The Hijab

 

My Hijab.

My hijab is my crown.

I am a queen and like a queen I don’t shake hands with strange men.

My hijab.

My hijab is peace.

This piece of cloth that covers my body is serenity.

A sign of submission.

They say it’s a sign of submission to my husband.

I say: no. Submission to someone much more important.

Omnipotent.

Allah.

Lord of the worlds.

My hijab.

My hijab is a reminder.

A reminder to myself to behave in the manner that I am supposed to:
With integrity.
Respectfully
Auspiciously.
Peacefully.
Honestly.
Humbly.
Modestly.
My hijab.

My hijab may serve as a reminder to other people of how to treat me: I am not an ornament for your eyes.

 

What is the hijab?

Hijab does not mean hiding your beauty nor does it make you less beautiful in any way. It gives a sense of security to a woman and it’s not used to disgrace her. At the same time, it is strongly advised that she starts dressing modestly. In Islam wearing a ‘black burka’ or headscarf is not the main requirement as most people like to associate the ‘hijab’ with a black cloak covering. Some even go to the extent and ask why do Muslim women dress like ninjas? Covering the face is not mandatory and some women simply do this for their own self contentment. The clothing should be loose, so the body shape is not revealed. A Muslim woman is free to wear any kind of modest clothing, as long as it meets the standards and is not too revealing. Although there are many benefits of Hijab. It is first and foremost a commandment from Allah. Therefore, wearing it is an act of faith and obedience to the creator, as mentioned in the Quran : ‘tell the believing women to draw their outer garments around them’ [Quran 33:59]. Hijab does not mean that you are not like other Women. It means that you choose to save yourself from other social evils. Hijab provides a sense of security to a woman. It increases her confidence because she knows that she is well covered and can move around easily in areas which are male dominated.

Women have been given the utmost respect and highest status in Islam. Hijab is not just a dress code, it signifies something deeper. For example, it is a barrier between a man and a Muslim woman. In essence, Hijab provides the Muslim woman with both spiritual and physical peace and harmony. Hijab represents a woman’s submission to her Creator and her connection with the faith. While referring to it, Allah Almighty says: “That is more suitable that they will be known...” But, while hijab is a symbol, in reality it is much more than that. Hijab is a test for the Muslim woman. It is clear from the Qur’an and the Hadiths that hijab is a religious obligation, which a woman has to undertake. There is no scholarly difference on this point and the Muslim Ummah has applied it for over 14 centuries. When a Muslim woman wears hijab she is obeying and submitting to Allah. The hijab is a part of the Islamic faith and is one of the many things Allah SWT gave us in order for us as women to protect ourselves. The hijab is not just apiece of cloth, it is a part of us, it is what makes us Muslim. It’s a symbol of faith that  represents Muslims to the world. In a world we’re women are sexualised; the hijab protects us from that. The hijab is used to avoid male sexual desire. To protect us from haram. Muslims may struggle to wear the hijab for many reasons. Its hard to cover ourselves in a world full of immodesty. The extra layers can make us feel too hot. The looks people give us can be hurtful, and we go through many struggles when putting on the hijab. But we must remember that the hijab is a true blessing from Allah. He gave us the hijab so that we can be honoured and only the one who truly knows our value can see us. We wear the hijab to preserve our beauty. Imagine how beautiful we are to Allah that He asks us to cover that beauty. Allah blessed you with modesty, honour and dignity in a world which is the exact opposite. The hijab makes you so precious. May Allah gives us all the strength and courage to wear the hijab and dress modestly, and reward us accordingly