I called up my original friend and the first thing I uttered was “I am going to do hijab insha’Allah!” Then I went on to share my research with her; not only did she appreciate my stance but she joined me as well! Both of us were more than happy with our decisions, Alhamdulillah!

Walking into the prayer room of the library’s basement yesterday, I heard an unmistakably soft and beautiful recitation of the Qur’an. Every letter was pronounced clearly, and every verse flowed onto the next. And then I saw you, the owner of the voice, wearing a navy blue jilbab and a light blue scarf, sitting with a noticeably large Qur’an resting upon your lap. Your fingertips swept across its pages, line by line, verse by verse.

It’s with her love and devotion for her Creator which reflects the light of her inner beauty. She shines through her covering attire and acts of modesty. She proves that she values her beauty both inner and outer, thus she values herself.

I look at the mirror and sigh deeply. Looking back at me is a twenty-something woman with bags under her eyes, a pimple (ever-so-unbecoming) under her lip, and a bad hair day. Nothing seems to make sense, including that pile of work I should actually have been doing rather than checking myself out in the mirror. Oh dear. It’s going to be one of those days.

“Dania, she wants to do it, she wants to become Muslim,” another friend approached me in chemistry class to break the news. I remember standing there in shock, not being able to believe it was true.