All I kept thinking to myself was, I have displeased my Creator, I have wronged myself. And soon enough the tears started rolling down my face. It was actually rare for me to cry like that; my friends use to call me a “cactus” because they never saw me being emotional.

I never thought I would take the word “unattractive” as a compliment. The concept of hijab has changed the way I view myself and the world around me.

My journey to hijab was a roller coaster ride, having a lot of ups and downs. When I was in college, it was “in fashion” or “cool” to wear hijab amongst girls my age. So I too would wrap a piece of cloth on my head without knowing the true purpose of that “piece of cloth.”

I remember perfectly that day as I anxiously walked down to the intimidating middle school I knew for years. I was in for my last year of middle school in eighth grade. I had entered with a new feeling that day; it wasn’t exactly terror, but a bold feeling as if I had defeated all of my fears with one simple choice. My insides churned with nervousness…

On hindsight, now that I have taken that step, I find it puzzling that, out of all the commandments of Allah, wearing the hijab is probably the most discussed and often, the most resisted.