In this guest post, sister Akilah Parris shares a poem on beauty.

The Real Cover Girl

Akilah Parris

They look at my scarf and try to diagnose me with a cure
but what they don’t realize is that I am beautiful, strong and secure.

But you see my security does not come from mini skirts and see through tops
and high heels that make my hips go tick-tock.

The radiance on my face can’t be bought at the counter of a drug store;
from Revlon or Maybelline, you see it’s that new shade, it’s called noor.

It stems from the roots that bare the fruits of my eman,
so would the real cover girl please stand up, then bow down in sujood
and patiently rest your forehead against the floor,
whispering words that will purify your soul.

From Fajr to Isha I search for the deeds
that will satisfy my spiritual needs
yet they cut their eyes
and they stigmatize
this simple scarf I wear.

But that’s okay, because on that Great Day
it’s that simple scarf that will testify to Allah and say
that I obeyed His command each day.