Beginners Guide to Hijab: Hijab Disclaimer
As you insert the final pin that will hold your hijab firmly in place, you are brimming with the light of Imaan. Your face illuminated with noor. Round and radiant like the full moon. There is no bitterness. You feel enlightened and empowered. With that flowing scarf upon your head, you are ready to take on the world…
But no one ever mentions the difficulty that you will encounter when you step out of your bedroom door.
No one mentions the opposition you will face.
Not just from people who are not Muslim but from those who are.
Sometimes even your own family members.
No one mentions the awkwardness you feel, or the moments of self-doubt.
Nor do they mention the moments of weakness where you are persuaded to bare your hair for that special family occasion.
No one mentions the discomfort you’ll experience during the sweltering summer, while other women frolic in public beaches and pools.
No one ever mentions that you’ll occasionally be called aunty, even though you’re only 20 something years old.
Well, I could go on and by now you probably feel demoted, or angry, so I will say what I’m sure you already know and that is, that, every bit is worth it. The opposition, the antagonism. The doubt, the spiritual lows. The heat and even the dreaded A-word. It is all worth covering up for. Even if you don’t realize it now, and yes there are some of us who don’t. The day that you do, will be a million times better than that first time you smilingly secured that shiny, sparkly new clip onto your hijab.
Lol @ the dreaded A word! I never thought that I would ever be referred to as a Pardah Aunty!
🙂 well, a couple of weeks ago, I was shopping with my mom at the local supermarket, we were buying some greens which needed to be weighed, so I thanked the lady (she was significantly older than I am) who weighed my items and she responded with “thank you, mama.” Now I could have let this upset me and I really don’t think that she was being derogatory, it was probably more out of respect than anything else. So I didn’t let it upset me & I just laughed it off. Maybe I’m wrong but I do think that having a humorous attitude to the reactions of others will go a long way in helping one dealing with something that can be potentially upsetting otherwise 🙂
Assalamualaikom! I live in Saudi Arabia. And in here, girls (especially little ones) are sometimes referred to as “mama” as a special term of endearment or affection. When someone calls me mama, especially from an old lady or a mother, it really warms my heart. 🙂
Really enjoyed your post Zaakira.
Hijab pins and hijab accessories are my new fad!!
One of the most smile-worthy feelings i’ve experienced since wearing the scarf is having a whole line of sweet lil muslimahs aspiring to dress like me. (kids of friends and family) Alhumdulillah!
Jazakillah Hasina 🙂
Well, one of the best ways to send out a message is through example. By accessorizing your hijab in such a colourful way, it makes it exciting and fashionable, removing the misconception that hijab is boring and old. That’s very cool, Hasina. May Allah continue to use you as an inspiration to our lil muslimahs 🙂
Alot of children are aspiring to be celebrities, with the likes of hanna montanna, etc – its is really good to have little girls looking up to a role model that represents the identity of a muslim woman. They will after all, grow up to emulate this.
Well said girl!!!! totally agree with u.it is the most beautiful feeling when u have the scarf on ur head and u walk out feeling so free and covered.and u do reap the reward n I agree it is millions better..
Jazakillah Lubna 🙂 absolutely and aside from the rewards we reap, we look good too 😛 win win all around 🙂
It is sad that the ignorant women like you confuse hijaab with niqab. I sincerely ask you women that you should listen to your husbands and not parade yourselves on the internet like attention seeking whores. Us real muslimahs cover ourselves to maintain modesty and humility. We do not seek reward or internet attention like you. We seek protection from society and that includes the internet. Do your duties as a muslimah towards your children and husbands and stay away from the internet, otherwise the purpose of you wearing a niqab is worthless.
Dear Sister Khadija,
The Muslimah(Life)Style team feels it is imperative that YOUR comment be met with a response.
Firstly, We appreciate you having our best interests at heart:)
Secondly, the blog is for the sisters by the sisters (NB: NOT THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD) with no ulterior motive other than to showcase the identity of the Muslim female (Muslimah) as something for women to aspire to. This focus encompasses the challenges that face Muslim women in terms of their dressing, their own struggle to don the head scarf, tending towards scarf styles, even the academic avenues that feature events by the ulema of our time. The Muslimah(Life)Style team comprises of sisters who are career professionals, stay at home moms, as well as those who are currently pursuing academics and Islamic studies. It is unbecoming of a Muslimah (as you have classified yourself) to be adopting such a slanderous language when approaching a topic of this nature. Sister Khadija, there is a manner in which to diplomatically represent yourself on the public domains. Muslimah(Life)Style is a platform that gives us a voice to support and encourage sisters to explore their identity as Muslim women; beyond being mothers of the future of the Ummah, Muslim women make up half the Ummah. There is no segregation amongst the sisters, in terms of aiding and supporting each other to be better Muslims. May Allah grant the readers understanding.
As regards the internet, it is upon every persons individual responsibility not to criminalize technology.
A big thank you for reading our blog.
-The Team
I like this article:) that’s aunty yasmin to you:)
Jazakillah Aunty Yasmin 😛 very much appreciated 🙂
“shiny, sparkly new clip onto your hijab”…..Subhanallaah! This should not even be in the same sentence as hijaab. First off that is not hijaab that is the khimar. The hijaab is what covers the body in it’s entirety. Second you should not be going out with a glittery khimar or clips on it. That does not fulfill the conditions of the hijaab. This is fine for the home but not outside. It is frustrating that so many sister’s in the ummah corrupt hijaab in this way leaving the Islaamically legislated hijaab. The purpose of hijaab is not to be fashionable and resemble the kuffar… it is to be modest. May Allaah guide you all to the truth. Why cover your hair if that which you cover it resembles that which is underneath? Insha’Allaah reflect upon this. Read the verses of hijaab and read the example we have of the hijaab in the Sunnah and see where you fall short in fulfilling the hijaab.
Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: Islaam will be demolished stitch by stitch so long as there is an upcoming generation of youth who do not understand the affairs of ‘aqeedah”
So see how your deficiency in knowledge of Islaam causes you to attribute such things to Islaam and to corrupt such things in Islaam. See what happens when you abandon the Sunnah and do not follow Islaam upon the correct understanding…. The understanding of the Salaaf-us-Saalih.
Surah an-Nisaa, ayat 115 “And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger after the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers’ way, We shall keep him on the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell what an evil destination!”
Jzk khair for your comments to our post sister.
Following the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah
There are many proofs that it is obligatory upon us to follow not only the Qur’an, but the Sunnah of His Prophet, may Allaah’s praise and salutations be upon him, as well.
First, from the book of Allaah; al-Haafidh ibn Katheer mentions in his tafseer of the Qur’aan the explanation of the verse regarding the one who leaves the way of the first believers, which is found in Surat an-Nisaa:
“And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger after the right path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers’ way, We shall keep him in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell what an evil destination!” Surah an-Nisaa (4) ayat 115
This refers to whoever intentionally takes a path other than the path of the Law revealed to the Messenger, after the truth has been made clear, apparent and plain to him.
Allaah’s statement, refers to a type of conduct that is closely related to contradicting the Messenger. This contradiction could be in the form of contradicting a text (from the Qur’aan or Sunnah) or contradicting what the Ummah of Muhammad has agreed on. The Ummah of Muhammad is immune from error when they all agree on something, a miracle that serves to increase their honor, due to the greatness of their Prophet. There are many authentic ahadeeth on this subject.
Allaah warned against the evil of contradicting the Prophet and his ummah, when He said, meaning, when one goes on this wicked path, We will punish him by making the evil path appear good in his heart, and will beautify it for him so that he is tempted further.” (End of quote from ibn Katheer)
The Messenger of Allaah, praise and salutations be upon him and his family, made clear the importance of adhering to his guidance and that of the rightly guidedpredecessors in the following authentic hadeeth, on the authority of al-Irbaad ibn Saaryah who said, “Allaah’s Messenger, may Allaah’s praise and good mention be upon him, gave us an admonition which caused our eyes to shed tears and the hearts to fear, so we said, “Oh Messenger of Allaah, this is as if it were a farewell sermon, so with what do you advise us?”
So he, may Allaah’s praise and His salutations be upon him, said, {I have left you upon clear guidance, its night is like its day, no one deviates from it except one who is destroyed, and whoever lives for some time from amongst you will see great differing. So stick to what you know from my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided caliphs. Cling to that with your molar teeth, and stick to obedience even if it is to an Abyssinian slave since the believer is like the submissive camel; wherever he is led, he follows.}
(An authentic hadeeth found in “Sunan Abu Daawood” 4607. “Sunan Ibn Majah” 43,44, “Sunan at-Tirmidhi” 2676, “al-Musnad Ahmad” vol. 4/126 and other collections. The wording is that of at-Tirmidhi)
And in another authentic hadeeth:
{My Ummah will split into seventy three sects, all of them in the Fire except one and it is al-Jamaa’ah.} It was said, “Who are they, Oh Messenger of Allaah?” He, praise and salutations be upon him, replied, {That which I and my Companions are upon today.} (Authentic hadeeth reported by at-Tirmidhi (no. 2643), al-Laalikaa’ee in “as-Sunnah” (no. 147) and others)