was to spit in the faces of “real Americans.” The day I walk out of my house without this scarf would not be a day to be celebrated. It would be the day that I decide that to be proud of myself is too much of a liability and that shame of my faith, my family and my heritage are easier to swallow than the dirty stares, abuse, misunderstanding and sense of alienation from those around me who do not and will not care enough about me or women who look like me to help alleviate it.

I wear this scarf because I could not see beauty in myself for 19 out of my 20 years of life. I idealized the white skin and colored eyes of my peers. I think I probably still do. I thought I looked like less of a child than my friends in old photographs- believing that my tan skin and dark eyes meant I looked less cute, less innocent, less lovable. It was made evident early on that women are valued almost solely based on their appearance in many societies— and unfortunately my merchandise was cheap. I devalued myself because I looked different. Other Muslims, Arabs or people of color only corroborated this price scale with their colonized beauty ideals— celebrating the beauty of their colonizers as opposed to their own features. Fighting this internalized self-hate took too much time and only recently have I come to appreciate the way I look. I safeguard this precious self-love, 19 years in the making, by rejecting any notion that my being can be reduced to what anyone, orientalist or not, perverted or not, racist or not, can see on the street. The day I leave my house without a scarf is the day my conviction that I am more than my appearance is finally crushed under the almost overwhelming desire to be appreciated and deemed worthy by this superficial society. It would not be a day to be celebrated– it would be a day to question when or why our obsession with appearances overtook our individual cultivated and nuanced moralities.

On this World Hijab Day, I wanted to make it clear, for my own situation, that if a day comes that I decide to take off my hijab, it will not be a day when I am “freed”- it will be a day I will have exhaustedly stopped fighting for my rights, my personal morals, and my individual convictions. I won’t have decided to take it off. Rather, I will have been deprived of my ability to keep it on.

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Touched by a stranger’s sincere and eager public Facebook post, on Wednesday February 1st I visited her house to help her and her non-Muslim friends style themselves in hijabs, in honor of World Hijab Day. Kim Mulligan’s World Hijab Day photo shoot was a beautiful, unique initiative by non-Muslim women to reach out and support Hijabi Muslim women. Upset about the Muslim ban and refugees’ plight, these women embraced me with hugs, smiles, and well-intentioned questions about my faith. They repeatedly thanked me for bringing hijabs and styling them, but it was I bowled over with gratitude for their support and courage. Their acceptance of the hijab warmed my heart. Their effort was reassuring and comforting, because typically it’s us Hijabis that have to overcompensate and reach out to others. This nonjudgmental group made me feel welcome and normal. We were a group of women having fun; enjoying fashion and getting to know one another as humans. It was not about lecturing one another.

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I’ve always been interested in Islam but until I heard about world hijab day, I didn’t know much.  After reading what Islam is about and why women wear hijab, I decided to convert. I still have a lot to learn but I believe I made the right decision. I would’ve never learned about Islam if it weren’t for world hijab day. My four year old son asked if he could wear hijab at home today to be just like mommy. I couldn’t say no!

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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 met a  Muslim gentleman who introduced me to Islam.  I wanted to learn more about Islam in order to better understand his lifestyle and his choices.  I immediately fell in love with Islam and within a few short months, decided it was what I’d been searching for all along!

On May 26th, I began wearing the hijab.  I noticed instantly that wearing hijab gained me respect which I’d never  known before.  People apologized for using foul language within earshot of me.  People offered assistance when not necessarily requested.  At a restaurant, a man stopped me from ordering food that had been cooked with pork, because he knew, since I was wearing hijab, I could not consume pork.  It blew my mind!

On June 6th, I took my shahada (testimony of Islamic faith).  It was a bittersweet day.  I was overjoyed to revert to the religion I had fallen in love with.  My (Catholic) family, however, was not thrilled.  My mother even disowned me for  some time. This quickly changed my mood.  Though, in the end, I didn’t allow it to ruin my day.  A week later we had a family meeting  and worked things out.  My family may not understand, but they now support my decision.

I have been told by a few different people that hijab suits me.  I love wearing hijab.  My dà’ì says it makes me even more beautiful than he already thought I was.

It bothers my daughter that people sometimes stare, but it doesn’t bother me.  It hasn’t bothered me from day one.  I knew what I would face them and I know those who stare are just ignorant.  I pray that Allah, one day, opens their eyes.  I know I made the right decision.  I am happy with my choice and my knew life!  Alhamdulillah!  Allahu-akbar!

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Although I live in India now, as a teen, living on a remote island with almost no Muslims (let alone Hijab-wearing women) my struggle with the hijab was a difficult one. Although I always had love for Allah in my heart, the guilt of not obeying Him to the best of my ability was always in the back of my mind. At the time I never thought about it, but now I see and commend my mother’s bravery and spirit to stick with her decision to never stop wearing it even though I know it wasn’t easy.

I thought putting on the hijab would change who I was completely, and I was right. I’m not saying it was this magical cloth that changed me as soon as I put it on, but slowly it started to influence my decisions without me even realising it. I started to think about how my actions would affect the image of my Muslim sisters and I found myself saying no to anything that would show Muslims in a bad light, which at the same time helped me sin less.

This year’s going to be the first time I go back to the island where I grew up with a scarf on my head. When I first started wearing the hijab, I lost a lot of confidence & I couldn’t imagine going back there for years to come. Somehow, mysteriously Allah’s strength found me and I’m now looking forward to go back to my home.

Most importantly it got me closer to Allah and my Deen (religion), and I know this is just the beginning.

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Because the attached picture was taken on the 1st of February 2013, it makes it exactly 2 years now since I have donned the Hijab. I clearly remember how excited I was and how painful it was to properly style the long shawl. It felt pretty warm too!

One of the first questions people would ask me was what prompted me to make change in my life, especially when I was known to dress in a quite fashionable manner in my younger days. The transformation was brutal and to some, it came as a real shock!

Well, the decision I made had nothing to do with a Pilgrimage Trip or a Completed Hajj. I had just quit a horrible job at that point in time and felt that the time was ripe to “follow instructions” from the Creator, and stay on the straight path. I didn’t want to be straying from his mandatory requirements anymore.
Besides, I no longer wanted to be “free for all”. So, yeah, I made that call to put on the veil – a decision which came straight from the heart, with absolutely no external pressure from anyone.

I kinda regret I made that call a little late in life – and for that, I’d like to offer some food for thought to some young ladies out there.

Believe it or not, the Hijab doesn’t reduce your attractiveness at all.

The beauty that is in your heart and the light that is in your face, will in fact, radiate more once your hair is properly covered and your body lines blurred. And the bonus is, men will automatically respect your more.
No more whistling and no more nonsensical talks.

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I am originally from Sudan but grew up in Abu Dhabi – UAE. I started wearing hijab when I was 15 years old. For me it was just the natural thing to do. I went to do my undergrad in Electrical Engineering in Sudan then I came to the US for my master’s. In my first semester at the University of Alabama in Huntsville,  was September 11 and everyone freaked out. My professor called me every day to make sure I was okay.  

Some  of my friends and family asked me to remove my hijab to be safe but my thought was I am safe! How can you not be safe when you are worshiping God? If my time to go today then it’s my time whether I wear hijab or not. It is not going to change my destiny so I never removed it. However, I went through a lot of harassment.  I remember in Kinkos when I was trying to print out my project, the lady who worked there refused to help me! Oh man I made a scene by complaining to her manger in public ( it was crowded ) and demanded my right to be served like anyone else or explain to me why are you treating me this way? Of course, the manager apologized in public to me and gave all my service for free. 

When I finished my master’s in Electrical Engineering in Alabama, I joined the oil field as a field engineer with a title called MWD ( Measuring While Drilling). I was working offshore for Schlumberger.  Honestly,  for this position, the female percentage was 30% ( if I remember correctly) but doing it with hijab and going through all the water surviving training with full cloth was a challenge. One thing I learned was you are what you present;  if you present confidence, people will treat you with respect. Of course, hijab affected me in many ways.  First, I cannot be rude to people regardless how I feel because then it won’t be oh! this lady is rude.  It will be the girl with the scarf is rude or Muslims are rude. I learned to be in my best behavior. Also, I learned to work harder than everyone else because everything I do represents Islam, not me.

Years passed by and I moved from Schlumberger to another company ( Baker Hughes) and finally to Halliburton. When Halliburton called me for a Field Engineering position called Directional Driller,  I thought they made a mistake as it’s known that no one hires females for this position but I answered the call and went to the interview in Casper, WY. I got the job on the spot.  I was the second female they hired for this job and the second female to have this job in USA.  And of course, the only Muslim with a scarf over her head. I worked in remote areas and it was very challenging.  Some people really hate Muslims and for them, I was the devil walking in heels. But doing my job better than everyone else and knowing my rights, I put everyone in their place and became the go-to-person when there was a problem.  After one year in the field with Halliburton in ND, they moved me to the office here in Houston, Texas to develop the first Well Design Course the company ever had. Shortly afterwards, I became the Houston Training Manager to train all Field Engineers globally.

I also became the company’s voice for female and diversity and was the keynote speaker in many events to inspire women to become engineers. 

Did I mention I am half way through getting my private pilot certification?  

One thing I want to tell every hijabi woman is that hijab does not put you down.  In fact, you put yourself down when you treat hijab as a heavy piece of cloth instead of feeling it as a natural part of who you are. And for Muslims who think the only way to melt in the western society is by dress like them, your dream is so small because no leader was ever a follower.  A leader is the one who stands differently in the crowd. People respect those who respect themselves.

And for my friends from other religions, I want to really thank you for your love and support. 

And for the ignorant, well may God bless your heart and lighten your soul with the truth one day.

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