It’s been over 20 years since I started wearing the hijab, Alhamdulillah, and I can tell you that the hijab is a highly misunderstood mode of dressing. From my parents to strangers on the streets, I have received loads of questions and comments that reflect a lack of knowledge when it comes to the hijab in particular and Muslim women in general. In this article, I’ll discuss 10 of these misconceptions, InshāAllāh.

1. “Muslim men oppress their women, making them don the hijab by coercion, whereas there’s no hijab for men.”

This is one of the most common misconceptions. While Muslim parents and male figures are responsible for ensuring proper dressing for everyone under their care, they don’t have the power to force it. They only encourage us to observe the proper hijab, but we wear it to obey Allah, not them. For your information, there is a “hijab” for Muslim men too! See Qur’an 24:30. According to authentic narrations, it is recommended to cover the area between men’s navel and knees as a sign of modesty and decency, and the more they cover, the better. Narrated by Bahr ibn Hakeem, from his father, from his grandfather, who said: “I said, ‘O’ Prophet of Allah, with regard to our ‘awrah (nakedness), what must we cover of it and what may we uncover?’ He said, ‘Cover your ‘awrah except for your wife and those whom your right hand possesses.’ I said, O’ Messenger of Allah, what if the people are staying close together?’ He said, ‘If you can make sure that no one sees it, then do not let anyone see it.’” [Hasan; At-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood and Ibn Majah]

2. “Hijabis are not fashionable.”

While the hijab is not a fashion statement and hijabis are not obsessed with fashion trends, we still make a conscious effort to look good. We wear nice dresses under our hijab and use beautiful accessories according to our means. Someone once asked if I wear earrings and necklaces. Haha! I wear them, but they’re not up for public display! 

3. “The hijab is an unnecessary layer of clothing.”

As hijabi women, our dress is incomplete without our hijab. It’s not just a piece of clothing; it’s a lifestyle. We would rather stay in our rooms than go out without our hijabs!

4. “The hijab is meant for married women only.”

That’s not true! The hijab becomes obligatory as soon as a girl attains puberty. To make the transition easier, we sometimes prefer to catch them younger. So you may see a little girl wearing a cute hijab, which is perfectly acceptable! As I mentioned earlier, the hijab is a lifestyle, and we only marry men whose lifestyle aligns with ours. What if a prospective suitor wants to have a look at a lady before marriage? That’s not a problem; we can always arrange a meet-up in the presence of her guardian.

5. “The hijab limits our education and job opportunities”

You may be right to some extent, though. I mean, as hijabis, we can’t be found doing some undignified jobs, like pole dancing. We’re way too classy for that! But we can be found excelling in science, technology, medicine, art, law, education, accounting, and other prestigious fields of human endeavour that have nothing to do with one’s dressing.

6. “Hijabis keep dirty hair.”

Covering the hair does not mean we have a defect to hide. Broken, unkempt, or lice-infested hair? Nah! We honour our hair by keeping it clean and well-managed because we believe it’s a gift from Allah (SWT). Some people even ask if we shower with the hijab on. Of course we don’t. 

7. “The hijab feels uncomfortable during the summer months.”

Thankfully, there’s a thermostat in the brain, known as the hypothalamus, which helps us adapt to temperature changes. If one has been wearing the hijab for a while, the hypothalamus is reset to a higher temperature than the average person. So, we’re good! Then there’s the perk of feeling warmer during the winter. Alhamdulillah!

8. “The hijab is worn indoors too.”

We have a list of male relatives (mahram) who can see us without the hijab. You can find this list in Qur’an 24:31. When we’re among our male relatives and any other females, we can remove our hijabs. At home with our husbands, we might even wear sexy lingerie.

9. “The hijab is just a part of Arab culture.” 

Go check out the history of the Arabs. Women’s nudity used to be displayed for entertainment before the advent of Islam. Hijab is a sense of religious duty or  a spiritual calling, not just a part of cultural attire.

10. “Hijab is a choice. You may or may not wear it.”

The hijab is a divine injunction. It’s clearly stated in the Qur’an and further explained by learned scholars; see Quran 24:31 and 33:59. We wear it to seek the pleasure of Allah ALONE. It helps us to stand out, be easily identified as Muslim women, and be protected from molestation. 

Do you have any questions or doubts about the hijab? Feel free to ask us, and we’re always happy to clear up your misconceptions. 

About the 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. She provides breastfeeding support for mothers. She is currently based in Canada. Writing is her second career, and she is embracing it fully.

Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @askdoctorkt

Blog: www.askdoctorkt.com

Or, @askdoctorkt@gmail.com

The post 10 COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE HIJAB appeared first on World Hijab Day.

Like many, I always waited for an “aha” moment before wearing the scarf. Until I realized that the moment I had been waiting for was simply the realization that I didn’t need one. So, despite living in a small Kentucky town and being the only Muslim in my school at the time, I began wearing the hijab on a seemingly random day at the start of 10th grade. Although it led me to stand out among those in my area, I got used to it, and that experience shaped me into the unapologetic person I am today. Alhamdulillah.

Today, my life looks quite different. It’s no secret that I love modest fashion and wearing the scarf is a large part of that. However, I want to stress that above everything, our priority is to wear the hijab because it is an obligation from Allah. Politics, fashion, etc.—all these matters have trends, yet if you prioritize wearing the hijab for the sake of Allah and use that as your reason to wear it with confidence, then when these trends change, they won’t cause your feelings toward your hijab to change along with them. Wear your hijab for the sake of God alone and it will act as your shield and be a blessing for you.

So to those who may feel isolated in their hijab journey as I once did—I get it and you are not alone. And regardless of what is trendy, what others may say to you, or how isolated you may feel, remember that with every hateful comment you can reaffirm your intention and get rewarded for that in shaa’ Allah and NO ONE can take that away from you.

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What’s it like wearing the hijab every day in Italy? What’s its meaning? For World Hijab Day, we discussed this with Aya Mohamed, better known as her online persona, Milan Pyramid, an Italian activist, politics student and fashion lover.

Hi Aya, welcome. I’d like to start by asking you to clarify something. There are so many words for the scarf you’re wearing. Which ones are the most used in the Italian Muslim community? And what’s the meaning of hijab?

According to Islam, the headscarf refers to two different concepts. When it was first introduced, it was a symbol of religious identity. In this way Muslim women could be recognised as Muslim. Islam originated around 600 AD in Saudi Arabia. That society was almost tribal and, in that time, different religions coexisted. Being part of a tribe, especially the strongest one, meant being protected. Moreover, hijab is part of the Islamic dress code, both for women and men, albeit with some differences.

The word “hijab” in the Koran does not refer to the scarf itself, but it means “separation”. The scarf itself, used as a garment, is called “khimar”, and is a piece of cloth that covers most of the body but not the face. Today when we talk about the headscarf internationally, we use “hijab”, because it means not only the cloth that covers your hair, but also a whole lifestyle. It’s a way to express your own religious identity, a spiritual exercise that keeps you connected with God and faith. This is very beautiful and allows you to reclaim your religious background.

There are lots of words and scarves. The Hijab, the chador, the niqab (which leaves the eyes uncovered), the burqa (which covers the eyes too). These differences depend on the region you live in and the religious interpretations. There’s a lot of freedom to adapt the tradition to your personal life and the style that makes you feel comfortable.

People often use the words “Islamic” and “Muslim” incorrectly and/or interchangeably. What is the difference?

The word Islamic is used for places, literature, countries, but not people. People who practice the Islamic religion are Muslim. There’s another word, Islamist, which was coined 10/15 years ago. It comes from the right-wing language used to associate the Islamic faith to words like extremist, terrorist, etc. It’s not a positive word.

The Islamic dress code isn’t just about wearing the hijab, is it? There are other rules as well. Can you describe them to give us a more complete picture?

The Islamic dress code is strongly related to modesty and sobriety. When you decide to cover your body, you prevent society from sexualising it. In this way, you gain so much power. Your body won’t be judged and criticized by society anymore. In general, Islam talks about modest clothing, not tight or see-through and that doesn’t highlight the curves of your body.

In our society women are criticized whether they’re wearing too many layers or not enough. I believe that women should be free to wear what they want and to express their femininity and life choices as they desire. Covering up or not covering up is an important choice when you’re lucky enough to be able to make it for yourself and it shouldn’t be judged.

Many people think that women must wear the hijab to cover their beauty and not to cause men to sin. Is really like this for Muslim people?

It depends on you and your interpretation of hijab and Islam, but I don’t think so. We believe that God is beautiful and loves beauty. When you read about dress code in the Koran, God says that men must drop their gaze in front of a woman, so the responsibility is not on her, she shouldn’t hide. Then the aesthetic reasoning behind the hijab, if true, must be valid for both genders. So, if a man is handsome, he should cover up, shouldn’t he? It doesn’t work like that. The hijab goes beyond beauty, it’s about identity.

You said earlier that there’s a dress code for men too. What are the rules?

There are many rules, I’ll just tell you a few. Men should cover their body from the belly button to the knees and shouldn’t wear gold. Some Koran surah talk about a specific haircut, covering your head and measuring the length of your dress. It’s important to consider, in addition to the dress code, other rules that are different for men and women. It’s not all about the dress code.

Why is wearing the hijab a feminist choice? I remember a video of yours with some Muslim women talking about their relationship with the headscarf. I was really impressed by how they talk about it as a symbol of their identity.

Everything we’ve said just now shows that wearing a hijab can be feminist. We, in Italy, think about feminism as white, colonialist and often with only one vision, which makes it difficult to open it up to differences, but we should understand that the world isn’t just European or Western. There are many ethnicities and religions, and so there are many ideas of feminism. In my opinion we should talk about intersectional feminism, which recognizes and tries to achieve gender equality in many fields and, especially, for every single woman: White, Asian, Black, Arab, Native, Indigenous. It’s important to listen to women, empower them and validate their choices.

I truly believe that wearing a hijab is a feminist choice. We live in a capitalist society that profits off of women’s insecurities, so I decide to reclaim my body. I choose who can see it and what to do with it. This doesn’t make the choice to live and perceive feminism in a different way any less valid. All choices are valid. Every one of us makes a call on how to live their feminism and all of these decisions are part of a global feminism. At the same time, I understand the need of European movements to shift away from the Catholic tradition. And this often leads to a hypersexualisation of the female body. It’s a valid way but we shouldn’t think that it’s the same for all women.

I remember a beautiful article on the Huffington Post about Islamic feminism. If we analyse Arabic society before and after Islam, we notice that within this religion there have been many reforms in favour of women. For instance, before Islam, when a baby girl was born, they believed that she brought dishonour. Then the Prophet made a speech, saying that baby girls were a blessing for the family. There are lots of empowering elements for women in Islam and there’s so much equality. I’m talking about religion itself, of course. You could say it’s not like this in countries where the Muslim population constitutes the majority, but human beings aren’t perfect. We make mistakes and these dynamics depend on geopolitical reasons. The situation in each individual country is unrelated to what the Koran says.

You work in fashion. What is the link between wearing hijab and working in this field?

In my opinion, the link between these two elements is a union between my religion and being a girl with a Western lifestyle and upbringing. In fashion I find a way to express my religion and artistic identity. I really like the social and political impact of fashion: the way you dress conveys a message. When I walk in the street with jeans, sweatshirt and hijab, people understand I’m a girl both Muslim and Western. The name of my online channel, Milan Pyramid, is also a union of these two traditions. I choose it because I wanted to describe who I am through the city where I grew up (Milan) and a strong symbol of my origins (Egypt).

How did your life change when you chose to wear hijab? Did you notice that people who don’t wear it have different privileges?

Unfortunately in Italy, hijabi girls have lots of troubles finding a job, a house for rent and so on. It’s like society tells us: “If you’re Muslim it’s ok, but if you wear the scarf it’s not ok anymore”. I think that laicism is not the refusal of religions but their acceptance. In a lay country such as Italy, every religion should be respected.

Which are the hardest obstacles you face in coming to terms with your faith with the society in which you live and with feminism?

It’s only recently that I started experiencing the difficulties of being a practicing Muslim in Italy. Bureaucracy, for instance, makes it extremely hard to build mosques – indeed in Italy there are only two recognized mosques – and this is a problem. If you don’t have a place of worship, a reference point for the community is missing. Moreover, in universities we don’t have a room for worship or meditation, while in Europe, USA and Canada there are places like these. The Muslim community in Italy is very new and not very well radicated, we’re only in the first generation. In the UK, for instance, they’re in the fifth generation and they’re discussing issues, such as the introduction of halal meat in supermarkets, that are still a long way away for us. We’re still reclaiming the basis for our faith and we’re still trying to break the walls that create hostility around the Muslim community.

About feminism, I believe that girls like me, who in 2021 are practicing Muslim and feminism, face two problems: a society that doesn’t see them as feminists and the Muslim community which is patriarchal. This trait isn’t a part of the religion itself, rather it has to do with the society in which the religion developed.

February 1^st is World hijab day, a chance to talk about women in Islam. This Day was born from a Nazma Khan’s idea, that exhorts women, of all faiths, to wear a hijab for a day. What do you think about it?

I love the idea. Wearing it for a day is useful to understand how, with a hijab, you’re not invisible anymore. People treat you in a different way, when you walk in the street they stare at you, they associate you to an idea of Muslim woman. It’d be interesting also to see the family’s reaction.

Can you point us towards other Muslim women who wear hijab so we can listen to their story?

Of course! I’m thinking about Linda Sarsur, an American activist and one of the organizers of the Washington women march in 2016. Then Ilhan Omar, arrived in USA as a refugee and now Representative for Minnesota, and Sumaya Abdel Qader, an Italian politician. Finally, Tasnim Ali, an Italian influencer who, on social media, encouraged non-Muslim women to try the hijab to understand what life is like when you’re wearing one.

By Elisa Belotti

About Author 

Elisa Belotti lives in Italy and has a degree in Literature. She works as a journalist and as a teacher, dealing with books, information and social justice. Then she also loves trekking and TV shows. She can be reached on Instagram.

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I was raised as a Sunni Muslim all of my life, but living in the states after 9/11, I was very afraid to wear my hijab because I didn’t want people to dislike me or think I supported terrorism. For 12 years I hadn’t worn a hijab in public. And then Ramadan of 2014 came, and ALLAH placed confidence, modesty, and a love for humility in my heart. I put my hijab back on July 7,2014. And I’ve never looked back. I have never felt more beautiful and confident.

Yes, people at work, especially my boss began to look at and treat me differently but I did not care.

The beautiful part of this entire story is there was a guy who came into my job all the time, but never spoke a word to me. The day I decided to wear my hijab he approached my desk and asked me “why are you covering your hair today? Did you become a Muslim?” I was afraid to answer at first, but then I decided to answer confidently. I explained to him that I had always been Muslim and that it was my religious holy month of Ramadan and I decided to return to my tradition and wear my hijab. I turned out that this guy was also a Muslim, from Alexandria Egypt, and was so inspired by my bravery and decision to wear my hijab even though people had become islamophobic. On July 28,2014, after eid prayer the guy met my Abi (father) and the rest of my family, and in unbeknownst to me exchanged numbers with my father. On October 28,2014 he asked my Abi for my hand. On January 10,2015 he and I had our Nikkah (wedding) and have been inseparable since!

I’d like to testify that my hijab is my strength and pride, and without I would have my wonderful husband and beautiful family!

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Today, I am simply here to share with you my personal experience in hope that you may find some meaning and sense of inspiration in what I have to say. As I sat down and attempted to write this several times, I realized how personal my Hijab story actually is because no amount of words can truly do the experience justice. That being said, I’m just going to dive right in.

Raised in a Muslim family, I was brought up with the basic, fundamental principles and values that Islam infuses. I was taught to pray, to fast, to be kind-hearted, generous and to share the Deen of Allah graciously with those around me. As a Muslim growing up amongst Muslims, Islam was my second nature. It was when I entered University that I realized I never really understood what Hijab meant. I often thought that it was just a Muslim woman’s obligation to Allah (SWT), not understanding the true concept of it. I soon came to realize the Hijab was the perfect outlet for women to seek liberation, respect and ultimate freedom from sexual harassment and the likes.

However, like many people, there was a point in my life where I was at an all time low. My Imaan (faith) was unstable. It was at this time in my life, I contemplated on removing my Hijab. I had sometimes felt that wearing Hijab did not allow me to reach my true potential. The harder I tried to fit in, the more frustrated I became. I often felt that I couldn’t participate in certain activities with my Hijab and so this feeling had taken me down a road that I never want to travel on again.

My first and last attempt to remove my Hijab was at an audition for a beauty pageant competition at my University. I decided that this was my first step to becoming an international model so I decided to give it a go. I did audition with my Hijab and was chosen to be among the competing 14 girls. As the competition progressed, my conscience got to me, some of my Muslim friends stopped talking to me and often times, I found myself wearing my Hijab for some of the events and not wearing it for others. This made me feel like the biggest hypocrite in the world. I felt as though I was cheating myself out of who I really was and what I stood for. There were even some Muslim sisters who had spread spiteful rumours about me and shared pictures of me without my Hijab from one of the pageant’s photo shoots. With all of these thoughts racing through my mind, day in and day out, finally I said to myself, “Naballah, look at the big picture!” Now, when I say big picture, I don’t mean next week, or in a few months or even 20 years down the road. I mean the Akhira – the Hereafter. I asked myself a very straightforward question. Who am I trying to please? These strangers who I know not or Allah? I finally convinced myself that it was time for me to take this step closer to Allah, as difficult as it may have seemed at the time. Eventually I withdrew from the competition.

It was at that point that I decided it was time to put some more thought into this whole ‘Hijab’ issue.  And I did. I contemplated the thought of the Hijab, and what it really means to be a Hijabi woman. It was at that very moment that I said, “Allah, I will put this Hijab back on because I believe in my heart that You have asked me to do so. Please guide me and give me the strength to do this.” Now, I can honesty tell you that I have never felt more free or more at peace with myself and the world around me. In all fairness I will be honest and tell you that it wasn’t an easy thing to do when I removed my Hijab. Quite frankly, it was probably the most difficult challenge I’ve had to face in my life. Isn’t it ironic how that works? The things that will benefit us most and that make the most sense are often those we fail to realize or have difficulty accepting. To me, the Hijab not only represents an obligation, modesty, purity, righteousness and protection, but truly is the ultimate state of respect and liberation. Alhamdullilah, I am free! For me, that episode was a defining moment in my life. I believe that Allah (SWT) guides whom He pleases and I was tearfully happy that He had guided me back on the straight path of life, and I’m never going to be lost again.

Looking back on the pageant, I realized it’s really just a way of exploiting women. Giving them false confidence based on “bearing-it-all”. I often ask myself why do these women need to strip down into a bra and underwear (sometimes totally naked with hands hiding parts) to prove their worth? Now that I look back at who I was then, it makes me grateful to Allah (SWT) to see how far He has brought me. For a time, I was confused and somewhat lost, as are many young women – trying desperately to fit in to a society that dictates that beauty is naked, emaciated women on billboards selling perfume and underwear. I recently read that some of those models and actors that I once adored practically have to kill themselves to look the way they do. From face-lifts to lipo-suction. Some even go as far as having their ribs removed so they can have tiny waists! It finally dawned on me that the images being flashed in front of me 24 hours a day could not possibly be true representations women’s liberation. I was convinced that there had to be a simpler answer somewhere.

When I look around today I see so many Muslim women excelling in diverse spheres of life- it would be silly and ignorant to think that you can’t reach your full potential as a Hijabi woman. To my sisters who aspire to or have recently started wearing Hijab and are facing any of the issues that I did, my advice is make Dua (prayer) to Allah (SWT) and seek knowledge to keep reminding yourself that Hijab is your protection and beauty and you ARE just as beautiful if not more with it on. There is nothing sweeter and more fulfilling in this world than Islam and Hijab. It is an honor for me to be a symbol of my religion with my appearance, and of course with my actions. I know it is the best for me to be modest in the way that Allah SWT wants me to be. I encourage any girl who is considering wearing Hijab to READ about it first.  Read the actual verses in Qur’an and their Tafseer and talk to sheikhs or people who are knowledgeable in Islam. And if you wear it, wear it to make Allah please with you, not for anyone or anything else. I know that I am not a perfect Muslim, but I am striving to be a better one, and I hope that I will be one of the good examples of Muslim women. I will not lie and say that wearing Hijab is easy and that Shaytan has never played around with my head. People fail to realize that being from a certain religion or culture doesn’t mean you don’t have the same temptations, desires and feelings. There was anger, frustration and sadness, but in the end there was also confidence, liberation and peace. I discovered who I wanted be and how I wanted people to see me. The Hijab itself doesn’t make me religious or make me do certain things while preventing me from others. To me, it’s a reminder to be a good person and it gives me confidence as a young Muslim woman. I realized that Hijab made me focus on my inner self more. Some people think that veiled women are oppressed, but I feel more empowered than ever, even though I did struggle to come to terms with it at first. It is not easy to wear Hijab, especially in a society that constantly keeps telling us to dress in as little as possible. Trust me; there is nothing the Dunya (world) can give you that Islam can’t. I’ve been there, so take my word! I’ll leave you with some not-so-secret secrets. Yes, I do have hair under this ‘thing’ and it’s black and no, I don’t wear it in the shower, but I can take it off at home. My advice is to keep in contact with sisters or family members who are willing to encourage you and InshaAllah (God willing),  it will get easier for you every day.

The post I feel more empowered than ever in Hijab appeared first on World Hijab Day.

I just wanted to share my story, though it is not nearly as impactful as some I have read here. I am a recent convert and I just started wearing hijab full time on December 20th! I first encountered hijab when I went to study abroad in London, and I met so many women who wore it. Back then I didn’t really understand it and what it meant, but I remember thinking that these women were very beautiful, and I always wondered what I could do to look like that.

When I was first reading about Islam and contemplating whether or not this was a religion I could adopt for the rest of my life, one of my biggest struggles was the concept of hijab. I’m not a person to do things halfway- either I am a full on scarf wearing Muslim, or I am not a Muslim…I guess I’m a bit extreme like that. But either way, for me the hijab was part and parcel with converting and becoming a Muslim.

For a long time after I knew that Islam was the only thing I could possibly need in my life, I still struggled with the idea of the hijab. I dressed decently modestly to begin with, and besides, I liked my hair! Not to mention wearing short sleeves in the summer! I also struggled with what my family and friends would think.
When I started up my senior year at university here, I decided to try it out in small steps. I started wearing it every Friday for Jummah prayers (it was like casual Fridays, but better!) The first few times I wore it out, I had a weird tightness in my throat, kind of like my scarf was strangling me. But as the weeks wore on I found that when I encountered my friends out and about they treated me just the same, and alhamdulillah my mom is very supportive as well. I came to look forward to dressing up on Fridays, and became a little jealous of the friends I have that already wore it full time.

So I went to an event at the local masjid one Friday night, and the next morning I just woke up and put it back on. Since that day I have been a full time hijabi, and I have no regrets! Yes, it kind of sucks going to the gym in long sleeves and flowy pants, , yes it has been difficult to convert my entire wardrobe to be hijab friendly, and yes I get rude comments and looks pretty often. But I have my intention and I know why I chose this, and I have no regrets!

I hope that during this year’s World Hijab Day women from all over can connect with each other and learn about why different people dress the way they do, and take those first crucial steps towards understanding.

The post One of my biggest struggles was the concept of hijab appeared first on World Hijab Day.

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 am a Muslim revert from the Philippines. I was almost 17 when I reverted to Islam last year during the last day of Ramadan, alhamdullilah. Before I became a Muslim, I had faith issues. I stopped believing in Christianity due to many questions that popped up in my head that nobody could answer. I eventually gave up the idea of religion. I was almost at the edge of being an atheist until I found Islam, Alhamdullilah.

My family is devout Christian. I can say that my father is really against Islam, so I really have to hide it from them or else something might happen. Eventually, my family (except for my father) confronted me if I became a Muslim because they caught me praying at some occasions while wearing the hijab. I told them that I became a Muslim. They were so upset and told me so many bad things. They threatened me that they will tell my father if I don’t leave Islam. I was very afraid of that time so I told them that I will stop practicing Islam, but it is only to avoid any danger inshaAllah. Alhamdullilah, after what had happened, Allah has helped me to get through it. I only pray secretly as much as I can so they wouldn’t find out that I’m still a Muslim.

I’ve never been this happy and complete during my jahaliyyah (days of ignorance). Alhamdullilah Islam answered all of my questions. Knowing Allah is such a great honor to me and I couldn’t be more grateful to be one of His servants.

I am planning to wear the hijab in my university, insha’Allah. I know that this won’t be easy for me as it is my first time to wear it in front of everyone. I will be removing it when I go home, so my family won’t know it. Please keep me in your dua’a (prayer) that I can do it for Allah’s sake.

May Allah guide my family and the other non-Muslims as well to Islam, Ameen.

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Imagine walking along a path. It is full of bumps and rough edges, but otherwise goes in one direction. You continue to walk along that direction until you come up in a fork on the road. Left or Right, you wonder. You have no idea of telling where each path might lead. Either direction that you may choose however, will undoubtedly affect your course because you have deviated from your original path. If only life was this straightforward, with only two choices then we all would have an easier time. As it is, life is all about the forks in the road, not just one, not just two but a million possibilities. And only you can choose where to go. These forks are the “turning points” of life. I want to share with you this particular turning point, the time when I made a decision that would have a major impact on my life. My experience during a debate competition which prompted me to wear my hijab was significant because it paved the way for my spiritual and emotional development as a person.

This all happened when I was in my fourth year of high school in La Salle Academy in Iligan City (a Catholic school). Every year there is an inter-school debate championship held in Iligan City called YAPIS ILBRAVE challenge (Youth Advocate’s Productive Integrated Service Iligan Brainwave Challenge). As far as I can remember, our school’s debate society (LANTUGI) has always joined the competition and won every year. The LANTUGI Club sends teams composed of three members, each to battle it out with other schools for the prize. I have always had memorable experiences during YAPIS. During my first time when I competed as a freshman, I won top 2 Best Speaker; during my second time as a second year, I experienced crying because of a loss for the first time. During my third year, the championship round was an all-LaSallian battle with our school taking both Champion and First-runner up. Even with all these memories, I chose my fourth year experience and you may be wondering why. My reasons include it being my last year on the team therefore it was my last competition, not to mention that we had to defend our title as Champions for four years in a row with this year being the Grand slam championship for us. These are not the main reasons however, as you will soon find out.

It was during the semi-finals round. After all the sweat and tears, my team mates and I had finally reached that far. The announcer was to announce the winner for the semi-finals round (It was between La Salle Academy Team 1 and Integrated Development School Team 2, and if we were to break, we were to face Integrated Development School Team 1 during the Championship Round). His lips were moving as if in slow motion, “And the winner is……….” I could not hear anything else after that. I had plugged my ears and shut my eyes tightly. I could hear the erratic beat of my chest. “Breathe deeply”, I told myself “breathe deeply.” After a moment, I could hear cheers erupt around me. Who were cheering, IDS’ or ours? Slowly I opened my eyes and I found my team mates absolutely ecstatic. They were telling me, shouting actually “We won Alex! We won!” I could not help myself. I clung to them and bawled my eyes out. We actually won! But it was far from over. The Championship was up next and I could feel the pressure from my seniors catch up to me. We could not tarnish their legacy, and so I made a bargain. Looking back, I see now how desperate I was. I prayed to Allah (swt), “I beg of you please let us win. We can’t lose. I’ll do anything whatever it might be. I’ll even start wearing the hijab.”

The hijab is the traditional headscarf worn by female Muslims signifying modesty. I originally planned to wear mine the following year as a college student, but here I was making a bargain with God. And then I stopped, and my life literally flashed before me in the remaining time we had left. Every time I had a competition, I would always pray fervently to Allah and He would always answer my prayers. Not only during competitions, but at every major point in my life He was there. I revised my prayer, “I’m sorry for trying to bargain with You. No matter what happens I will accept Your decision and I will wear my hijab not because of payment but because I am proud that I am a Muslim.” After praying I went back to my team mates. We were given thirty minutes of preparation time to brainstorm, after which we went inside the room that would be used for the championship round. We were afraid, but we could not let our school down.

We won that day, but I gained more than just a trophy – I gained my identity. I wore my hijab to school the day after and I was a bit afraid. Turned out, there was nothing to fear. Some were curious and asked me the cause of this change, but generally they treated me the same as always. Now, whenever someone asks me when I started wearing hijab, I tell them it was during a moment of enlightenment. When they ask me why, I tell them I choose to and because I am proud of my faith.

The post My Hijab, My Choice – A Life-changing Decision appeared first on World Hijab Day.

I grew up in a Catholic family in a non-Islamic Country. I had everything and yet I felt my life was empty and meaningless. It’s been 2 years now since I accepted Islam and words can’t explain the feeling of happiness in my heart. It was a challenge to wear hijab but because I believe in Allah (swt) and the Prophet Muhammad (saw) nothing stood my way. I always thought it’s great blessing, as if Allah is telling us that amongst many people who doesn’t believe in Him, He chose us and lead us to the right path.

I am a proud Muslimah!

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