Sometimes it occurs at a high school or college campus; other times it happens at the Masjid or some MSA event. The segregation between sisters and brothers may or may not be enforced, but you are bound to see similar heads grouped together like small islands separated at a distance…

“It’s too old-fashioned.”
“It’s too conservative.”
“It’s too long, it’ll cover my awesome top.”
“I like this short hijab style, so what if it doesn’t really cover the bosom? Fashion forward!”
“If I wear it . . . all I’ll get is stares.”

I’m standing inside the train, trying to stay steady as the vehicle swerves swiftly across the tracks. From the periphery, I notice the glances and stares from the mostly Caucasian passengers. No matter how many times I’ve been through this, I guess I’m still not used to it.

Why is the topic of hijab a different story then? Is hijab not a fard (obligation) like praying and fasting? Why do we consider speaking the truth of how Allah (swt) asked us to dress a form of negative judgment and make assumptions about the intention of the person behind the advice?

I have come across many people who cannot comprehend why anybody would want to embrace hijab whilst they are young. By young, I mean late teens and early twenties. While, I would confidently say that it is those very years that hijab would probably most benefit us, I would go as far as to say that it is vital as well.