IS HIJAB OVERRATED? PART 1
I think that it is and it isn’t. This may surprise some of you because this site is all about how much “We Love Hijab“, but I think that some people take the concept of hijab to an unnecessary extreme.
On one hand it is seen as an oppressive, cultural, or otherwise unnecessary object. On the other hand, hijab is seen as a holy thing that shouldn’t be used for fashion and such.
Over the past 2 years that I have been writing about hijab fashion (both here and the old Precious Modesty hijab blog), I have read a number of comments that argue both extremes.
One non-Muslim man, felt the need to write an article on a general interest website about how hijab is not a requirement for Muslim women. I really don’t know why he was so concerned about the subject in the first place, but, in his opinion, hijab is a cultural practice of dressing and his evidence to that point is the fact that Allah doesn’t use the word “hijab” to describe a headscarf in the Qur’an. He also pointed out that Arab women and other women had been covering their hair long before the revelation of the Qur’an.
While he is right in saying that hijab does not refer to a headscarf in the Qur’an and that women had been covering their hair since forever, there are a few things that he should realize.
1. The word hijab is used to describe things that cover other things. A table-cloth which covers a table; a blanket that covers your bed. Muslim women have a specific way of covering ourselves, and therefore the word hijab has just come to be used as a reference for our style of dressing – particularly when it comes to the distinct way that we cover our hair.
2. If covering the hair was just an “Arab” practice that Allah did not want the rest of the Muslim world to uphold, maybe Allah would have corrected that practice in the Qur’an, just as He corrected other unnecessary, man-made rules and regulations.
Instead, Allah instructed us to cover in a more distinct and modest way – adding to the already practiced hair covering. Apparently, Muslim women back in Prophet Muhammad’s time looked just like most other women. Their hair was covered, but their necks and upper-chest areas were exposed. So when some disgusting men (who interestingly enough had great respect for Muslim women) started to bother the women in the community, Allah revealed Ayah 33:59, which instructed the Muslim women to cover their bosom area as well so that the men would know who they were and leave them alone.
This concept is still relevant today because all throughout my life, I have found that people respected me more than other females because they saw the way that I covered and they knew that I was a Muslim. Yes, there are unfortunate situations where hijabi women are bothered, but I think that in general, the world is not hostile towards us and that in general, they hold us in a higher regard than other women – at least to our faces!
Any thoughts?
{ 41 comments… read them below or add one }
As an American Muslim,in the translation of The Qur’an I have read, the type of covering is not specific. It says to “draw their veils over their bosoms”. The Hijab is not really a veil. Would you say that any style of head covering would be a hijab? It is a matter of personal modesty. Your relationship to Allah is personal as is your mode of dressing modestly. After all what is your intent. There is no prohibition on personal style. You could, I do, cover my bosom all kinds of ways. It also says ” should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear”. Again that is also personal and I don’t judge others choices. I think this site is great for showing the many ways to dress modestly, and there are many ways that Muslims cover in other lands. I think it is better to give men something else to look at besides our body parts!! Keep up the good work sisters, we all need support!!
As Salaam Alaikum. Great article! I can say with all my heart “I love hijab!”
well I dont knw wat his problem is, he is not even required to wear it! any way the quran tells us to cover up and the prophet explained how we shld and who is more qualified to interprete the quran than he who brought it besides we all know the prophet never says things due to his own desires but only wat was revealed to him, and yes arab women did cover up b4 the hijab verse but even then they had to change the way they did cover after the verse came. I LOVE HIJAB
I agree with abeeda; the guy who wrote the anti-hijab article is ignoring the sunnah. I wonder if the heavy reliance on sunnah might be overrated (hadith have been transmitted by ordinary humans, not prophets or God, and no matter how reliable they are still nothing compared to al-quran). However, hadith serve to explain God’s words. Maybe we should send this guy some Bukhari compilations! lol
Thank you sisters for this wonderful site. I agree with those who say, we can wear Hijab and still be stylish. As a American Muslim women, who lives modest in all aspect of my life, I believe Hijab is clearly “modesty”. I have seen sisters cover their heads and wear tight jeans – so, I must say – it’s not covering of the head that’s modest, it’s modesty in dress and actions. Let’s not get caught up in being “judgemental” because someone’s head is not covered – let’s look at their “hijab” in character and modesty in dress. I love your work sisters keep up the dawah!!
I have to agree with a statement you made early in the post that people take things to extremes.
I wear hijab, but, weirdly enough, I don’t think it’s required. It just feels right for me to do it, but I don’t think it’s wrong of my Muslim friends who don’t.
As a friend once told me, there are always different levels of Iman. Everyone makes concious decisions to practice on those varying levels, whether it be extra prayers or fasting or giving more to charity. Most of those are internal decisions. Hijab just happens to be one of those facets that you can see on the outside.
But I’m always bothered by people who try to deter me from wearing hijab. I would never try to convince someone the other way, and it’s amusing when people think I was forced to wear it. On the contrary, my parents were very against it. And that’s the case for most of my friends who chose to wear hijab. I think the old stereotypes will be around for a bit, but I’ve found it a very freeing experience. And I wouldn’t do it otherwise.
Thanks for the article. I like how you are always informative without being judgemental. This is one of my favorite blogs. There are so many reasons to wear hijab, as the other sisters before me said we have to follow the Quran and Sunnah, as the Sunah gives us further examples and deeper understanding of Quran.
I agree totally. I am a muslimah women who covers all day and I love it but, I have to disagree with you on one part ” but I think that in general, the world is not hostile towards us and that in general, they hold us in a higher regard than other women “. I work in a corporation where I have to watch everything I do or I will be called in the office for anything. I can remember being called in the office for taking my religion holiday off. So yes I am respected by some, but not accepted by others.
Salam Sisters,
I really like how hijab is explained and there has been so many discussions about the Quran and how a Muslim woman should dress. I am a new convert and I am still struggling with hijab but I love hijab and hope to wear it full time one day, InshAllah. I dress modestly but I don’t wear hijab so I’m slowly getting there. I love this blog because it gives me ideas on how to dress. Thank you!
I’ve been struggling with this debate personally, more so on is it fashion or should it be more plain. I consider myself fashionable and like the different prints and patterns, but one day my husband remarked ‘you’re not a peacock, that’s too much color’ I don’t want to seem too flashy so I work on toning down the bright colors and patterns. I love hijab and want to make sure I put ‘faith before fashion”!
Assalamu aleikum
I totally agree with men giving more respect to hijabis. =) I saw a very distinct difference in the way I was treated before and after I started wearing hijab. Before with men hooting and saying rude things, and now with hijab men are being polite and opening doors and stuff like that. Alhamdulilah.
Assalaamualaikum-
You know I’m going to say that hijab is overrated on both extremes: )
I think that the sexual harassment that muhujabat face in various countries (just google Egypt, hijab, harassment) prove that if men are not into practicing Islam as it relates to equality and respect for all, are generally sexist and violent that it doesn’t matter what a women wears. I REALLY think less attention needs to be paid to hijab and much more to men lowering gazes, respecting ALL women (covered and uncovered) and giving the street its right (as the hadith states).
On one end you have people (men and women)who act as hijab police and are always looking to correct a sister about her clothing (“ah sister I see the suggestion that you might possibly have hair or an earlobe!” and on the other you have Muslims and non-Muslims who think that hijab means you’re stupid, oppressed or repressed, unable to integrate into society and need to be locked away.
Too much!
Assalaamualaikum/Shalom aleichem,
I’ve often wondered and marveled at how similar and different Muslim and Jewish modesty laws and practices are. In my neighborhood, we have a great many Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, and also a fair number of Christians, all of whom seem to be very committed and serious about their/our faiths. It’s one reason why I chose to move here, thinking it would be good to mix and learn from other people and their ways. My only regret is that it also seems that everyone is committed to being separate from the others.
I know that in Judaism, the concept of tzniut (modesty) begins with attitude, not just with clothing, and from watching my neighbors and reading here, it seems that the concept of hajaba (is that ‘coveredness’ or ‘modesty’?) is much the same. I know that men and women shouldn’t gaze on each other, but is there something that prevents a Muslima from being able to meet a Jewess’s smile and hold conversation? Is it considered rude if I were to say “Pardon me, but that’s such a beautiful khimar (or jilbab, or what-have-you), where did you get it?” Am I not meant to notice the beauty in a lovely cover, any more than a man should notice the physical beauty and body of its wearer? I really don’t want to be rude, but I just don’t know the rules properly.
It’s been very hard for me to make friends in my neighborhood, though I go out of my way to be friendly. But then again, other Jews also don’t necessarily treat a new person with unqualified welcome either, so I don’t think it’s a religious thing, just the particular personality and ambience of this neighborhood. But I can’t be sure, because no one will meet my eyes, smile back at me, and talk.
Salam ladies! Thank you so much for your comments! It is so interesting to read different viewpoints on this topic.
@Judith: I think that our concepts of modesty are very similar because they come from the same place. We believe in the same God, have books from the same God… we just have different interpretations and concepts about Him. You know what I mean? I don’t mean to be preachy, but your reasons for moving to your area are the same reasons that God created us differently. In the Qur’an, God says that He created us in different “nations and tribes” so that we can get to know one another… So the Muslims in your area should definitely be more open. Unfortunately, we don’t always do what we should be doing though.
I wouldn’t think so hard about whether or not to compliment a Muslim woman when you see her. Compliments are great and they are never offensive when coming from another woman. The next time you see a Muslimah that you want to approach, you should approach her. Tell her that you look at Muslim fashion blogs and that you really like what she’s wearing. She’ll probably be very receptive to you.
Muslim women come from so many different cultures that it’s hard to say how they will react to you. It just depends on the person… So keep trying and you’ll end up making some friends. :-)
I agree with you totally Judith , I dont think it is a religious thing , just the particular personality. When I with my husband and children on the weekends . I feel very comfortable covered in my hijab but, at work I feel uncomfortable only to the fact that many don’t accept a women covered. But being a God fearing women I would never uncover to please no one. If only people put aside there way of growing up and believe in Allah words and love one another and accept each other .
Thank you so much, Kima. So far everyone’s been looking at me like I’m an alien with a communicable disease, but maybe it’s because people just don’t talk to strangers in big cities like this one. I’m from a very small town, where if you see someone even across the street, you should wave and smile. I’ve lived in this city for nearly a decade now, and still have trouble remembering that it’s not the same here. I did speak to one woman who was very sweet, and I’d like to talk to her again, but I lost my job and we don’t take the same train anymore. Oh, well, it’s in God’s hands now.
@ Samira-I totally agree with you on every aspect.
I am an American convert that just started wearing hijab, alhumdullah. I work with people from many different cultures and it was a little surprising to see how many people really did not know about our religion. I do feel that the men and women at work treat me with more respect, but a lot of them have stopped even saying good morning to me. I would never stop wearing hijab for anyone, but like I said, it just an eye opener. I love wearing hijab, I feel more comfortable with myself and closer to Allah. I also work with a muslim women that does not cover and always feels the need to comment on my hijab, it is a little annoyning, especially since she herself does not cover, but alhumdullah. Thank you so much for making this site and the blogs, Salam sisters.
salam alikom
i just feel like shearing this with you :)
i started wearing hijab/eil/tarha when i was 13yrs old it was my why to tell others that am a grown up now!!..and i wanna be treated like grown ups…..:D at the time i aproached college i just compeletly get it.HIJAB..and started to be moe commeted towards hijab i mean i started to pray and to be more a muslim inside than outside person…..i am from a country that all the women wear veils and we call it hijab..though its hardly a muslim thing than just traditions. iam proud of u all coz u are wearing hijab for the right reasons keep the good work i love u all my sisters and i love hijab..
obvisly English is my second language that i just failed to master it:D
I am not Muslim, but I greatly appreciate the modesty and personal integrity shown by the women who are and do cover themselves. As Orthodox Christians, I and my daughters dress very conservatively, buying hijab because they give us better coverage in our dress than anything we can purchase in regular retail. I often worry though, that these stores would be offended if they knew we were not Muslim…so I am often afraid to mention this, or to respond to the greetings I am sent.
For myself, please know that I have only the highest admiration for those of you who follow this practice out of a desire to serve Allah and preserve your modesty.
Salam Sis,
I agree with you that by wearing hijab, the man will respect us better. And it is true that some people do not understand why we wear hijab. I have worn hijab since I was 10 years old and I am so comfortable of wearing hijab and convering my body that I can swim with all body covered (swim suit for muslim woman).
I used to work in Venezuela before, in an oilfield as an engineer trainee when I first started in my company (I am a Malaysian woman). Everybody advised me to take off my hijab, to prevent from any problem. I refused, because I believe that the way we dress up is not important, but the way we bring ourselves is the most important. Alhamdulillah, I stayed there safe, and I had good relationship with lots of Venezuelan, even I stayed with a Venezuelan family. Initially of course, they were afraid to come close to me, however, I started to talk to them and work close with them. Of course, I never complained about their believes neither. And I explained to anyone who asked me about Islam. Alhamdulillah, my 6 months stay in Venezuela was excellent.
So, for me, if we have a strong belief in something, we should not betray our belief just because of afraid to loose friends, or not to climb up career ladder, or to be seen as ‘not up-to-date’ person. We can be successful, no matter what our belief is, as long as we work for the success, and respect other people around us…
@Anna,
I came from Indonesia, where lots of religion and tribes work and live together eventhough Muslim is the most population religion. I don’t know, if there is a fatwa about trading with non moslem (i’m sorry if I offend u in anyway), but in my country, we don’t mind if a non moslem shop or eat at our shop. The fact that u as a Christian, find hijab and modest cloth, comfortable and beautyful would come in handy for us moslem women to show the world that wearing Hijab is not a restriction for women to be beautiful.
And about the salam, i have a friend (non moslem friend) that always send salam and replies salam to us. If u not sure, u can just modestly smile at people that sent u salam.
Thanks
Im non-muslim and have fallowed this site for more than one year.
I like the concept that women can look beautiful and ladylike without showing herself off and yet to be fashionable when being religious.
I really like this website because of modest fashion tips and to get to know more about muslimah.
“I REALLY think less attention needs to be paid to hijab and much more to men lowering gazes, respecting ALL women (covered and uncovered) and giving the street its right (as the hadith states).”
Amira I agree with you.
I do not know if hijab requaires more respect or not because we almost do not have hjiabis here but what I know is that men should respect women no matter religious or not (not only with hijab or not).
If a woman is christian or non-religious does not mean she has low values in life and she wants to be a toy for men. The fact that Im not able to choose if I want to praise God in church or in mosque does not mean that I do not believe in God and that I do not have high values.
What makes me sad for both, muslimah and non-muslim women, is that there are too many muslim man who have forgot what islam rules say about them. And it bothers me as a divorcee of a muslim man. And certainly there is nowhere written that muslim man should push his wife to stay indoors and/or cover up while he himself can walk around eyes wide open gazing at all women around. And not only gazing. But that is exactly what is common here among muslim men. It is discusting and sad. The fact that they can be allowed to marry 4 women does not mean they can have 1 wife and endless list of girlfriends.
Someone should really remind them what it is to be a muslim man.
According to what I have read in islamic websites, muslimahs are made to be responsible for islam too often, what about men? Can they really do what ever they want until they do it all outside mosque and their family does not know about it? I don´t think so.
I really hope this world can be a better balanced place one day and family will be respected again all over the world.
My best wishes.
Salaam,
First of all, I would like to say “mashallah, what a wonderful article”. It is true, some women do take hijab to the extreme and judge others who do not follow the same rules as them. One must first consider matters within themselves such as the strenth of their iman and then worry about others around them.
A comment to “woman”, I too am married to a muslim man and come from an orthodox christian background. I chose to convert not for my husband but for myself. Worshipping in a church is good but a true completion of your faith would be to take the next step. Christianity is muddled with confusions and paths that can lead you astray. If you choose to embrace Islam you will see in time that Allah the most merciful will guide you in your ways.
As to my muslim husband, he too often steps outside the path of Islam. The best way to approach a situation like this is not divorce, but make him aware of his own religion. Help him strenthen his Iman by seeking advice from a local mosque, islamic marriage counseling, or simply by gathering a list of surahs and hadiths explaining the duties of a husband to his wife. These things will remind him of his place in Islam and the punishments for not following certain clearly stated rules. Make sure you do this with a peaceful and loving heart so that he will know you are in fact trying to help him be closer to Allah.
Inshallah, I hope these things are helpful to you. Be strong and Allah will guide you.
Sallam to you and all other sisters on this site
when you say ‘some people take the hijab to an unnecessary extreme’, dont u think thats a very subjective statement? Each of us has a different understanding of the word. What is extreme for you may not be extreme for me.Having said that,most scholars say that we should not wear bright colours or anything that would attract people.
I’m a new convert to Islam. I like the idea of wearing a Hijab. In fact, I don’t like wearing things that show off my body, and therefore I like the act of covering. I thought I was a very conservative person in my attire, but as I continue my journey through my new religion, I’m beginning to realize the importance of covering yourself. Ever since I was young I’ve never worn revealing clothing for personal reasons. Even skirts above the knee made me uncomfortable. I believe there’s more about a woman than her body. Besides, when men look at me with lust, other than my husband, I feel dirty and less of a person. I know when a man is starring at a woman in tight clothing, he’s NOT thinking about whether or not she has a degree in medicine or is a mother of three children. In my opinion, Hijab is not overrated. Those who choose to wear it, should, those who feel it unnecessary, don’t. But I’m not going to think less of those who don’t choose to wear it. For me, it’s preferential, and I feel 100% more comfortable being me while wearing it.
i agree. hijab should start with covering your body. it’s a process. and even when a woman is wearing modest clothing but doesn’t feel comfortable with hijab yet i don’t think it makes her a non-muslim. as long as your modest and saying your prayers, doing your fasting no one has the right to call you a non-muslim. hijab is a decision to make, it requires self-honesty, strong faith, sometimes a lot of courage. it’s better to wear it when you know you can handle it, so no one can persuade you to take it off.
Salam. I agree with Christina. As much as we don’t like to admit it, many guys do see women as objects, and as much as we don’t like to say so, wearing revealing clothes only make it worse. When I wear modest clothing (before I wore hijab), I don’t notice any sickly stares right where the sun don’t shine, lol. However, I chose to cover my hair as well because I wanted to take an extra step for the sake of God as well as modesty.
As for colors, makeup, heels, blah blah blah–I love it all! I think it’s very important to be elegant and stylish with your hijab. If you make hijab look frumpy and dowdy, you gotta admit–you will repel people, particularly women–from Islam. Also, what you wear–whether it’s on your body, face, or hair–is a form of self expression. No one should be denied their right to self expression by being forced to remove makeup, colorful clothes, jewelery, and cute shoes from their wardrobe. And please don’t give me the “you can wear it for your husband and your family and your female friends!!” line. Regardless of where you are, you should not compromise your self expression. Seriously now, you can be modest, holy, religious and pure while looking elegant, stylish, and classy as well as expressing yourself.
Salam, Amalia
You know, I don’t want to sound mean, but men should just butt out on this issue.
Espeically men who don’t understand it from a womens point of view–just the Qu’ran. Yes it’s a good way to understand what a women has to cover, but not WHY a women CHOOSES to cover– or why she wears a Hijab.
It’s a women’s choice here in the US.
I will say women are the harshes critics, by far.
Holy cow! I pray I will get home alive if I let my earlobes show to wear earrings in front of my one of my convert friends… who doesn’t wear hijab…
Many people have a lot of opinions on this subject:Hijab.
Personally, I remembered of wanting to wear the hijab ever since I learnt about it (we learned that when you come to age, wearing the hijab is a must/wajib) but it is not a must by the country’s law. I guess it is something that is wanted by the person. It doesn’t matter if the person is from a different cultural or religious background but the way of dressing modestly is something that is always debated.
I think that everyone should just be comfortable wearing what they want. Why should others(man or woman) dictate whether a woman should or shouldn’t wear a hijab? I remember that when I decided to wear the hijab, my mom was uncomfortable because she is not a hijab wearer.
It shouldn’t be anyone else’s decision but the person wearing it.
And I certainly think that being fashionable while wearing a hijab is possible. It is just up to the person’s style and creativity. :D I like wearing floral scarves with plain tops or plain scarves with printed tops. Tunics and dresses and skirts and trousers are all wearable with the hijab.
Selam sisters.
Ive grown up in a secular muslim family, but in the past decade my father has begun to pray 5 times a day and attends masjid every friday. Elhamdullah i have begun to grow closer to islam and lately i have this incredibly strong urge to wear the hijab.
Im just so afraid of how people will treat me, if ill be treated differently by professors, friends, acquaintances. Im not saying that im worried about if they will LIKE it, i dont care if they like it or not….what im worried about is hostility and negative treatment.
Have any of you hijab wearing sisters had to deal with that stuff?
How did you deal with it?
Do you get bad treatment often? or very rarely?
hi mira, i guess it might depend on where u live. im form an eastern european country so there arent too many muslims in my city or even country.
i dont wear the hijab everyday yet but i do whenever i go for a trip, a getaway on my own to some smaller towns and the only reactions i got so far were curiosity and shock i suppose. with the right attitude i think it wont be that hard when i start wearing it daily cause most people just dont know how to react so they might just stare or glance at u and talk to their friends about u, but u can get used to that i guess.
my advice would be to take it seriously. i myself wait untill im ready for everything that might happen due to my wearing the hijab – good or bad. it aslo makes u a bit more conscious about ur behaviour cause ur representing ur faith especially if there arent too many muslims where u live. u might be the only muslim some people know so its important how u act.
i also have to take into consideration what my parents think and feel cause i live with them and its gonna have an impact on their lives as well (i mean the neighbours;p). with u its easier, since ur family is muslim – i envy u (a bit;))
whatever u gonna decide i wish u all the best, may Allah make it easy on you:)
Where are you from? My family is from Kosova, well my mom is, my dads from montenegro. We are albanians.
Thanks for the kind words, i will also wait till im am 100% ready. Ishallah Allah will help me and guide me.
Thanks aagi. :)
I’m new to the deen and i understand where you [mira and aagi] are coming from. i’m the only muslim in my family, besides a distant cousin. my parents are christian and although they’re trying to be supportive of my decision to convert, they aren’t all for the hijab and they don’t understand it or islam much and i’m trying to explain it to them. i’m very much looking forward to wearing my hijab, but i want to have myself together and more disiplined before i go out in my hijab because i want to represent it correctly. i am also very careful about it because i’m go to a hbcu in winston-salem and i have yet to see a muslim, so i’d be questioned and stared at all day, so again.. i want to present myself in the correct manner. mira you’re very lucky and fortunate to have other muslims around you and in your family to understand, help and guide you in the right direction.
Asalaamu alaikum wa rahmatuallahi wa barakatu
Alula, I hope it gets easier for you!
Im lucky that i have a few mainly my dad who is religious. Most of my family are only “muslims” by name, not by actions and barely worship…in fact, sadly, i think some of my relatives mock the religion rather than believe in it. Inshallah God will guide them.
My email is fatmire.gjonbalaj@uconn.edu ….you can send me an email if you need support! We can help each other out :)
Salaam sisters :)
I am pretty young and i am going to islamic school for the summer and not alot of the girls actually wear the hijab just like me..i am really thinking about wearing the hijab though but i’m afraid if people look at me differently and dont talk to me like they used to..i also talk to boys that are my friends and i even play basketball with themm..so if i start wearing hijab i guess i’ll have to stop that.. but its ok as long as i still play with my girl friends
…and i like fashion too and i was wondering..how can you wear loose jeans..that actually look nice but dont show the shape of your leg? and really loose shirts dont always look that great and look kind of sloppy while wearing themm..so is it ok if you wear a loose but not soo loose and not tight shirt that doesnt exactly hide your body but it still does hide your curves and is appropriate?…and i don’t know if im ready for the hijab yett…and yes i actually have worn some capris this year and i really regret itt.. and inshAllah i will NEVER wear them again..and i wear alot of t-shirts but i am going to first try to always wear full sleeves and looser clothing, and then inshAllah i will start wearing the hijab…can you help me become a bit more readyy for the hijab? i’mgoing to be starting highschool in september inshAllah and i dont know if i will be ready to wear one before i start highschool..
oh and i have a facebook account and i have pictures of myself without a hijab and if i delete all of my pictures i will stil have some on other ppls profiles which i wont be able to delete…
hi eden. first of all u should stop worrying so much about it all:) i have worn not revealing clothes for a long time now and i don’t wear the hijab yet and most people don’t even realize that I’m a muslima. there are a lot of fashionable clothes that are muslima-appropriate like maxi dresses (i have like 6 of them:)), long shirts, harem pants, now looser jeans are more and more fashionable, there are a lot of tunics available. i do own abayas but i don’t wear them. maybe one day but i’m not sure if even then. get ready for hijab slowly, don’t rush with it. i know i won’t and no one should be forced to do that cause you should wear it for Allah only and not for anyone else. be more optimistic about it :) remember that being religious at young age counts so much more than when ur old.
Salaam, I don’t think women should be forced to wear hijab. Muslim women judge each other so much. My experience is that it doesn’t matter if you cover, practicing your islam most of your life, if you are American (indigenous) with an American first name you are treated like crap by Pakistanis, Arabs and some other Asians. You’re never “good enough” or authentic while the “other” intentionally wear loose scarves hoping it will fall off so others will see, though they backbite and gossip and snicker like high schoolers, or are loud and give you inquisition (loudly) in front of others, what normal Americans call: “emotional abuse.”
Your ibadah is between you and your Lord, and believe me if I were to worry about the rude disgusting comments, nosiness and “bedouin” behavior by some of these “Muslims” I would’ve left Islam years ago. You will never be good enough for anyone, someone will always try to find something wrong, if you’re hijab fell and you showed a lobe or it doesn’t cover part of your forehead (depending on school), if you’re clearly American you must’ve just converted today and can’t have any Muslims in your family etc…just try to be good enough for God. Women hate each other. That’s what I experience nearly everytime I go to a masjid mixed with Africans, Pakistanis and Arabs-judgments, they truly hate Americans even if you’re “Muslim American.”
Na’miah, my sister, I am sorry if that is how you felt and how you have been treated by some by I do not think you should be stereotyping all ” Pakistanis and Arabs” as “hat[ing] Americans even if you’re Muslim American.” Islam aside, first of all, there is no such thing as an “indigenous” American, an American is not white, brown or black – the only indigenous Americans are Native Americans so it is politically and historically and just in reality inaccurate to portray “brown” people. I’m white myself but I wouldn’t call myself anymore American than a Pakistani American. Your last sentence is very offensive even to myself – “they truly hate Americans” – how could you generalize like the rest on the non-Muslim population like that especially this day and age? I have never been more welcome in every mosque I go, from Indonesian, Pakistani, Indian, etc. and everyone is very loving, so I don’t know why your experience is the way it is -I can believe a few people have mistreated you but the way you phrased it saying that they all hate you because you are WHITE (not American, we are all Americans…) then I don’t know, it seems you experienced a tiny crowd of people and now are angry at all Muslims of color (from the tone of your paragraph). May Allah help you find peace in your heart and peace in anyone’s heart who does discriminate against fellow Muslimahs based on any color of skin.
Hijab is beauty. Hijab is virtue.
Asalamalaykom:)
I know this post is old and I don’t know if you’re interested in another comment about it but I thought I would throw my two cents in anyway:)
I’m a revert and I started wearing my khimar about 1.5 yeas ago, Alhamdollilah:) My mum-in-law sent me a beautiful square hijab from Egypt and I just love this one. It’s really big but it peaks beautifully when foled in half. When I put it on, the style was a Turkish square hijab style but it seemed more familiar to me than that. Then I realized that the style I was wearing was almost exactly like Mary, may Allah be leased with her as I had seen growing up in a Ukrainian household with the Greek-Orthodox icons my parents have. So, this gentleman who wrote an entire article, completing missing the point about the etymology of the word hijab and not bothering to look up the word khimar and further missed the boat completely on the fact that Mary was the mother of a prophet who was sent to the children of Israel. Although my research has been quite limited in this area and may Allah forgive me if I am wrong, I never got the impression that she was an Arab. I don’t know if anyone mentioned this point, so I thought I would:) Salam:)
Hijaab is the covering of the whole body except the face and hands( keep in mind the sleeves should cover till your wrist). The clothing should not be body hugging fashion or revealing the shape of your body which causes fitnah.