The Privilege of Hijab
9Guest writer Hana Young shares her reflections on how hijab is a really privilege that we may not initially recognize.
It’s a fairly common misconception that men are considered as superior to women in Islam. Of course, for anyone who knows even the basics of Islam, they will know that this is certainly not the case.
One of the rules of Islam that I feel demonstrates this is the privilege of the woman’s hijab. Again, the misconceptions surrounding the hijab couldn’t be more incorrect; for example, it is often seen as oppressive, a sign of man’s domination over women. But, I actually see hijab as one of the many occasions where women in Islam are given a privilege that the men do not enjoy.
It is worth mentioning that men also have to follow certain rules regarding clothing, which also maintains their modesty, and that sometimes we may recognise a Muslim man by his beard. But the main difference is that a woman’s hijab clearly sets her apart from other women. It is for this reason that I refer to hijab as a privilege. You see women, unlike men, have the unique ability to advertise their religion. They are, literally, a walking advertisement for Islam. If Islam considered women as inferior to men, then why would they be given this responsibility?
Since returning to the UK after converting to Islam, and putting on the hijab in the UAE, I have become really conscious of standing out from the crowd, particularly when I’m at home in rural northern England. Each time I go out, I am always aware that many of the people I come across will not know anything about Islam, as they don’t live in a very diverse area. I feel like I have a huge duty towards Islam to use each trip out as an opportunity to do some good for Islam’s reputation. As a hijabi, every detail of my behaviour will inevitably be attributed to my religion. This conclusion seems to be drawn all the time when it comes to Islam: responsibility of any individual Muslim’s behaviour is always attributed to the religion itself. Unfortunately, however, this more often than not concerns the negative behaviour of just a few individuals. So I try to do my part to correct some of the negativity that surrounds Islam. It’s the fact that I have the chance to do this that makes me so grateful to be wearing a hijab. We too must make ourselves conscious of this privilege all the time: we represent Islam.
I have unfortunately come across occasions where sisters have clearly forgotten this fact. Times when, for example, a woman in hijab has been less-than polite when being served at a store, or causing a scene when trying to complain about some service. In restaurants or cafes, I have seen groups of hijabis using foul language, and not considering others around them. Of course, we are all human, and we all have those days where we have little patience and making an impression is the last thing on our minds. But our head coverings should be a reminder of this unique duty that we have. Allah gave us this privilege, and with it came the right to be respected and honoured. The least we can do is use it in a positive way to do some good for our religion.
It’s a responsibility and duty on every Muslim to give a good impression about Islam and to represent it for its qualities of justice, fairness and mercy. But it is for us ladies that this duty is even more important, as our beautiful hijab means that we are instantly associated with our religion. Ladies, we must do it justice!
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Hana Young reverted to Islam in February 2009 after moving to the United Arab Emirates. She is now living in the UK and wants to represent Islam to the British public. Follow her blog at http://hanamuslimah.wordpress.com.
Hafza
March 07, 2011Nice, That Was Inspiring, Made Me Think About My Behaviors And Others :) Thanks
fatima
March 07, 2011wow. i wear the hijab too. not very many ppl would regard the hijab as a privilege, but your article is a beautiful reminder! JazaAllah :)
TheSisterWhoLovesYou.
March 08, 2011Very lovely article Masha Allah,Sister Hana. <3
A fantastic reminder that,as we drape our hijabs over our heads and bodies each day,so should we put on our best personalities.
Jazakallah Khair!
Sona
March 08, 2011JazakaAllah khayr, excellent reminder =)
Ayisha
March 09, 2011Assalamu Alaykum
Way to go sister Hana..!! A beautiful reminder and gives me a sense of pride while reading this..!!
A sort of EmanRush moment..!! =)
Wassalam
IslamicRose28
March 17, 2011MashAllah <3 That was very inspiring!
Hijabiandlovin'it
March 22, 2011Yet another reminder that hijab is not merely a piece of cloth, but manners, attitudes, and actions.
Thank you for the wonderful article :) Masha’Allah
Elizabeth L
March 23, 2011JazakAllah Khair for this wonderful reminder, sister!
Maryam
March 24, 2011Salaam, the article above states, “the misconceptions surrounding the hijab couldn’t be more incorrect; for example, it is often seen as oppressive, a sign of man’s domination over women.”
I wonder if that’s why many Christians think that Muslim women who wear hijab are oppressed and that hijab is a sign of authority of men over them; because that’s what the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 11:3-16, “Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is just as though her head were shaved. If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head. A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head.”
That ^ is the Biblical view. In Islam we don’t cover as a sign of men’s authority, but because God commanded it as a sign of our belief and modesty Alhumdulillaah.
Our reason for covering is described in Qur’an 33:59: “O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not given trouble. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful” (another English translation says so that they may be recognized and not annoyed). The point is to be recognized as modest and believing women ♥