Defining freedom, a lecturer once told my class a short story: a man was walking on the street with both his hands outstretched on his sides. As he walked, his right hand accidentally hit a passer-by. This passer-by became  enraged and asked him why he was walking with his hands outstretched. The man replied, “I’m exercising my freedom.” The passer-by said, “Your freedom stops where my nose starts!”

This is a practical example of how all of us really want to co-exist. But, what do we tell the world? The people, who are so concerned about the rights of certain groups of society, usually forget to acknowledge the other half of the story. In other words, they would like to give unlimited freedom to one, while deliberately ignoring the rightful freedom of the other.

While women’s rights activists emphasize the freedom of today’s women, do they also give a yardstick of the “limits” of their freedom? I don’t think so. And while doing this, they prove to the world the limited scope of human intellect. Because on one hand, there are people who’d like to oppress the weaker groups, snatching away basic rights. On the other hand, in their call for freedom, these activists forget anything and everything beyond “rights.”

Many people fail to recognize these two extremes. This is perhaps because they’re not aware of a middle path, which has existed for centuries. It’s not so much about being unaware as much as it’s about choosing to be ignorant despite seeing it happen all the time.

There is a moderate way, which respects the rights and freedom of everyone. That way is called, Islam. Islam acknowledges the rights of men and women, while protecting them. Islam doesn’t let one group be more dominant than the other. It is about balancing the rights of all to create harmony in coexisting, the concept of a cohesive, cooperative Ummah. To create this balance, everyone has been assigned duties, which in turn, become the other’s rights and thus, a chain is formed.

In Surah Noor, Ayah 30-31 of the Qur’an, Allah has decreed laws for men and women: “Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do. And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their head covers over their chests….”

These laws are duties of one, resulting in rights for the other, and vice versa. For example, the duty of men is to lower their gaze and that, in itself, is a right for women. In other words, the right for women is not to be looked at as commodities. While women lower their gaze and observe hijab, that is their duty. In Surah Ahzab, Ayah 59 of the Qur’an, Allah decrees, “O’ Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.” Women’s obedience to Allah makes it easier for the men to avoid the temptation to gaze, thereby avoiding dirty thoughts.

Moreover, wearing a hijab liberates women from the fear of being judged based solely on their looks. Meanwhile, non-hijab women are forced to pay the utmost attention to their outer appearance rather than their intellect. However, hijabi women are sure that their brain and heart (conduct) speak and show even when their body remains hidden. The importance of inner beauty in Islam is evident by the du’a for looking in the mirror: “O Allah, just as you have made my external features beautiful, make my character beautiful.”

The change we’re expecting from the men’s side, that of giving us respect as women, will have to start from within us. We have to elevate ourselves first. Stop being a commodity and you won’t be treated as one. Stop beautifying the outside for outsiders and your inside will beautify you, the real you: “Be the change you want to see in the world,” said Gandhi.

In other words, liberate yourself internally, in the real sense of the word. Give it a try, give yourself the right to be respected.

The post Hijab: Freedom or Oppression? appeared first on World Hijab Day.

I have been wearing Hijab for approximately four years and I am proud to say “I am a hijabi!” At times, wearing the hijab was challenging and felt degrading to my confidence, but the few challenges that I faced made me bond stronger to my head scarf. Some may say “the head scarf is oppressing women!” But, let me tell you, as someone who is currently wearing the hijab, my head scarf makes me feel stronger and empowering; and I guarantee that other ladies who wear the hijab can say the exact same. Wearing the hijab, however, is not just covering our hair, it can be thought of as a verb. We act upon it everyday when we put a piece of fabric on our head and head out the door. We look up to our role model Marriam (Jesus’ beloved mother), and follow her footsteps by acting with kindness, acting with modesty, and acting with humility – just like the famous saying “kill them with kindness.

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My reflection on hijab:

I find it absurd that the world thinks of Muslim women as oppressed due to the way Islam tells us to dress.

Putting religion aside for a moment….what is the definition of oppression?  It is “to burden with cruel or unjust impositions or restraints; subject to a burdensome or harsh exercise of authority or power.”        (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/oppress)

To imply that hijab or niqab (choosing to cover your body and/or part of your face with loose clothing which doesn’t reveal it’s shape) is oppressing we would need to say that it is cruel or unjust or is a burden on Muslim women and as a collective, we would like to tell you that this is certainly not the case.

Myself, and most (but not all, of course) of the Muslim women who choose to wear the hijab do so because of the way it makes us feel. The hijab gives me and many other women, the confidence to be ourselves, say what we think and actually demand to be taken seriously because it is not our bodies and beauty on display but our mind, our personalities, our intelligence and that which we choose to share with people.

There’s nothing more liberating than being covered. Women in Western (and non-Western) film, music, and media are constantly portrayed as sex objects and women all over the world are paid to be naked or scantily clad! Talented or educated women such as sports stars and even politicians are scrutinized based on their appearance above other things and the (so – called) feminists who claim that liberation comes from removing your clothing only aid this patriarchal society in ensuring that women allow themselves to keep being objectified!

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I converted into Islam almost one year ago (May 7, 2013). I never thought I would fall in love with a religion so beautifully humble. I’ve come a long way from where I was a year ago. I used to roam this world with an empty feeling inside my heart before Islam. People always ask me what is my testimony from Islam. I could name them the many blessings Allah has sent me this past year but that still couldn’t sum everything. So I simply reply with a smile and say my happiness is my testimony. I found that not only did my life spiritually change but so has my life around me. One week after I converted into Islam I began to wear my Hijab. I had let my parents know I converted so I felt that I had nothing holding me back from covering. I have always been a person that would careless what the people around me think, so when I wore my Hijab people would stare and I would smile back thanking Allah for blessing me with happiness. I think wearing the Hijab is such a beautiful look on women and I support WHD. Knowing that all around the world there are millions of women feeling as empowered and beautiful as I do is what fuels my spirit with happiness. Subhanallah I even saw my younger sister who is not Muslim wearing Hijab with me. Inshallah I will continue learning more about Islam so I can enlighten those around me of the peaceful religion.

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